Former Las Vegas Aces player Dearica Hamby has filed a lawsuit against the league (WNBA) and the current Aces coach Becky Hammon. The coach had previously stated, “Nothing personal. I had a great relationship with Hamby the whole time. Which is why she probably felt the way she did.” At the time, she was suspended by the league for two games and also caused Aces to lose the 2025 draft pick.

Dana Sniegocki, Erin Norgaard and Artur Davis of HKM Employment Attorneys are the lawyers representing Dearica Hamby. Hamby filed an official complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last fall, alleging that the Aces and head coach Becky Hammon had traded her because she was pregnant.

This comes hours after Hamby was announced as the 11th player of the new 3×3 league. She will be featured in the Unrivaled League starting next year in January.

Dearica Hamby and her initial response after the trade to Sparks

In 2015, after graduating from Wake Forest, the defunct San Antonio Stars selected Dearica Hamby as the 6th overall pick. Since 2018, the team has been called Las Vegas Aces. She won back-to-back Sixth Woman of the Year awards in 2019 and 2020. After winning the championship with the Aces in 2022, she would be traded to her current team. Hamby took to Instagram to describe the ordeal she went through. ” I gave everything I had, and up until the disgusting comments that were made to me, I fought to stay here and tried to be amicable.”

Hamby claimed that she was “lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated,” against because she announced she was pregnant. Approaching free agency, the Aces offered better incentives to stay with the team. But after that, the team failed to honor those agreements. Thus, Hamby approached the legal system.

Ben Pickman of the Athletic on X wrote of the situation. “Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Nevada against the WNBA and LV Aces alleging unlawful discrimination and retaliation. This comes after her EEOC complaint in Sept. 2023 and receiving “Notice of Right to Sue” in May 2024.”

The three lawyers in their statement stated that “Aces exiled Dearica Hamby” plus the suspension was a “light tap on the wrist.” The 18-page suit doubles down on Hamby’s previous claims of being discriminated against because she was pregnant.

Dearica Hamby vs Becky Hammon

The contract extension in 2022 included an agreement where the Aces would pay for Dearica Hamby’s private school tuition. Plus, a housing deal that the team would pay for. And when she announced that she was expecting another child, she “experienced notable changes in the way she was treated by Las Vegas Aces staff.” The team would go back on their agreed terms, and wouldn’t pay either for the tuition or the housing.

The suit also detailed a phone conversation between Dearica Hamby and Becky Hammon. Where the Aces coach told Hamby that she was not taking proper precautions not to get pregnant. As per the filing, Hamby’s commitment to the team was also questioned. Hamby was also described as a “question mark” for the team, as the team “needed bodies.” The player tried reassuring the coach, but to no avail. Falsely accusing the player of signing the extension while being pregnant was also part of the suit.

Another false allegation was reported in the suit, where Hamby was accused of not working out. The reply in the filling stated that at the time, being seven months pregnant, workouts were done under the guidance of a doctor. The lawsuit also described that the accepted contract extension was void, as per Hammon. “Hamby implicitly agreed she would not get pregnant during the two-year extension period.”

Previously, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, in a statement, said she was “disheartened” and “the Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations.” The reports also claim that the Aces wrongfully obtained confidential medical records from Hamby after trading her. Also not extend her an invitation to attend the championship celebration at the White House to celebrate their first title. Plus, the players and staff were given a strict directive to stop any communication with Hamby.

The league WNBA stated to the Athletic, “We are aware of today’s legal filing and are reviewing the complaint.” The Las Vegas Aces, coach Becky Hammon, hasn’t officially made any statements.