The WNBA is confronting serious allegations in a lawsuit filed by former Las Vegas Aces player Dearica Hamby, who claims she experienced discrimination and retaliation related to her pregnancy, which ultimately resulted in her trade. Hamby's legal action against both the league and the Aces is exposing critical issues surrounding pregnancy discrimination within professional sports.
Despite the Las Vegas Aces and head coach Becky Hammon's claims of strategic reasoning behind Hamby's trade to the Los Angeles Sparks, the lawsuit alleges a darker narrative. Hammon has been accused of questioning the former All-Star's dedication to the sport during her pregnancy. This accusation surfaced in a KENS5 report, which detailed a contentious phone call where Hammon allegedly criticized Hamby's commitment and described her as a "question mark."
After filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Hamby has been given permission to pursue her grievances in court. Her lawsuit alleges that the WNBA inadequately investigated her claims, resulting in what she views as a lenient penalty for Hammon: a two-game suspension without pay. According to a MySanAntonio report, the core of the allegations is that Hammon criticized Hamby for "not taking the proper precautions to not get pregnant," thereby questioning her commitment to her profession.
As the legal case unfolds, Hamby's attorneys said in a statement to KEN5, "The WNBA is, at its core, a workplace, and federal laws have long shielded pregnant women from discrimination on the job." This comment came in the wake of the EEOC granting Hamby the "right to sue" after their investigation.
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