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The WNBA is investigating All-Star Dearica Hamby’s claim that she was harassed and manipulated by her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, for being pregnant.
It was the first time the league acknowledged that it was looking into the situation. The players’ union had pushed for an investigation into whether Hamby’s rights were violated under the league’s 2020 labor agreement, as well as state and federal laws.
Hamby made his allegations after being traded Jan. 21 to the Los Angeles Sparks. The Aces were trying to clear salary cap space to sign two-time MVP Candace Parker, who agreed to a deal on Jan. 28.
Hamby agreed to a two-year contract extension with Las Vegas in June. After being traded, she posted on Instagram: ‘Being traded is part of the business. Being lied to, harassed, manipulated and discriminated against is not.’
Hamby, who is pregnant with her second child, stuck to her words in her introductory press conference with the Sparks.
The WNBA is investigating All-Star Dearica Hamby’s claim that she was harassed and manipulated by her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, for being pregnant.
Aces president Nikki Fargas responded to Hamby’s comments Tuesday during Parker’s introductory press conference, but did not use Hamby’s name to say that “our players and their families will always be at the forefront of who we are as a franchise”.
“We’re here to put together the best team possible, and when putting together a team, there are times when trades will happen,” Fargas said. ‘But that is so that we also remain competitive. The moves we’ve made have obviously given us the flexibility we needed to sign [those] players.’
The WNBA players union said Saturday that it will review Hamby’s complaints.
Specifically, Hamby took issue with Aces’ claim that she signed her last contract knowing she was already pregnant. Hamby says that she told the team about her pregnancy,
“This is false,” Hamby wrote. “I was told that I was a ‘question mark’ and that I was said to have said that I would ‘get pregnant again’ and there were concerns about my level of commitment to the team.”
He also said the Aces were concerned that Hamby might not be ready for this season. Hamby said that he plans to play this season.
“I remained transparent with everyone within the organization, and yet my honesty was met with coldness, disrespect, and contempt from members of management,” Hamby wrote. “I’ve only put this organization first since the first day before any of them were here.”
The National Women’s Basketball Players Association said it would “pursue a thorough investigation” to ensure Hamby’s rights under the league’s 2020 labor agreement, as well as state and federal laws, were not violated.
Los Vegas Raiders owner and managing partner and owner of the Las Vegas Aces Mark Davis (left) and head coach Becky Hammon of the Aces are introduced during the WNBA Championship Victory Parade and Rally at the Las Vegas Strip on September 20 in Las Vegas
The Sparks also received the Aces’ first-round pick in 2024 in exchange for the exclusive negotiating rights to Amanda Zahui B., plus the Sparks’ 2024 second-round pick.
“Adding Dearica to our roster plus a future first-round pick was a solid move for us,” Sparks general manager Karen Bryant said in a statement. “We’re excited to have another key piece in place as we begin free agency.”
Hamby spent her first eight WNBA seasons with the same franchise, dating back to the Aces’ days in San Antonio as the Silver Stars. The 6-foot-3 forward was the sixth overall pick in the 2015 draft.
Hamby was the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year in 2019 and 2020. Hamby averaged 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Aces last season as they won their first WNBA championship. She was limited in the playoffs due to a knee injury.
“Dearica has dedicated eight years of her career to this organization and has played a significant role in our success since the team’s move to Las Vegas,” Aces general manager Natalie Williams said in a statement. “We will miss her as a teammate and are grateful for all of her contributions to the Aces over the years.”
Hamby announced at the Aces championship parade last September that she was expecting her second child. Amaya, Hamby’s 5-year-old daughter, accompanied her mother during the 2020 season, which was held in a bubble in Florida due to the pandemic. They were among those featured in the documentary ‘144’.
Zahui B. did not play in the WNBA last season after the Sparks placed her on the suspended list. She is averaging 6.2 points in seven seasons.
The Aces’ home opener of the 2023 season will be on May 27 against the Sparks.
Dearica Hamby of the Las Vegas Aces hugs her oldest daughter after a game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Staples Center on June 27, 2019 in Los Angeles.