WNBA All-Star files discrimination lawsuit against the league and her former team
By Jack Aylmer (Reporter/Producer), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)
In 2024, the WNBA enjoyed a record-breaking season in terms of viewership and attendance. However, the league now faces a potential legal battle involving one of its prominent players, three-time WNBA All-Star Dearica Hamby.
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All-Star Dearica Hamby sues WNBA, Aces alleging discrimination, retaliation for being pregnant
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsAll-Star, Olympian Dearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against WNBA, Las Vegas Aces
Click to see story on USA TodayWNBA player Dearica Hamby files lawsuit against league and former team over alleged treatment while pregnant
Click to see story on CNNWNBA star Dearica Hamby sues league and former team alleging discrimination and retaliation over pregnancy
Click to see story on CBS NewsSparks’ Dearica Hamby sues WNBA, Aces alleging discrimination
Click to see story on ESPNSparks’ Dearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against Aces, WNBA
Click to see story on Los Angeles TimesWNBA star Dearica Hamby sues the league and her former team for discrimination
Click to see story on nprDearica Hamby Files Lawsuit Against Aces, WNBA for Alleged Discrimination
Click to see story on Sports IllustratedWNBA star Dearica Hamby sues former team, league for alleged discrimination over pregnancy
Click to see story on NBC NewsWas WNBA basketball player Dearica Hamby discriminated against because she was pregnant?
Click to see story on SpiegelDiscriminated against because she’s pregnant? US basketball player Hamby sues professional league WNBA
Click to see story on der Standard ATDearica Hamby files lawsuit against WNBA, Las Vegas Aces
Click to see story on AJCFormer San Antonio Stars player files lawsuit over pregnancy, trade
Click to see story on San Antonio Express-NewsWNBA star Dearica Hamby files lawsuit against league and former team over alleged treatment while pregnant
Click to see story on KIFIWNBA star Dearica Hamby files lawsuit against league and former team over alleged treatment while pregnant
Click to see story on KVIAFormer Aces player files lawsuit against team, WNBA
Click to see story on Las Vegas Review-JournalSparks’ Dearica Hamby sues WNBA, Aces over pregnancy discrimination
Click to see story on WTVBWNBA star Dearica Hamby files lawsuit against league and former team over alleged treatment while pregnant
Click to see story on KWWLDearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against WNBA, Aces alleging unlawful workplace discrimination, retaliation – Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Click to see story on Hawaii Tribune-HeraldWNBA’s Dearica Hamby sues Las Vegas Aces and league for alleged discrimination
Click to see story on KTNVWNBA player sues league, former team for discrimination and retaliation after she told them she was pregnant
Click to see story on The BlazeWNBA All-Star Sues League for Discrimination After Trade From Las Vegas Aces Following Pregnancy
Click to see story on OutkickWNBA champion Dearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against league, Aces alleging discrimination
Click to see story on Fox NewsRight
Untracked Bias
Sparks’ Dearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against Aces for discrimination over pregnancy
Click to see story on CBS SportsLongtime WNBA Player Files A Federal Lawsuit Against The League
Click to see story on The SpunSparks’ Dearica Hamby sues WNBA, Aces over pregnancy discrimination
Click to see story on Blue Water Healthy LivingHamby, who recently won a bronze medal in the Olympic three-on-three women’s basketball event, filed a lawsuit during the week of Aug. 11, against the WNBA and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces.
Hamby claimed the Aces subjected her to “repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation.” She said the acts ultimately culminated with Hamby’s trade to the Los Angeles Sparks last year. According to the lawsuit, the WNBA did not take adequate steps to address or rectify the situation.
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“The WNBA is, at its core, a workplace, and federal laws have long shielded pregnant women from discrimination on the job,” Hamby’s legal team said in a statement. “The world champion Aces exiled Dearica Hamby for becoming pregnant and the WNBA responded with a light tap on the wrist. Every potential mother in the league is now on notice that childbirth could change their career prospects overnight. That can’t be right in one of the most prosperous and dynamic women’s professional sports leagues in America.”
Just seven months before her trade, Hamby had signed a two-year contract extension with the Aces. Shortly after she learned of her pregnancy, she informed Aces head coach Becky Hammon. Then, Hamby alleged that her treatment by the team changed significantly.
Hammon reportedly questioned her player’s commitment to the team. The coach also allegedly accused Hamby of knowing about her pregnancy when she signed her contract extension.
The lawsuit further claims that after Hamby revealed her pregnancy, the Aces failed to uphold certain terms of her contract, including paying her daughter’s school tuition and providing team housing. Hamby alleged that she was instructed to leave team-provided housing without explanation.
When pressed by Hamby about the reason for her being dealt to the Sparks, Hammon allegedly “did not deny” accusations from Hamby that she was being traded from the Aces because she was pregnant.
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Following the trade, a WNBA investigation led to a two-game suspension for Hammon. The WNBA Players Association criticized the penalty at the time, calling it insufficient. The WNBA stated that it is reviewing Hamby’s recent lawsuit. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for “a loss of reputational prestige and brand value” and “loss of marketing and/or endorsement opportunities.”
[JACK AYLMER]
THE WNBA HAS HAD A RECORD BREAKING SEASON IN TERMS OF VIEWERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE.
BUT NOW AMIDST ALL THAT SUCCESS, THE LEAGUE IS FACING A POTENTIAL LEGAL BATTLE WITH ONE OF ITS OWN PLAYERS.
