Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon continues to push back against former Aces player Dearica Hamby’s assertion that she was mistreated and traded due to her pregnancy. Hamby, who was traded to Los Angeles in January 2023, had been with the organization from 2015 to 2022, during which she earned the league Sixth Player of the Year accolade in 2019 and 2020. Despite going public with her allegations last year, she took legal action by suing the WNBA and her former team in federal court last Monday.

Hammon responded to the accusations, highlighting her clean record of 25 years in either the WNBA or NBA without any HR complaints. She emphasized that Hamby did not file any complaints with the players’ union or the WNBA, and noted that the decision to trade her only came about in January 2023 when Atlanta expressed interest. Hammon defended the trade as a strategic move to accommodate multiple players within one contract and to facilitate the signing of renowned player Candace Parker.

Following an investigation by the WNBA, Hammon was suspended for two games without pay in May 2023, and the club faced penalties including the loss of their first-round 2025 draft pick due to impermissible player benefits provided to Hamby. Despite these repercussions, Hamby felt the league’s actions were insufficient. She lodged a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September, alleging discrimination, and later amended the filing in October. The EEOC subsequently granted her the “right to sue” in May.

The ongoing dispute between Hamby and the Las Vegas Aces sheds light on the complexities surrounding allegations of mistreatment, discrimination, and strategic decisions within professional sports organizations. It underscores the importance of fair treatment, accountability, and transparency in the sports industry.