In a significant development following her recent Olympic success, basketball star Dearica Hamby has filed a federal lawsuit against the WNBA and her previous team, the Las Vegas Aces. The three-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Sixth Woman of the Year alleges that she faced discrimination and retaliation during her pregnancy, culminating in her trade to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023.

According to the 18-page complaint filed in U.S. district court in Nevada on Monday, Hamby's lawyers argue that being traded caused her significant harm, including lost promotional opportunities, relocation to a less favorable tax environment, and being denied the chance to compete for back-to-back WNBA championships. They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial.

The Las Vegas Aces and the WNBA have not yet responded to requests for comment. However, a spokesperson for the league has confirmed that officials are reviewing the complaint.

In May 2023, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon denied Hamby's allegations, stating that the trade was based on financial considerations rather than her pregnancy. Hammon explained, "We made the decision to move Hamby because we could get three bodies in for her one contract." She emphasized that Hamby's pregnancy was never an issue in the decision-making process.

Following Hamby's claims, the WNBA launched a formal investigation in early 2023, concluding that the Las Vegas Aces had violated league rules regarding impermissible player benefits. As a result, the Aces' 2025 first-round draft pick was rescinded, and Hammon was suspended for two games without pay for violating league and team Respect in the Workplace policies.

However, Hamby's recent lawsuit argues that the league's response did not adequately address the violation of her rights or provide meaningful redress. Her lawyers assert that the WNBA "had the power to, but did not, rescind the trade."

Hamby gave birth to her son, Legend, in March 2023 and reported to training camp with the Los Angeles Sparks the following month. She did not miss any required time with the team due to her pregnancy and played in all 40 regular season games for the Sparks. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces went on to win their second consecutive championship without her participation.

Following her pregnancy announcement, Hamby experienced notable changes in treatment from Las Vegas Aces staff, according to her lawyers. She faced difficulties in obtaining clear answers about her daughter's tuition payments and was informed that she had to vacate team-provided housing. The lawsuit also highlights a January 2023 phone call between Hamby and Hammon in which Hamby was allegedly questioned about her commitment to the team, falsely accused of being pregnant at the time of contract extension, and criticized for not taking off-season workouts seriously. Hammon allegedly suggested that Hamby had implicitly agreed not to get pregnant during the contract extension period.

Hamby's lawyers claim that she twice asked if she was being traded due to her pregnancy, to which Hammon responded with ambiguity. Within a week, Hamby was informed that she had been traded to the Los Angeles Sparks. Hamby expressed her gratitude and excitement about the trade but also acknowledged her heartbreak over the circumstances surrounding it. She highlighted the unprofessional and unethical treatment she experienced during this time.

Following Hamby's public complaints, the executive director of the Women's National Basketball Players Association intervened on her behalf, requesting an investigation from the WNBA's general counsel. The lawsuit alleges that the Las Vegas Aces engaged in retaliatory acts against Hamby after she went public with her complaints, including restricting communication with her, refusing to invite her to attend the White House ceremony celebrating their championship win, and directing video personnel to exclude her daughter from screen appearances during a 2023 playoff game.

Hamby's trade resulted in additional tax burdens, loss of sponsorship opportunities, reputational harm, and other financial losses, according to the lawsuit. Furthermore, Hamby experienced emotional distress and anxiety as a result of these events.

Terri Carmichael Jackson, executive director of the player's union, emphasized that the 2020 collective bargaining agreement granted parents protections to ensure that pregnancy would not mean the end of their career. These protections include paying players their full salary during maternity leave and providing an annual child care stipend of $5,000. Jackson reiterated that these protections do not change the nature of the business but rather emphasize that pregnancy status cannot be used as a basis for trades or other employment decisions.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the basketball community awaits further developments in this significant case involving pregnancy discrimination in professional sports.