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Dearica Hamby (Source: Fox Max)
On Monday, the Los Angeles Sparks All-Star Dearica Hamby sued the WNBA along with her time with the Los Angeles Sparks in federal court due to her treatment while being pregnant when she was playing for Las Vegas Aces. Hamby's complaint claimed the Aces discriminated and retaliated against her, resulting in her January 2023 move to the Sparks.
According to AP News, “We are aware of today’s legal filing and are reviewing the complaint. We made the decision to move Hamby because we could get three bodies in her one contract, and we wanted to get three more people in,” Hammon said at the time. “I think it’s very evident (with) who we signed on why we made the move,” a WNBA spokesperson said.
The Aces did not immediately reply to demands for comment, although the team and coach Becky Hammon have previously denied the claims. In May 2023, Hammon stated that Hamby was transferred for strategic reasons, namely to prepare the team to acquire Candace Parker, a potential future Hall of Famer.
Hamby, a bronze medallist in 3x3 women's basketball in the just concluded Olympic Games, has already made public charges against the Aces. The WNBA reviewed the situation and banned Hammon in May 2023 for two games without pay. The club was also fined their first-round 2025 draft selection for offering illegal player bonuses to Hamby.
She was not paid for two games
After looking into the situation, the WNBA banned Hammon for two games without pay in May 2023. In addition, the team lost their first-round 2025 draft selection because they gave Hamby improper player perks. From 2015 to 2022 the first year the Aces were located in San Antonio as the Stars Hamby was a member of the team. She was selected to the All-Star squad in three of the last four seasons and won the league's Sixth Player of the Year award in 2019 and 2020.
They are also being investigated by the WNBA regarding a two-year sponsorship deal offered by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in which each player receives $25,000 per month and up to $100,000 per season.