LAS VEGAS — Metro Atlanta native and basketball star Dearica Hamby filed a federal lawsuit against the Las Vegas Aces and the WNBA on Monday, alleging intimidation, discrimination and harassment over her pregnancy.
Hamby's lawsuit alleged the Aces discriminated and retaliated against her, leading to her January 2023 trade to the Sparks. The suit comes following her performance in the Paris Olympics, where she was a bronze-medal winner in 3X3 women's basketball.
“We are aware of today’s legal filing and are reviewing the complaint," a WNBA spokesperson said to the Associated Press.
In the lawsuit obtained by 11Alive, Hamby details the timeline of events regarding her pregnancy and the Aces' alleged discrimination.
- On June 28, 2022, Hamby signed a two-year contract extension with the Aces
- On July 18, 2022, Hamby learned she was pregnant
- On Aug. 6, 2022, Hamby told Hammon she was pregnant
- On Aug. 8, 2022, Hamby had her pregnancy confirmed by her doctor and then let Aces general manager Natalie Williams know about it
- On Sept. 20, 2022, Hamby went public with her pregnancy while celebrating Las Vegas' title
In January 2023, Hamby was traded from the Aces to the Sparks, in which she later complained about emotional trauma while in Las Vegas' franchise.
The Aces did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but the club and coach Becky Hammon previously refuted the allegations. Hammon said in May 2023 that Hamby was traded for strategic reasons, namely putting the club in position to sign likely future Hall of Famer Candace Parker.
“We made the decision to move Hamby because we could get three bodies in her one contract, and we wanted to get three more people in," Hammon said at the time. “I think it’s very evident (with) who we signed on why we made the move.”
The WNBA later conducted its own investigation into the allegations and suspended Aces coach Becky Hammon for the first two games of the 2023 season for violating the league's respect in the workplace policies. The Aces then had their first-round pick in 2025 taken away for breaking rules on impermissible benefits in connection with Hamby's contract.
Hamby insisted the league didn't go far enough. She filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September saying she was discriminated against and amended the filing in October.
According to the lawsuit, the EEOC ruled in May she had a “right to sue.”
“The WNBA is, at its core, a workplace, and federal laws have long shielded pregnant women from discrimination on the job," Hamby’s attorneys said in a statement. "The world champion Aces exiled Dearica Hamby for becoming pregnant and the WNBA responded with a light tap on the wrist. Every potential mother in the league is now on notice that childbirth could change their career prospects overnight. That can’t be right in one of the most prosperous and dynamic women’s professional sports leagues in America.”
Hamby played for the organization from 2015-22, beginning when the Aces were based in San Antonio as the Stars. She was named the league Sixth Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020 and made the All-Star team three of the past four seasons.
This season, Hamby is averaging career highs 19.2 points and 10.0 rebounds.
Hamby's lawsuit is the latest off-court issue for the Aces.
They also are being investigated by the WNBA regarding a two-year sponsorship deal offered by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in which each player receives $25,000 per month and up to $100,000 per season.
