Dearica Hamby Suing WNBA, Las Vegas Aces For Discrimination During Pregnancy

Dearica Hamby, star forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, is taking the battle with her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, further than the court, as she is suing them and the WNBA for alleged discrimination she experienced while pregnant.

Per the lawsuit, Hamby is seeking “economic losses, compensatory and punitive damages and attorney’s fees” for “repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation” from the Aces. The WNBA is being sued for what she claimed was an improper investigation into the issue.

It is worth noting that the league did conduct a six-month investigation, which included interviews with 33 people. Text messages, emails, and other relevant documents were also reviewed. At the end of the investigation, Aces head coach Becky Hammon received a two-game suspension for what was deemed “a violation of league and team ‘respect in the workplace’ policies.” The league also took away the Aces’ first-round draft pick in 2025.

Hamby, who was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023 after the alleged discrimination and intimidation took place, was not happy with the punishments that the Las Vegas Aces and Becky Hammon received, given the nature of her allegations. She claimed that the Aces revoked their housing offer and stopped covering tuition for her daughter, Amaya, after finding out she was pregnant again in 2022. She stated that Hammon also asked if she intentionally got pregnant and questioned her dedication to the team.

“[Hamby’s pregnancy] wasn’t a problem and it never was why we made the decision,” Hammon said of the trade sending Hamby to Los Angeles. “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. I think it’s very evident [with] who we signed on why we made the move.”

In September 2023, Hamby filed a complaint with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) and this past May she got a “Notice of Right to Sue,” giving her 90 days to file a lawsuit, per ESPN. Hamby’s fight is far from over, despite the success she has experienced this year. She is averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Sparks, was named a WNBA All-Star, and helped the USA women’s 3×3 team secure a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.