Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon addressed the ongoing discrimination lawsuit filed by former Aces player Dearica Hamby, maintaining her stance that the organization did not mistreat Hamby or trade her due to her pregnancy.
Hammon denies any bullying took place
During a postgame press conference after the Aces’ 87-71 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks, Hammon reiterated that the decision to trade Hamby to the Sparks in January 2023 was purely a business move and unrelated to Hamby’s pregnancy.
“It just didn’t happen, … the bullying,”Hammon stated.
“I spoke with her every day. If she wanted to practice, she practiced. If she didn’t, she didn’t. Over-the-top care, actually.”
Hamby’s lawsuit, filed last week, alleges that she faced “repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation” from the Aces, including being traded shortly after informing the team of her pregnancy.
The lawsuit also claims that the Aces withdrew team-provided housing and failed to pay for her daughter’s school tuition following the announcement.
Hammon, who is limited in what she can say publicly due to the ongoing legal proceedings, offered some context to reporters, emphasizing her extensive career in professional basketball.
“Here’s some facts,”Hammon began.
“I’ve been in either the WNBA or the NBA for now 25 years. I’ve never had an HR complaint. Never, not once. I still didn’t, actually, because Dearica didn’t file any. She didn’t file with the players’ union, she didn’t file with the WNBA. Those are facts.”
WNBA already conducted an extensive investigation
The WNBA conducted a monthslong investigation into Hamby’s claims, which included interviews with 33 individuals and a review of numerous documents.
While Hammon received a two-game suspension in May 2023 for violating the league’s “respect in the workplace” policies, the league did not specify if the suspension was directly related to Hamby’s allegations.
The Aces were also penalized by losing a first-round draft pick in 2025 due to a separate violation involving impermissible player benefits.
Despite the ongoing litigation, Hammon remains firm in her assertion that the trade decision was based on roster needs rather than Hamby’s personal circumstances.
“It came down to math in business. That’s all it was. Nothing personal,”Hammon said previously.
“I had a great relationship with Hamby the whole time.”
Dearica Hamby, now playing for the Sparks, continues to excel on the court.
She participated in all 40 games last season and was selected as a WNBA All-Star this July.
News
Unbelievable! What Mike McDaniel Did to Tua Tagovailoa After His Latest Concussion Caught on Camera
Tua Tagovailoa (Photo via TheMozKnowz/Twitter) Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appeared to suffer a head injury during Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, and it did not look good. Tagovailoa…
Travis Kelce Talks US Open Controversy with Taylor Swift After Body Language Expert Calls Out ‘Red Flags
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) While Jannik Sinner took on Taylor Fritz at the US Open men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium,…
WATCH: Al Michaels Faces Backlash for ‘Ridiculous’ Comments on Tua Tagovailoa’s Head Trauma & Damar Hamlin’s Incident
Al Michaels on TNF (Photo via TNF on Amazon Prime) It’s been a very rough night for the Miami Dolphins. And you can probably say the same…
Travis Kelce vs. Elon Musk? Fans Demand a Showdown After Musk’s ‘Creepy’ X Post About Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and Elon Musk (Photos via Getty Images) Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, is being blasted on his X social media…
BREAKING: Taylor Swift Issues Major Relationship Alert to Travis Kelce Before the NFL Season Begins
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) The relationship between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift has taken over the NFL world like wildfire. Last…
Shannon Sharpe’s Future at ESPN in Jeopardy: Will the Network Fire Him After Controversial Tape Scandal?
Shannon Sharpe is scheduled to return to ESPN’s First Take next week, following an accidental Instagram live stream that raised concerns about his future with the network. The incident,…
End of content
No more pages to load