Federal discrimination lawsuit against Dearica Hamby dismissed by WNBA Aces.

Dearica Hamby, a star player for the Los Angeles Sparks, filed a lawsuit against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces last month.

Hamby, who was picked in the first round by the San Antonio Stars, filed documents in the U.S. District Court of Nevada on August 12. The Stars moved to Las Vegas for the 2018 season and became known as the Aces.

Hamby, a three-time WNBA All-Star, faced "repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation" before and after being traded to the Sparks in 2023, while pregnant. The WNBA and Aces filed motions to dismiss Hamby's federal lawsuit almost one month later.

The WNBA contended that Hamby lacks the right to sue the league because she is not an employee.

In 2023, an investigation into Hamby's discrimination claims was launched, resulting in a two-game suspension for Aces coach Becky Hammon and the forfeiture of a first-round draft selection. However, Hamby's attorneys contended that the league's response to the situation was inadequate.

The WNBA is a workplace, and federal laws have long protected 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, according to a statement released by Dana Sniegocki, Erin Norgaard, and Artur Davis of HKM Employment Attorneys after a lawsuit was filed.

The WNBA is challenging Hamby's assertion that the league did not adequately investigate her accusations. The league also refuted the claim that it retaliated against Hamby by not renewing her marketing agreement with the WNBA. The league argued that the nine-month interval between Hamby's complaint and the contract's expiration demonstrated a lack of causation.

The Aces maintained in their motion that Hamby did not present evidence of retaliation or discrimination.

"The Aces denied Hamby's allegations that they traded her contract rights due to her pregnancy and retaliated against her after she posted about it on social media. The club stated that Hamby's claims lacked sufficient evidence to support relief."

During a news conference following the Aces' win over the Sparks on Aug. 18, Hammon addressed the lawsuit.

Hammon stated that she had been in either the WNBA or the NBA for 25 years and had never had an HR complaint. She emphasized that she still hadn't had any complaints filed against her, as Dearica hadn't filed any with the players' union or the WNBA.

"It's true that no one contacted us about trading her until Atlanta reached out in January 2023. That's a fact. Therefore, it didn't happen."

Hamby, a two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, was a key player on the Aces' 2022 championship team.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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