Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has filed a lawsuit against the WNBA and her former team, the Aces.
The complaint, filed to the U.S. District Court of Nevada on Monday, alleges “repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation” leading up to and following Hamby’s trade to the Sparks in January 2023 when she was pregnant with her second child.
The WNBA investigated Hamby’s claims of discrimination in 2023. Aces coach Becky Hammon was suspended two games as a result of the investigation and the team lost a first-round pick.
Hamby, a three-time WNBA All Star, is represented by Dana Sniegocki, Erin Norgaard, and Artur Davis of HKM Employment Attorneys.
“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 three attorneys said in a statement. “Every potential mother in the league is now on notice that childbirth could change their career prospects overnight. That can’t be right in one of the most prosperous and dynamic women’s professional sports leagues in America.”
The Aces and WNBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Callie Lawson-Freeman at [email protected]. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.