The WNBA season starts this Friday and it will do it surrounded by controversy after the sanctions received by the defending champions Las Vegas Aces. The league has stripped them of their 2025 first-round draft pick and suspended coach Becky Hammon for two games without pay.
Both of these sanctions are the result of two separate investigations that began after statements made by former Aces player Dearica Hamby who alleged she was discriminated against due to her pregnancy prior to being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks.
One investigation found that the Aces promised the 6-foot-9, 29-year-old forward "impermissible benefits" during contract renewal negotiations. The other has determined that Hammon violated the WNBA's 'Respect in the Workplace' policy after making comments about Hamby's pregnancy.
Traded while pregnant
The two-time Sixth Player of the Year and All-Star forward was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in January while pregnant. Hamby had communicated her condition over the Christmas break after the Aces won their first WNBA championship in September.
In a post on Instagram, the forward said she was "heartbroken" after being "discriminated against". Without naming names, she said the franchise questioned her commitment and called her a "question mark" because she would "get pregnant again".
"It's disappointing to be treated this way by an organisation, by women who are mothers, who have claimed to be in these shoes, who preach family, chemistry and women's empowerment. It turns my stomach," wrote Hamby, who claimed the Aces promised her things to "entice" her to sign a contract extension before last season and then accused her of doing so knowing she was pregnant.
On Thursday and Saturday of next week, the Sparks and Aces will square off in back-to-back duels, with Hamby on the court and Hammon on the bench. The latter is on the Toronto Raptors shortlist for their new head coach and has for years been linked with becoming the first female head coach in the NBA.