Las Vegas Coach Denies Allegations of Mistreatment and Pregnancy Discrimination
ICARO Media Group
In a recent development, Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon has once again refuted claims made by former Aces player Dearica Hamby regarding mistreatment and discriminatory conduct surrounding her trade. Hamby, who was traded to Los Angeles in January 2023, had accused the Aces and the WNBA of mistreating her due to her pregnancy, resulting in her decision to file a lawsuit alleging discrimination and retaliation.
Coach Hammon, a veteran with 25 years of experience in the WNBA and NBA, emphatically denied the allegations, revealing that there had been no HR complaints filed by Hamby. Additionally, Hammon stated that the decision to trade Hamby only came about when the Atlanta team reached out to them in January 2023.
Hammon had previously addressed the accusations in May 2023, asserting that Hamby was traded for strategic reasons and to make room for the signing of renowned player Candace Parker. Explaining the move, Hammon stated that it was done to acquire multiple players, stating, "we wanted to get three more people in."
Following the accusations, the WNBA conducted an investigation and subsequently suspended Hammon for two games without pay. The Las Vegas Aces were also penalized with the loss of their first-round draft pick in 2025 due to providing impermissible player benefits involving Hamby.
However, Hamby expressed dissatisfaction with the disciplinary actions taken by the league. In September, she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging discrimination. The filing was later amended in October after the EEOC ruled in May that she had the "right to sue."
The ongoing legal battle between Hamby, the Aces, and the WNBA continues to raise concerns about the treatment and rights of players within the league. As the case progresses, the sports community remains watchful for further updates and developments in this matter.
It is important to note that the allegations made by Hamby and the ensuing legal actions are based solely on the information provided in the news article.