Dearica Hamby, a star player for the Los Angeles Sparks, has filed a lawsuit against the WNBA and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, over her treatment while she was pregnant. The lawsuit alleges discrimination and retaliation by the Aces, which ultimately led to her trade to the Sparks in January 2023. The WNBA is currently reviewing the complaint while the Aces have not yet responded to the allegations. The Aces’ coach, Becky Hammon, previously stated that Hamby was traded for strategic reasons to make room for signing Candace Parker.
Hamby, who recently won a bronze medal in 3X3 women’s basketball at the Olympic Games, had previously made claims against the Aces. The WNBA investigated the matter and suspended Hammon for two games without pay in May 2023, while also docking the club’s first-round draft pick in 2025. However, Hamby felt that the league’s actions were not sufficient and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September, amending it in October. The EEOC ruled in May that she had the right to sue, citing federal laws that protect pregnant women from discrimination in the workplace.
Hamby’s attorneys have released a statement saying that the WNBA is a workplace and pregnant women should be shielded from discrimination. They claim that the Aces punished Hamby for becoming pregnant and that the league’s response was inadequate. The lawsuit highlights the potential career consequences that pregnancy could have for women in the WNBA, which is seen as a prosperous and dynamic women’s professional sports league. Hamby played for the Aces organization from 2015-2022, earning accolades such as league Sixth Player of the Year and multiple All-Star selections.
Despite the off-court issues with the Aces, Hamby has continued to excel on the court, averaging career highs in points and rebounds this season. The ongoing investigation by the WNBA into a sponsorship deal offered to the Aces by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is another issue facing the team. The deal reportedly provides each player with $25,000 per month and up to $100,000 per season. The lawsuit filed by Dearica Hamby sheds light on the challenges faced by pregnant athletes in professional sports and raises questions about the treatment of women in the sports industry. The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for the WNBA and its policies regarding pregnancy discrimination.
