WNBA: Becky Hammon again disputes player’s claims of mistreatment

Head coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on July 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP

LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon again disputed former Aces player Dearica Hamby’s claim the Aces mistreated her and traded her because of her pregnancy.

Hamby, traded to Los Angeles in January 2023, played for the organization from 2015-22, beginning when the Aces were based in San Antonio. She was named the league Sixth Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020.

Hamby, who went public with her accusations last year, sued the WNBA and her former team in federal court last Monday.

READ: WNBA coach Becky Hammon denies mistreating pregnant player

“I’ve been in either the WNBA or the NBA for now 25 years,” Hammon said Sunday after the Aces beat Hamby and the Sparks 87-71. “I’ve never had an HR complaint. Never, not once. I still didn’t, actually, because Dearica didn’t file any. She didn’t file with the players’ union, she didn’t file with the WNBA. Those are facts.

“It’s also factual that nobody made a call about trading her until Atlanta called us in January (2023). That’s a fact. So … it just didn’t happen.”

Hammon previously refuted the allegations, saying in May 2023 that Hamby was traded for strategic reasons, namely putting the club in position to sign likely future Hall of Famer Candace Parker.

READ: Las Vegas Aces to hire Becky Hammon to record-setting coaching deal

“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 WNBA investigated the matter and in May 2023 suspended Hammon for two games without pay. The club also was docked their first-round 2025 draft pick for providing impermissible player benefits involving Hamby.

Hamby, however, insisted the league didn’t go far enough. She filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September saying she was discriminated against and amended the filing in October. According to the lawsuit, the EEOC ruled in May she had a “right to sue.”