Federal Lawsuit Makes Stunning Accusation that a WNBA Coach Antagonized Player for Getting Pregnant — Then Retaliated by Trading Her

Nam Y. Huh/AP

Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has filed a lawsuit against the Las Vegas Aces for intimidation and retaliation in response to her getting pregnant.

Hamby re-signed with the Aces during the 2022 season. The next month, she found out she was pregnant with her second child. According to the federal lawsuit, the team was unhappy with the news and later rescinded a number of benefits her contract had entitled her to — including team-provided housing and paid tuition for her daughter’s private school.

In January 2023, Hamby was traded to the Sparks and took to social media to call the Aces out for their treatment of her. Following a league investigation, Aces coach Becky Hammon was suspended for two games.

After expressing displeasure with the league’s handling of the situation, Hamby took legal action.

In the lawsuit , Hamby claimed there was a noticeable shit in the way the organization treated her after she made the public announcement of her pregnancy. In addition to benefits being rescinded, she also accused Hammon of antagonizing her for getting pregnant. According to the suit, the two spoke on the phone when Hammon accused her of “not taking proper precautions to not get pregnant.” Hamby told her the pregnancy wasn’t planned.

Hammon allegedly “questioned Hamby’s commitment and dedication to the team,” even telling Hamby that she was a “question mark.” She also accused Hamby of signing the contract extension while knowingly pregnant, which Hamby denies. The coach allegedly told Hamby that she “did not hold up her end of the bargain” by getting pregnant a second time.

During this call, Hamby bluntly asked, “You’re trading because I’m pregnant?” In response, Hammon said, “What do you want me to do?”

The next day, Hammon and Hamby spoke on the phone again. Hammon informed her that she was being traded.

The lawsuit claims that the WNBA “took no steps to correct or address a clear-cut violation of Plaintiff Hamby’s rights under federal and state anti-discrimination law.

The Aces are also accused of retaliating in the form of directing its players and staff to “cease communication” with Hamby. They’re also accused of trying to “wrongfully obtain confidential medical records” from Hamby after telling her she’d been traded.

Hamby seeks compensation for “all economic losses of any kind,” as well as compensatory and punitive damages.

The Aces have not commented on the lawsuit.