Hammon Stands Firm on Denial of Aces’ Mistreatment of Hamby

Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon has reiterated her previous statements regarding the trade of former Aces player Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023. Hammon firmly denied any mistreatment towards Hamby, insisting that the trade did not occur because she was pregnant.

Last Monday, Hamby filed a federal lawsuit against both the WNBA and the Aces, claiming that her pregnancy led to “repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination, and retaliation” from the Aces prior to her trade. She accused the WNBA of failing to conduct a thorough investigation into her claims.

Following the Aces’ 87-71 victory over the Sparks in Las Vegas on Sunday, Hammon was asked about the lawsuit during the postgame press conference. She shared facts from her extensive career in the league, stating, “I’ve been in either the WNBA or the NBA for now 25 years. I’ve never had an HR complaint. Never, not once.”

Hammon further pointed out that Hamby did not file an HR complaint with the players’ union or the WNBA, emphasizing that no trade was considered until Atlanta contacted them in January 2023.

“It just didn’t happen. I spoke with her every day. If she wanted to practice, she practiced. If she didn’t, she didn’t. It was over the top care,” Hammon added, contesting allegations of bullying.

Hamby was a crucial member of the Aces’ 2022 WNBA championship team and had been with the organization since being drafted sixth overall in 2015. At that time, the franchise was still based in San Antonio and called the Stars, relocating to Las Vegas in 2018.

In June 2022, Hamby re-signed with the Aces, extending her contract for two years. According to her lawsuit, she was offered various perks, including team-provided housing and coverage for her daughter Amaya’s private school tuition. Hamby alleges she informed the Aces about her pregnancy in August 2022, which led to a noticeable shift in the organization’s attitude towards her.

Hamby claims that after the 2022 season, the Aces withdrew the offer for housing and failed to pay her daughter’s tuition. Additionally, she alleges that Hammon questioned her commitment to the team and whether the pregnancy was planned, which Hammon has denied.

When Hamby was traded to the Sparks in January 2023, she took to social media to detail her allegations against the Aces, resulting in an investigation by the WNBA, requested by the players’ union.

The league’s investigation spanned several months, involving interviews with 33 individuals and the examination of various documents. In May 2023, the WNBA issued Hammon a two-game suspension for violating workplace respect policies, while also penalizing the Aces by rescinding their first-round draft pick for 2025 due to impermissible player benefits linked to Hamby.

Hamby expressed dissatisfaction with the WNBA’s disciplinary process, leading her to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) last September. In May 2023, she received a “Notice of Right to Sue” from the EEOC, prompting her to file a lawsuit shortly thereafter.

An attorney representing Hamby stated, “The EEOC issued the (right to sue) document at our client’s request because we wanted to move forward with litigation. The EEOC did not make any finding regarding the facts.” This was aimed at avoiding delays in pursuing justice for Hamby’s allegations.

The WNBA has acknowledged the legal filing and is reviewing the complaint, while the Aces reiterated their commitment to their previous statements made at the end of the investigation, emphasizing that further comments would be withheld due to the ongoing litigation.

Throughout this controversy, Hammon has remained steadfast in her belief that neither she nor the Aces mistreated Hamby. “(Hamby’s pregnancy) wasn’t a problem, and it never was why we made the decision,” she clarified, asserting that the trade was a strategic business move aimed at acquiring multiple players through one contract.

During the 2023 season, when the Aces captured another championship, they signed notable players, including Candace Parker, as part of their strategy following the trade. Hammon stated, “It came down to math in business. That’s all it was. Nothing personal.”

In April 2023, Hamby welcomed the birth of her son, Legend, and successfully participated in all 40 games of the season with the Sparks. Despite not making the WNBA playoffs, Hamby achieved recognition as a WNBA All-Star in July and contributed to the United States’ 3×3 women’s basketball bronze medal win in the Paris Olympics.

In the recent game against the Aces, Hamby contributed 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals, though the Sparks came up short in the contest.