As the WNBA season picks up after a month-long break, the Las Vegas Aces must be focused on clinching their third consecutive title. Despite their recent dominance, the team currently sits in fifth place in the Western Conference standings. While they have a star player like A’ja Wilson who can surely turn things around, the major concern is the legal suit that Los Angeles Sparks player Dearica Hamby has filed against them. This lawsuit could pose a serious challenge for the team, as now WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has also weighed in on the matter.

Recently, Cathy Engelbert appeared on Good Morning America where she addressed the lawsuit filed against the Aces. “Landing from Paris, just saw that the complaint was filed. We’re reviewing it, obviously. We’ll have our lawyers take a look at it,” Engelbert said via Good Morning America. Hamby who has filed the lawsuit used to play for Las Vegas Aces until 2022.

Engelbert also mentioned, “Dearica is such a great player in this league. She just represented our country (in the Olympics) and won the bronze. So, she is great. She has two children, a great mom, spent a lot of time with her over the last couple years. So, we’ll obviously review this.” Dearica Hamby was a part of Team USA’s 3×3 basketball roster in the Paris Olympics and won the bronze medal by defeating Canada.

Hamby filed a federal lawsuit against the Las Vegas Aces, accusing the team of discrimination and retaliation that she claims led to her trade in January 2023, allegedly because of her pregnancy. Although WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert promised to review the situation, Hamby criticized the league for not addressing her earlier concerns filed in 2023.

However, in September last year, Dearica Hamby’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint prompted a WNBA investigation, resulting in Aces coach Becky Hammon’s suspension and the team losing their 2025 first-round pick. Let’s dive into the details of Dearica Hamby’s new lawsuit and see how the WNBA is supporting players who are also parents.

Dearica Hamby allegations amidst Cathy Engelbert’s support for Player-Parents

Dearica Hamby’s latest lawsuit sheds light on her allegations. According to the lawsuit, after the Aces extended Hamby’s contract in June 2022, they initially provided additional perks like housing and donations for her daughter’s school. However, Hamby claims that once she announced her pregnancy, the team’s attitude shifted dramatically. She alleges they evicted her from team housing and began neglecting her requests for tuition coverage.

However, pregnancy has never officially barred women from the WNBA. In fact, Sheryl Swoopes, the league’s first signee in 1997, was expecting when she did so. Moving on, the WNBA’s latest collective bargaining agreement, ratified in 2020, provides substantial support for player-parents.

Under this agreement, players receive their full salary during their maternity leave, though they negotiate the leave duration individually. And for those with children under 13, the league offers up to $5,000 annually for child care and provides a paid two-bedroom apartment during the season.

Now, as the Aces face a critical test balancing their pursuit of a third straight title with the fallout from Dearica Hamby’s lawsuit, the team must navigate these challenges carefully to maintain their dominance.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.