WNBA Calls Dearica Hamby’s Mistreatment Claims ‘False’ in Filing to Dismiss Player’s Lawsuit

The basketball star alleged that the Las Vegas Aces engaged in discriminatory practices and criticized the league for not thoroughly investigating the situation in a lawsuit filed in August.

The WNBA and Las Vegas Aces have denied the allegations of discrimination made by basketball player Dearica Hamby.

Court records obtained by the Associated Press and Las Vegas Review-Journal revealed that both the WNBA and the Aces have filed separate motions in Nevada District Court seeking the dismissal of the lawsuit brought by the 30-year-old player.

The motions argue that Hamby’s complaint, filed on Aug. 12, failed to provide sufficient basis for the relief sought, as reported by the Review-Journal.

The Aces, the team Hamby played for before being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, have requested the dismissal of all claims made by Hamby.

The WNBA argues in its motion that Hamby is not an employee of the league, thereby absolving them of any responsibility in the matter.

They also refuted Hamby’s claim of failure to act by citing the two-game suspension without pay for coach Becky Hammon and the loss of their first-round 2025 draft pick as consequences of Hamby’s initial complaint against Hammon.

PEOPLE has reached out to the WNBA, Aces, and Sparks for comment.

Hammon addressed the allegations during a postgame press conference on Sunday, Aug. 19, just a week after Hamby filed the lawsuit.

She pointed out that in her 25 years of experience in the WNBA or NBA, she has never had an HR complaint. Hammon stated that Hamby had not officially filed a complaint against her with the league or the players’ union.

Hamby’s lawsuit claims that her relationship with the Aces deteriorated after she announced her pregnancy during the team’s championship parade in 2022, leading to her trade to the Sparks.

This season, Hamby has shown significant improvement, averaging 16.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game for Los Angeles.

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