Sparks Star Dearica Hamby Files Lawsuit Against Aces and WNBA
Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has made some serious allegations against her former team the Las Vegas Aces. Hamby filed a lawsuit against the Aces and the WNBA to the U.S. District Court of Nevada on Monday.
The complaint alleges Hamby was the victim of "repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation". The allegations are regarding the time period leading up to and following her trade to the Sparks in early 2023 when Hamby was pregnant.
Hamby's attorneys released a statement saying in part, "The WNBA is, at its core, a workplace, and federal laws have long shielded pregnant women from discrimination on the job. The world champion Aces exiled Dearica Hamby for becoming pregnant and the WNBA responded with a light tap on the wrist."
The light tap on the wrist verbiage likely referencing the two-game suspension Aces coach Becky Hammon received in May of 2023 following a WNBA investigation into discrimination claims made by Hamby. Said investigation also resulted in the Aces losing a first round pick in 2025.
Hamby's suit accuses the Aces of mistreating her upon finding out she was pregnant through a series of allegations. The lawsuit alleges that Hammon questioned her dedication and commitment, that she was told she must vacate team provided housing, and that the franchise attempted to wrongfully obtain her medical records after she was no longer a member of the team. The legal document is 18-pages long and contains numerous other accusations as well.
Neither the Aces nor the league have commented on Hamby's allegations at this juncture.
ROBIN LUNDBERG
Robin Lundberg is a media veteran and hoops head who has spent the bulk of his career with iconic brands like Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His insights have also been featured on platforms such as Fox and CNN and he can currently be heard hosting shows for Sirius XM and on his burgeoning YouTube show. And now he brings his basketball expertise to Women's Fastbreak on SI!