When the Las Vegas Aces – the reigning WNBA champs who are favored to retain their title – tip-off their season on Saturday against the Seattle Storm, Becky Hammon won’t be on the bench.
The WNBA announced the conclusion of a months-long investigation into the Aces on Tuesday. The result is a two-game suspension without pay for Hammon, the team’s head coach, and the loss of a 2025 first-round draft pick.
“It is critical that we uphold the values of integrity and fairness, which create a level playing field for our teams,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “The Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations and have been disciplined accordingly. We are also disheartened by the violation of our Respect in the Workplace policies and remain committed to ensuring that enhanced training is conducted and standards are followed across all WNBA teams.”
The Aces’ situation is equal parts messy and complicated, and began months ago.
Here’s what we know.
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This began with an Instagram post from Dearica Hamby
On Jan. 21, the Aces traded forward Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for center Amanda Zahui B. and a second-round pick.
It was a deal that raised some eyebrows, considering Hamby was a key piece in helping the Aces win the 2022 title. She was an All-Star who started 32 games while averaging 9.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. And Hamby – a Wake Forest product and two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year – had just signed an extension with the Aces six months prior to the trade. Between the extension and the trade, Hamby had announced she was pregnant with her second child.
Shortly after the trade was made public, Hamby posted a lengthy message on her Instagram account, saying she was “heartbroken” by how the trade went down and how she was treated by the Aces.
“Being traded is a part of the business. Being lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against is not. I have had my character and my work ethic attacked. I was promised things to entice me to sign my extension that were not followed through on. … The unprofessional and unethical way that I have been treated has been traumatizing.”
Soon after that post went live, the WNBA Players Association called for an investigation into the Aces. In February, that investigation got underway — and it wasn’t just the comments Hamby made that the WNBA was looking into, but also an alleged impermissible benefits scheme under the table.
The result of the investigation is not a great look for Hammon
In describing the offensive remarks made to her about her pregnancy, Hamby never named anyone. But we now know – based on the WNBA’s report – that those words came from Hammon, the Aces’ head coach.
The WNBA’s statement on the investigation makes that clear:
“The Respect in the Workplace violation was related to comments made by Hammon to Hamby in connection with Hamby’s recent pregnancy.”
The WNBA says it interviewed 33 people and reviewed “numerous” texts, emails and other documents during the investigation. Further, the report from the league says “several individuals raised additional concerns about the conduct of the Aces during the most recent free agency period.”
While that last bit is pretty vague, it’s apparent that Hammon committed some wrongdoing here and her otherwise sterling reputation as a rising coach – not just in the WNBA, but in all of basketball – is going to take a hit.
I'm a little sad right now. Becky Hammon was also a player that I grew up watching for the San Antonio Silver Stars/Stars and to see her with this news, I'm just a little upset. #WNBATwitter
— Aneela (@WHoopsBlogger) May 16, 2023
In a story published Monday by Time, Hammon said that she believes the Aces acted appropriately and that the deal was a business decision to allow the Aces to sign other players. While it’s true that trading Hamby did open room on the Aces’ books – paving the way for them to add Candace Parker and Alysha Clark – it is inarguable that this situation could have been handled more delicately, in a way that was more professional and in a manner that didn’t traumatize Hamby.
The penalties
Hammon is suspended for two games, meaning she’ll miss the season-opener at the Storm on May 20 and a matchup with the LA Sparks – Hamby’s new team – on May 25. But Hammon will be back on the sidelines for the Aces’ home-opener on May 27, where they’ll receive their 2022 championship rings.
Further, and perhaps more importantly, the Aces will not have a first-round pick in the 2025 draft – unless of course, they trade for one later.
While the Aces aren’t expected to have a high pick in that draft – their roster, led by reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson, will likely still be pretty stacked by then, leading to plenty of wins to avoid the lottery – the 2024 and 2025 classes are loaded. And the draft is the place where a team can easily acquire top, blossoming talent for a cheap price.
The 2025 draft could include several star college players, like Cameron Brink, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Aneesah Morrow, Azzi Fudd, Georgia Amoore, Olivia Miles, Saniya Rivers, Sonia Citron, Shyanne Sellers, Janiah Barker and Deja Kelly. That’s 12 potential players that the Aces will miss out on.
WNBAPA, Aces reaction
There was at least one group of folks who thought the penalties for the Aces and Hammon didn’t go far enough. That would be the WNBA Players Association, which first called for the investigation.
In a statement, the WNBPA said, in part:
“Today’s decision regarding penalties, however, misses the mark. Where in this decision does this team or any other team across the League learn the lesson that respect in the workplace is the highest standard and a player’s dignity cannot be manipulated? … this penalty is far from appropriate. While taking away a future draft pick is significant and has never been done in the League’s history, it penalizes a future player by removing an opportunity to compete for a job.”
Meanwhile, the Aces denied any wrongdoing in a statement issued Tuesday evening.
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) May 16, 2023
While some considered this statement from the Aces to be unexpected, remember: This is, after all, a team owned by the son of Al Davis — the late, legendary adversarial NFL owner and it appears to follow directly from his playbook of continued denials.
