Becky Hammon Suspended for Two Games after WNBA Investigation into Pregnancy Discrimination
Becky Hammon, the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces and a former WNBA star, has been suspended for two games without pay by the league for violating workplace policies. The WNBA also rescinded the Aces’ first-round draft pick in 2025 as a penalty for the team’s misconduct.
The suspension and the draft pick loss are the results of an investigation by the WNBA into allegations made by Dearica Hamby, a former Aces player who was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in January. Hamby claimed that the Aces discriminated against her for getting pregnant and made false promises to entice her to sign a contract extension.
Hamby’s Claims of Discrimination and Bullying
Hamby, who won two WNBA championships with the Aces in 2021 and 2022, announced her second pregnancy in September 2022, after the Aces defeated the Connecticut Sun in the finals. She signed a two-year contract extension with the Aces in June 2022, but said she was unaware of her pregnancy at that time.
In an Instagram post in January 2023, Hamby said that she was “lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against” by the Aces organization. She said that she was accused of signing the extension while knowing she was pregnant, which she denied. She also said that she was told that she was “a question mark” and that there was a concern about her level of commitment to the team.
Hamby said that she planned to play in the 2023 season and had been working out with team staff and on her own. However, she said that she was inaccurately told that she was “not taking [her] workouts seriously” and that the team believed she would not be ready to play.
Hamby also said that the Aces promised her “impermissible benefits” during the contract negotiations, such as a coaching position after her retirement and a relocation package for her family. She said that these promises were not followed through and that she felt betrayed by the team.
The WNBA’s Investigation and Penalties
The WNBA launched an investigation into Hamby’s claims and found that the Aces violated league and team workplace policies. The league said that the team violation involved promises of impermissible benefits in connection with Hamby’s contract extension. The league also said that Hammon violated the Respect in the Workplace policy by making comments to Hamby related to her pregnancy.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement that it was “critical that we uphold the values of integrity and fairness, which create a level playing field for our teams.” She said that the Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations and have been disciplined accordingly. She also said that the league was disheartened by Hammon’s comments and remained committed to ensuring that enhanced training is conducted and standards are followed across all WNBA teams.
The suspension of Hammon means that she will miss the first two games of the 2023 season, which is scheduled to start on May 19. The rescinding of the draft pick means that the Aces will not have a first-round selection in 2025 unless they acquire one through a trade or other means.
The WNBPA’s Response and Support for Hamby
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) issued a statement in response to the WNBA’s penalties, saying that they missed “the mark.” The union said that while it appreciated the league’s investigation and acknowledgment of wrongdoing, it felt that the penalty was “far from appropriate” given the severity of the violations.
The WNBPA said that it stood with Hamby and supported her courage in speaking out against discrimination and bullying. The union also said that it would continue to advocate for fair treatment and respect for all players in the league.
Hamby, who is now a member of the Sparks, thanked her fans and supporters for their messages of love and encouragement. She said that she was focused on her health and happiness and looked forward to playing again soon.
