July 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon reacts against the LA Sparks in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Aces coach Becky Hammon is adamant she never abused former Las Vegas forward Dearica Hamby after she became pregnant in July 2022.
Hamby filed a lawsuit in federal court last Monday against both the Aces and the WNBA, claiming she was the target of “repeated intimidation, discrimination, and retaliatory actions by the Aces” after revealing she was pregnant.
The team learned that three-time All-Star Hamby was pregnant just weeks after they learned they were expecting their child. Hamby was then traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023, a move Hamby believes was made because of the pregnancy.
Hamby also claims in the suit that the WNBA did not conduct a proper investigation.
Las Vegas played Hamby and the Sparks on Sunday and won 87-71. After the game, Hammon was asked about the lawsuit.
“Here are some facts,” Hammon said. “I’ve been in the WNBA or NBA for 25 years. I never got a complaint from HR. Never, not once. I still don’t, in fact, because Dearica didn’t file a complaint. She didn’t file a complaint with the players association, she didn’t file a complaint with the WNBA. Those are the facts.
“It’s also the fact that no one talked to her about trading her until Atlanta called us in January (2023). That’s a fact. So … it just didn’t happen. I’m sorry, bullying? I talked to her every day. If she wanted to practice, she practiced. If she didn’t want to, she didn’t. Really, extreme care. Extreme care.”
In May 2023, Hammon received a two-game suspension following a months-long WNBA investigation. The league said Hammon violated its policies on respect in the workplace.
Hamby, 30, spent the first eight seasons of her WNBA career with the Aces, who were known as the San Antonio Stars during their first three years in the league.
In 242 games (85 starts) with Las Vegas/San Antonio, Hamby averaged 9.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists from 2015-22. She won a ring with the Aces in 2022 and is a two-time Sixth Woman of the Year Award winner (2019, 2020).
This season, Hamby is averaging career highs in points (18.3), rebounds (10.1) and assists (3.6) in 27 games (all starts).
Hamby scored 13 points on Sunday, making 4 of 12 shots from the field.
–Field Level Media