Subscribe to Fox News to access this content
You have reached the maximum number of articles. Log in or create a FREE account to continue reading.
By entering your email and pressing Continue, you agree to Fox News’ terms Terms of use E Privacy Policywhich includes our Financial Incentive Notice.
Please enter a valid email address.
Last month, the Los Angeles Sparks star Dearica Hamby has filed a lawsuit against the WNBA and the franchise with which she spent most of her professional basketball career, the Las Vegas Aces.
Hamby, a first-round pick of the San Antonio Stars, filed the paperwork in Nevada District Court on Aug. 12. The Stars moved to Las Vegas for the 2018 season and were renamed the axes.
The complaint concerns three times WNBA All-Star faced “repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation” before and after being traded to the Sparks in 2023. Hamby was pregnant at the time. Nearly a month later, the WNBA and Aces filed motions to dismiss Hamby’s federal lawsuit.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
LA Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) is introduced before a game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on August 28, 2024. (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)
The league argued that Hamby has no right to sue the WNBA because it does not employ her.
An investigation into Hamby’s discrimination allegations was launched in 2023. Aces coach Becky Hammon received a two-game suspension following the investigation. The franchise also forfeited its first-round draft selection. But Hamby’s lawyers argued that the league’s response to the situation was inadequate.
“The WNBA is, at its core, a workplace, and federal law has long protected pregnant women from employment discrimination. The world champion Aces exiled Dearica Hamby for becoming pregnant, and the WNBA responded with a light slap on the wrist,” Dana Sniegocki, Erin Norgaard and Artur Davis of HKM Employment Lawyers said in a statement released after the lawsuit was filed.
Dearica Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks prepares to shoot a free throw against the New York Liberty on June 20, 2024 in Brooklyn, NY. (Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)
However, the WNBA is now disputing Hamby’s claim that the league failed to adequately investigate her allegations. The league has also denied that it failed to extend Hamby’s marketing deal with the WNBA as a form of retaliation. The league has pointed to the nine-month gap between her complaint and the expiration of her contract as evidence of a lack of causation.
Meanwhile, the Aces argued in the motion that Hamby had provided no evidence of retaliation or discrimination.
WNBA CHAMPION DEARICA HAMBY FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST LEAGUE, ACES ALLEGES DISCRIMINATION
“Hamby’s complaint alleges that the Aces traded the rights to her contract because she was pregnant and retaliated against her after she created a social media post alleging pregnancy discrimination,” the club said in its statement. “Hamby’s false allegations against the Aces fail to support a plausible claim for relief.”
Dearica Hamby of the Las Vegas Aces poses for a photo with the trophy after Game 4 of the 2022 WNBA Finals, Sept. 18, 2022, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
Hammon addressed the lawsuit on August 18 during a press conference following the Aces’ victory The Sparks.
“I’ve been in the WNBA or the NBA for 25 years,” Hammon said at the time. “I’ve never had a complaint from HR. Never, not once. In fact, I haven’t filed one yet, because Dearica hasn’t filed one. She hasn’t filed one complaint with the players union. She hasn’t filed one complaint with the WNBA. Those are the facts.
“It’s also a fact that no one called to trade her until Atlanta called us in January (2023). That’s a fact. So… it just didn’t happen.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Hamby is a two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year and was a member of the Aces’ 2022 WNBA championship team.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand sign up for la newsletter di Fox News Sports Huddle.
What are the key allegations made by Dearica Hamby in her lawsuit against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces regarding discrimination and retaliation?
Table of Contents
WNBA Star Dearica Hamby Files Lawsuit Against League and Aces Alleging Discrimination
Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has filed a lawsuit against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces, alleging that she was subject to repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination, and retaliation due to her pregnancy. The lawsuit, filed in Nevada District Court on August 12, claims that the Aces traded her contract rights because she was pregnant and retaliated against her after she spoke out about pregnancy discrimination on social media [[1]].
Hamby, a first-round pick of the San Antonio Stars (now the Aces), alleges that she faced discrimination and retaliation from the Aces, leading to her trade to the Sparks in January 2023. The WNBA and Aces have since filed motions to dismiss Ham
What are the key allegations made by Dearica Hamby in her lawsuit against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces?
WNBA Star Dearica Hamby Files Lawsuit Against League and Las Vegas Aces Alleging Discrimination and Retaliation
Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has filed a lawsuit against the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, alleging discrimination and retaliation [[3]]. Hamby, a three-time WNBA All-Star, claims that she was subjected to repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination, and retaliation by the Aces, leading to her trade to the Sparks in January 2023 [[1]].
The lawsuit, filed in Nevada District Court on August 12, 2024, alleges that Hamby was mistreated and retaliated against because of her pregnancy [[2]]. The Aces traded Hamby to the Sparks in January 2023, while she was pregnant, which Hamby’s lawyers argue was a clear act of discrimination [[3]]. The lawsuit also claims that the WNBA’s response to the situation was inadequate, with Hamby’s lawyers stating that the league’s response was a “light slap on the wrist” [[3]].
The WNBA and the Aces filed motions to dismiss Hamby’s lawsuit, arguing that the league does not employ Hamby and therefore cannot be held liable for any alleged discrimination [[2]]. The Aces also claim that they took appropriate action in response to Hamby’s allegations, including suspending coach Becky Hammon for two games and forfeiting their first-round draft selection [[3]].
Hamby’s lawyers argue that the WNBA is, at its core, a workplace, and that federal law has long protected pregnant women from employment discrimination [[3]]. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and is the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving discrimination and retaliation in professional sports.
This lawsuit highlights the need for greater protection and support for pregnant athletes in professional sports. The WNBA and its teams must take allegations of discrimination and retaliation seriously and take appropriate action to ensure that all players are treated fairly and with respect.
Dearica Hamby’s lawsuit against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces is a significant development in the ongoing conversation about discrimination and retaliation in professional sports. As the lawsuit moves forward, it will be important to follow the developments and consider the implications for the WNBA and its players.
