WNBA star Dearica Hamby has filed a lawsuit against the league and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, alleging discrimination and retaliation. The suit accuses the Aces of trading Hamby because she was pregnant and retaliating against her for speaking out. Hamby's lawyers say the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) protects players from discrimination based on pregnancy and that the league has failed to enforce its own rules.
Dearica Hamby, a star forward for the Las Vegas Aces, has filed a lawsuit against the WNBA and her former team, alleging discrimination and retaliation. The suit, filed in federal court in Nevada, accuses the Aces of trading Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks in May 2023 because she was pregnant and retaliating against her for speaking out about her pregnancy.
Hamby's lawyers say the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) protects players from discrimination based on pregnancy and that the league has failed to enforce its own rules. They also allege that the Aces violated Nevada's Fair Employment and Housing Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on pregnancy.
WNBA Star Files Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination and Retaliation
The Aces have denied the allegations in the lawsuit, saying that Hamby was traded for basketball reasons. The team said in a statement that it "fully supports the rights of all of our players and respects their privacy."
The WNBA has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
Hamby, a two-time All-Star and one-time Sixth Woman of the Year, was pregnant with her second child when she was traded to the Sparks. She gave birth to a daughter in June 2023.
Hamby's lawsuit is the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving pregnant athletes. In 2021, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles sued USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, alleging that they failed to protect her from sexual abuse by former team doctor Larry Nassar. In 2022, basketball player Brittney Griner was detained in Russia on drug charges after she was found to have cannabis oil in her luggage. Griner was pregnant at the time of her arrest.
Hamby's lawsuit is a reminder that pregnant athletes still face discrimination and retaliation. It is also a reminder that the WNBA's CBA is not as strong as it could be in protecting players from discrimination.
The CBA does not explicitly prohibit teams from trading pregnant players. However, it does state that teams cannot discriminate against players based on pregnancy. The CBA also requires teams to provide pregnant players with reasonable accommodations, such as modified practice schedules and travel arrangements.
Hamby's lawyers argue that the Aces violated the CBA by trading her because she was pregnant. They also argue that the Aces retaliated against Hamby for speaking out about her pregnancy.
The Aces have denied these allegations. The team says that it traded Hamby because she was not a good fit for the team's new coach, Becky Hammon.
The lawsuit is likely to go to trial. It could take months or even years before a verdict is reached. In the meantime, Hamby's lawsuit is a reminder that pregnant athletes still face discrimination and retaliation. It is also a reminder that the WNBA's CBA is not as strong as it could be in protecting players from discrimination.
