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Becky Hammon responds to Dearica Hamby discrimination lawsuit with ‘some facts’
By Jenna Lemoncelli,
2024-08-19
Aces head coach Becky Hammon said she was able to give reporters “some facts” about the ongoing lawsuit filed by Sparks star Dearica Hamby last week accusing her and the WNBA of discrimination when she played for Las Vegas.
Hammon denied any wrongdoing when asked about the lawsuit, in which Hamby alleges her former employer discriminated against her while she was pregnant with her second child after she signed a contract extension with the Aces in June 2022.
“It just didn’t happen, … the bullying,” Hammon said in a postgame press conference after the Aces beat the Sparks 87-71 on Sunday. “I spoke with her every day. If she wanted to practice, she practiced. If she didn’t, she didn’t. Over-the-top care, actually.”
Becky Hammon answers a question regarding Dearica Hamby:
— Isabelle (@IsabelleMM2) August 19, 2024 Aces head coach Becky Hammon addressed the lawsuit Dearica Hamby filed against her and the Aces during a post game press conference on August 18, 2024. X
Hammon, who is unable to discuss the lawsuit at length as it is ongoing, offered “some facts” about it.
“I’ve been in either the WNBA or the NBA for now 25 years,” she said. “I’ve never had an HR complaint. Never, not once. I still didn’t, actually, because Dearica didn’t file any. She didn’t file with the players’ union, she didn’t file with the WNBA. Those are facts.
“It’s also factual that nobody made a call about trading her until Atlanta called us in January [2023]. That’s a fact.”
Dearica Hamby #5 of the Los Angeles Sparks drives to the basket during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on August 18, 2024 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NBAE via Getty Images
Hamby, now with the Sparks, was also booed by Aces fans whenever she touched the ball at Michelob Ultra Arena on Sunday.
The 18-page lawsuit, which Hamby filed on Aug. 12, claims “repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation” toward Hamby, including being traded to Los Angeles in January 2023.
The 6-foot-3 forward alleges the Aces took away her team-provided housing and didn’t pay her daughter’s school tuition after she told the organization and Hammon about her pregnancy.
The filing also alleges Hammon asked Hamby if she planned her pregnancy and questioned her dedication to the team.
Hammon previously denied those allegations and has maintained the decision to trade Hamby had nothing to do with her pregnancy.
Dearica Hamby #5 of the Los Angeles Sparks shoots a free throw during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on August 18, 2024 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NBAE via Getty Images
Hamby — who gave birth to her son, Legend, that April — went on to play in all 40 games last season with the Sparks.
She averaged 24.7 minutes and 8.9 points per game in 2023.
In May 2023, Hammon was hit with a two-game suspension by the WNBA for “a violation of league and team ‘respect in the workplace’ policies.”
The WNBA did not specify the reasons for the suspension, though it was believed to be connected to Hamby’s allegations.
The WNBA also stripped the Aces of a first-round draft pick in 2025 for a separate violation for impermissible player benefits involving Hamby.
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