Las Vegas Aces coach, Becky Hammon, emphatically denied the allegations of discrimination and retaliation brought forth in a federal lawsuit by former player, Dearica Hamby. In a press conference following the Aces' victory over the Los Angeles Sparks, Hammon addressed the claims made by Hamby, stating that she had never received a complaint in her 25-year tenure in the WNBA or NBA.

Hammon stated that Hamby had not filed any HR complaints with either the players' union or the WNBA. She also clarified that the decision to trade Hamby did not come about until the Atlanta team contacted the Aces in January 2023. Regarding the accusations of bullying, Hammon affirmed that she had maintained regular communication with Hamby, respecting her preferences when it came to practicing or resting. Hammon expressed that she had gone above and beyond to provide care for Hamby during her time with the team.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, alleges that Hamby suffered a loss of reputation and career opportunities after the Aces traded her to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023. It claims that the Aces had made additional offers beyond the two-year contract Hamby had previously signed, including covering private tuition for her daughter and providing team-provided housing for family members to assist with childcare during away games.

According to the filed lawsuit, Hamby asserts that she experienced a change in treatment from the Aces' staff following her public announcement of her pregnancy, including the team's alleged failure to fulfill their promise of tuition assistance and her alleged forced removal from team-provided housing. It also states that during a phone call in January 2023, Hammon questioned Hamby's dedication to the team and did not deny that the trade was influenced by her pregnancy.

Hammon responded to these claims by explaining that the decision to trade Hamby was purely based on business calculations and not personal. She emphasized her positive relationship with Hamby throughout their time together, acknowledging that the trade may have felt like a betrayal but that it was an unfortunate aspect of her job.

In the recent game between the Aces and the Sparks, Hamby demonstrated her skills on the court, scoring 13 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and making four steals, despite her team's loss.

As the lawsuit proceeds, the allegations will be thoroughly examined, and both sides will have an opportunity to present their evidence and arguments. The Las Vegas Aces organization has not yet provided an official statement on the matter.