RECENT BRONZE MEDALIST AND THREE TIME WNBA ALL-STAR DEARICA HAMBY FILED A DISCRIMINATION AND WRONGFUL RETALIATION LAWSUIT THIS WEEK AGAINST BOTH THE LEAGUE AND HER FORMER TEAM – THE LAS VEGAS ACES.
HAMBY IS ACCUSING THE TEAM OF TREATING HER UNFAIRLY BECAUSE SHE WAS PREGNANT.
SHE CLAIMS SHE WAS SUBJECTED TO REPEATED ACTS OF INTIMIDATION, DISCRIMINATION, AND RETALIATION THAT CULMINATED IN THE ACES TRADING HER TO THE L.A. SPARKS LAST YEAR.
ALL WHILE THE WNBA ALLEGEDLY TOOK NO STEPS TO CORRECT OR ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
JUST SEVEN MONTHS BEFORE THE ACES TRADED HER, HAMBY HAD SIGNED A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH TEAM.
HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER RE-SIGNING, HAMBY LEARNED SHE WAS PREGNANT AND INFORMED HEAD COACH BECKY HAMMON.
HAMMON IS SAID TO HAVE RESPONDED BY QUESTIONING HER PLAYER’S COMMITMENT TO THE TEAM AND ACCUSING HAMBY OF KNOWING SHE WAS PREGNANT WHEN SHE SIGNED HER EXTENSION.
IN HER FILING, HAMBY SAID SHE THEN EXPERIENCED NOTABLE CHANGES IN THE WAY SHE WAS TREATED BY ACES STAFF MEMBERS AFTER THE PREGNANCY WAS REVEALED-
WITH THE SUIT SAYING THE TEAM BEGAN FAILING TO PAY FOR HAMBY’S DAUGHTER’S SCHOOL TUITION AND INSTRUCTING HER TO LEAVE TEAM-PROVIDED HOUSING WITHOUT EXPLANATION-
BOTH OF WHICH WENT AGAINST THE TERMS OF HER CONTRACT.
When pressed, Hammon allegedly did not deny accusations from Hamby that she was being traded from the aces because she was pregnant.
AFTER THE TRADE, A WNBA INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN HAMMON BEING SUSPENDED FOR TWO GAMES-
AN OUTCOME THE LEAGUE’S PLAYERS ASSOCIATION SAID AT THE TIME QUOTE MISSES THE MARK.
MEANWHILE, THE WNBA HAS INDICATED IT IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING HAMBY’S RECENT LAWSUIT-
WHICH SEEKS UNSPECIFIED COMPENSATORY AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
All-Star Dearica Hamby sues WNBA, Aces alleging discrimination, retaliation for being pregnant
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsAll-Star, Olympian Dearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against WNBA, Las Vegas Aces
Click to see story on USA TodayWNBA player Dearica Hamby files lawsuit against league and former team over alleged treatment while pregnant
Click to see story on CNNWNBA star Dearica Hamby sues league and former team alleging discrimination and retaliation over pregnancy
Click to see story on CBS NewsSparks’ Dearica Hamby sues WNBA, Aces alleging discrimination
Click to see story on ESPNSparks’ Dearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against Aces, WNBA
Click to see story on Los Angeles TimesWNBA star Dearica Hamby sues the league and her former team for discrimination
Click to see story on nprDearica Hamby Files Lawsuit Against Aces, WNBA for Alleged Discrimination
Click to see story on Sports IllustratedWNBA star Dearica Hamby sues former team, league for alleged discrimination over pregnancy
Click to see story on NBC NewsWas WNBA basketball player Dearica Hamby discriminated against because she was pregnant?
Click to see story on SpiegelDiscriminated against because she’s pregnant? US basketball player Hamby sues professional league WNBA
Click to see story on der Standard ATDearica Hamby files lawsuit against WNBA, Las Vegas Aces
Click to see story on AJCFormer San Antonio Stars player files lawsuit over pregnancy, trade
Click to see story on San Antonio Express-NewsWNBA star Dearica Hamby files lawsuit against league and former team over alleged treatment while pregnant
Click to see story on KIFIWNBA star Dearica Hamby files lawsuit against league and former team over alleged treatment while pregnant
Click to see story on KVIAFormer Aces player files lawsuit against team, WNBA
Click to see story on Las Vegas Review-JournalSparks’ Dearica Hamby sues WNBA, Aces over pregnancy discrimination
Click to see story on WTVBWNBA star Dearica Hamby files lawsuit against league and former team over alleged treatment while pregnant
Click to see story on KWWLDearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against WNBA, Aces alleging unlawful workplace discrimination, retaliation – Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Click to see story on Hawaii Tribune-HeraldWNBA’s Dearica Hamby sues Las Vegas Aces and league for alleged discrimination
Click to see story on KTNVWNBA player sues league, former team for discrimination and retaliation after she told them she was pregnant
Click to see story on The BlazeWNBA All-Star Sues League for Discrimination After Trade From Las Vegas Aces Following Pregnancy
Click to see story on OutkickWNBA champion Dearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against league, Aces alleging discrimination
Click to see story on Fox NewsRight
Untracked Bias
Sparks’ Dearica Hamby files federal lawsuit against Aces for discrimination over pregnancy
Click to see story on CBS SportsLongtime WNBA Player Files A Federal Lawsuit Against The League
Click to see story on The SpunSparks’ Dearica Hamby sues WNBA, Aces over pregnancy discrimination
Click to see story on Blue Water Healthy LivingStraight to your inbox.
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