A professional women’s basketball player says she was traded because she was pregnant.
WNBA basketball player Dearica Hamby filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Nevada against the league and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces. Hamby claims she was the victim of intimidation, discrimination and harassment over her the handling of her pregnancy, specifically that the Aces discriminated and retaliated against her, resulting in trade to the Los Angeles Sparks in January of last year.
Hamby filed her lawsuit in Las Vegas shortly after she won a bronze-medal at the Paris Olympics in 3X3 women's basketball.
“We are aware of today’s legal filing and are reviewing the complaint," a WNBA spokesperson said to the Associated Press.
The Timeline of Events
In the complaint, Hamby sets out the timeline of events regarding her pregnancy and the club’s alleged discrimination.”
- On June 28, 2022, she signed a two-year contract extension with the Aces;
- On July 18, 2022, Hamby learned she was pregnant with her second child;
- On August 6, 2022, she told Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon and other members of the coaching staff that she was pregnant;
- On August 8, 2022, Hamby had her pregnancy confirmed by her doctor and then informed Aces general manager Natalie Williams;
- On September 20, 2022, while on stage at the Aces’ victory parade, Hamby went public with her pregnancy;
- After her announcement, Hamby says she experienced “notable differences” in the way she was treated by the Aces Staff;
- On October 1, 2022, without any reason, the team’s general manager told Hamby that she had to move out of the team-provided housing;
- On January 15, 2023, in a phone call, Coach Hammon asked Hamby if her pregnancy was planned. Hamby said it was not, to which Hammon told her she was not taking “proper precautions.” The coach is said to have questioned her commitment and dedication to the team. In addition, Hamby says the coach accused her of signed a contract extension knowing she was already pregnant;
- In the phone call, Hamby was told she was being traded. Coach Hammon did not respond when Hamby then asked if she was being traded because she was pregnant.
The Aces and Hammon have refuted Hamby’s allegations. Coach Hammon said in May 2023 that Hamby was traded for strategic reasons, specifically so the club was in a position to sign likely future Hall of Famer Candace Parker.
“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," Hammon said at the time. “I think it’s very evident (with) who we signed on why we made the move.”
The League Investigates
The WNBA later conducted its an investigation into Hamby’s allegations and suspended Aces coach Becky Hammon for the first two games of the 2023 season for violating the league's respect in the workplace policies. In addition, the Aces’ first-round pick in 2025 was stripped for breaking rules on impermissible benefits in connection with Hamby's contract.
The team, which moved to Las Vegas from San Antonio in 2018 after being sold, said it stands behind its statement from May 2023 following a league investigation in which team officials said, “Our actions have always been consistent with our responsibility to hold ourselves to the highest professional standards, and the facts we presented were consistent with these standards. The well-being of our players and their families has and will always be at the forefront of who we are.”
However, Hamby insisted that the WNBA didn't do enough. She filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last fall, claiming discrimination based on sex (pregnancy) and retaliation. She says the league failed to properly investigate her complaints or to take further action to deter wrongful conduct
In addition to her Olympic medal, Hamby is a two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, three-time WNBA All Star, WNBA champion, and mother of two children.
Takeaway
Retaliation is one of the most frequently alleged basis of discrimination. Employers should know that federal law prohibit punishing job applicants or employees for asserting their rights to be free from employment discrimination including harassment.