Los Angeles Sparks All-Star Dearica Hamby has filed a lawsuit against the WNBA and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, in federal court. The lawsuit alleges discrimination and retaliation by the Aces, which ultimately led to her trade to the Sparks in January 2023.
The WNBA spokesperson stated that they are currently reviewing the complaint, while the Aces have not yet responded to requests for comment. However, the club and coach Becky Hammon have previously denied the allegations, citing strategic reasons for trading Hamby to make room for signing Candace Parker.
Hamby, a bronze-medal winner in 3X3 women's basketball at the recent Olympic Games, had made public claims against the Aces in the past. Following an investigation by the WNBA, Hammon was suspended for two games without pay, and the club was penalized with the loss of their first-round 2025 draft pick for providing impermissible player benefits to Hamby.
Despite these actions, Hamby felt that the league's response was inadequate and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which ruled in May that she had the right to sue. Her attorneys emphasized that federal laws protect pregnant women from discrimination in the workplace and criticized the Aces for allegedly mistreating Hamby for becoming pregnant.
Hamby had been with the Aces organization since 2015 when they were based in San Antonio as the Stars. She was a two-time league Sixth Player of the Year and a three-time All-Star during her tenure with the team. This season, Hamby is posting career-high averages of 19.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
Aside from the lawsuit, the Aces are also under investigation by the WNBA for a sponsorship deal offered by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which provides significant financial benefits to players.
