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By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS — Sparks All-Star Dearica Hamby filed a lawsuit in federal court on Monday against the WNBA and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, concerning her treatment while pregnant.
The lawsuit alleges that the Aces discriminated against and retaliated towards Hamby, leading to her trade to the Sparks in January 2023. It also claims that the WNBA failed to adequately investigate the issue.
A spokesperson for the WNBA stated, “We are aware of today’s legal filing and are reviewing the complaint.” The Aces have not yet responded to requests for comment, but previously, Coach Becky Hammon denied the allegations, saying that Hamby was traded for strategic reasons to make room for signing Candace Parker.
Hamby, a bronze-medal winner in 3X3 women’s basketball at the Paris Olympic Games, has publicly accused the Aces in the past. In the lawsuit, she is seeking economic losses, compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney’s fees.
The WNBA conducted a thorough investigation before penalizing Hammon with a two-game suspension in May 2023 for violating workplace policies. The Aces also lost their 2025 first-round draft pick for providing impermissible player benefits to Hamby.
Despite these actions, Hamby felt the punishment was insufficient and filed a complaint with the EEOC, which ruled that she had the “right to sue” in May.
Hamby’s attorneys stated, “The WNBA is a workplace, and pregnant women are protected from discrimination by federal laws. The Aces punished Dearica Hamby for becoming pregnant, while the WNBA’s response was inadequate. Every mother in the league now knows that childbirth could negatively impact their career, which is unacceptable in a professional sports league like the WNBA.”
Hamby, who played for the Aces from 2015-2022, gave birth to her son, Legend, in April 2023 and played all 40 games with the Sparks last season.
This season, Hamby is averaging career-highs of 19.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of off-court issues for the Aces, including an ongoing investigation by the WNBA regarding a sponsorship deal offered by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Originally Published: August 12, 2024 at 4:52 p.m.
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