"Should be suspended" - WNBA fans call for further punitive measures against Aces' Becky Hammon after shocking allegations in Dearica Hamby's lawsuit

By Ethen Hutton

Modified Aug 13, 2024 12:35 GMT

Los Angeles Sparks star Dearica Hamby is suing the Las Vegas Aces and the WNBA. Hamby's attorneys filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Nevada on Monday afternoon.

The former Aces player is claiming the team discriminated against her after she became pregnant and traded her for the same reason.

WNBA fans on X reacted to the allegations.

"Becky Hammon needs to go," a fan stated.

Many fans agreed with the creator of the tweet and called for an indefinite suspension.

"Becky Hammon should be suspended now. But they'll let her coach out the season, make a finals run, then let her resign. And there will one again be very little impact to the punishment," a fan argued in the comments.

"If Becky did this, she definitely wrong for that. I get it's difficult to be a woman athlete & manage pregnancy but at some point, stuff just ain't your business. Do whatever you need to do now that you know she pregnant. This other stuff is doin to much. Hope she wins," another fan stated.

"Wow! Now look at how the Minnesota Lynx & Cheryl Reeve treated their superstar Napheesa Collier when she had an unplanned pregnancy. Backed her 100%. One team & coach is not like the other. Respect to the Lynx's organization," a third fan stated.

However, some fans wanted more context before looking to place blame.

"Can we pump the brakes. We are quick to read something and draw a conclusion from it with ZERO context. Not saying what's true or not, however the first thing to hit the internet is usually a fraction of what actually took place," one fan commented.

"This is her complaint - her side of the story. That's usually not even half of what actually happened. I'd pump the brakes on getting rid of a two time champion coach. This is just what Hamby said happened," another fan added.

Dearica Hamby was dealt by the Aces in January 2023 to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Dearica Hamby sues Aces days away from season restart

Dearica Hamby's lawsuit went public just five days ahead of Las Vegas' first game back from an extended All-Star break due to the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Aces currently hold the fifth-best record in the WNBA with a 16-8 mark.

In September 2023, Dearica Hamby filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Order and was granted her right to sue on May 23.

Last season, the WNBA suspended Becky Hammon and rescinded Las Vegas' first-round pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Dearica Hamby claimed that the WNBA mishandled the investigation, meaning the league could re-open the investigation following the lawsuit.

A WNBA spokesperson told The Athletic on Monday, "We are aware of today's legal filing and are reviewing the complaint."

Any potential punishment from the WNBA has not yet been issued as the league continues to look into the lawsuit.