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Las Vegas Aces and Dearica Hamby have reached a mutual agreement to dismiss her lawsuit against the club and the league over alleged pregnancy discrimination, disclosed in a filing with a federal court in Nevada on Thursday.
Hamby, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, filed a lawsuit against the Aces and the WNBA, accusing the team of improper treatment and retaliation because of her pregnancy, which reportedly led to her trade to the Sparks in January 2023.
In May 2024, a federal judge dismissed Hamby’s claim against the WNBA, noting that she had not shown that the league mishandled the investigation into the Aces.
Hamby’s lawsuit was filed in August 2024; it alleged discrimination and retaliation by the Aces and the league that allegedly led to the trade of the player to the Sparks.
In September 2024, the league and the club filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
On Thursday, the Aces and Hamby filed a motion with the U.S. District Court in Nevada to dismiss the case with prejudice, i.e., to bar refiling. Each side will bear their own attorneys’ fees.
Hamby told Front Office Sports that she would not discuss the outcome of the case, but her position and the statements in the lawsuit will remain unchanged.
There were no immediate comments from the Aces.
The Coach’s Role and the Player’s Words
Coach Becky Hammon previously said that trading Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks would give the club the opportunity to sign a promising future star of the league – Candace Parker.
“I’ve been in the WNBA or NBA for 25 years already.”
“I have never had a complaint to HR. Never, not once. Actually, I still have not had one because Dearica didn’t file any. She didn’t file with the players’ union, she didn’t file with the WNBA. These are facts.”
– Becky Hammon
“Also the fact that no one called about her trade until Atlanta called us in January 2023. That’s a fact. Yes… it simply didn’t happen.”
– Becky Hammon
Hamby, a three-time All-Star, last season averaged about 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, and has a reputation as a two-time recipient of the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award for the Aces.
The Aces are currently working toward completing their third championship season in four years.
