WNBA suspends Aces coach Becky Hammon after former player alleged she was mistreated for being pregnant

The WNBA on Tuesday suspended Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon after a former participant alleged she was bullied and manipulated for being pregnant.

The league’s monthslong investigation led to a two-game suspension for Hammon after it decided the coach violated league and crew respect within the office insurance policies. The Aces’ first-round decide in 2025 was additionally rescinded for a violation of the league’s impermissible participant advantages.

“It’s essential that we uphold the values of integrity and equity, which create a degree enjoying subject for our groups,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated in a press release. 

“The Aces failed to stick to league guidelines and laws and have been disciplined accordingly. We’re additionally disheartened by the violation of our respect within the office insurance policies and stay dedicated to making sure that enhanced coaching is performed and requirements are adopted throughout all WNBA groups.”

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Head coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces appears to be like on within the fourth quarter of a preseason sport in opposition to the New York Liberty at Michelob ULTRA Area Might 13, 2023, in Las Vegas (Ethan Miller/Getty Photographs)

The punishment stemmed from former participant Dearica Hamby claiming the organization had a problem along with her being pregnant and it led to a commerce.

“Being traded is part of the enterprise. Being lied to, bullied, manipulated and discriminated in opposition to will not be,” she wrote on Instagram in January. “I’ve had my character and work ethic attacked. I used to be promised issues to entice me to signal my contract extension that weren’t adopted by means of on. I used to be accused of signing my extension knowingly pregnant. 

“That is false. I used to be instructed I used to be a ‘query mark’ and that it was set that I’d ‘get pregnant once more’ and there was a priority for my degree of dedication to the crew. I used to be instructed that ‘I didn’t maintain up my finish of the discount’ (As a result of ‘nobody anticipated me to get pregnant within the subsequent two years’). Did the crew count on me to vow to not get pregnant in trade for the contract extension? I used to be requested if I deliberate my being pregnant.

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Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon appears to be like on throughout a WNBA sport in opposition to the Dallas Wings June 5, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photograph/John Loche, Filer)

“Once I responded, ‘no,’ I used to be then instructed that I ‘was not taking precautions to not get pregnant.’ I used to be being traded as a result of ‘I wouldn’t be prepared and we’d like our bodies.’ I deliberate to play this season, and I’ve expressed my want to play this season. I’ve pushed myself all through my complete being pregnant and have continued to exercise (basketball included) alone and with crew workers – even on days the place it was uncomfortable to stroll, solely to be inaccurately instructed that ‘I used to be not taking my exercises critically.’”

Hamby added that her scenario with the Aces had been “traumatizing.”

“To be handled this manner by a corporation, BY WOMEN who’re moms, who’ve claimed to ‘be in these sneakers,’ who preach household, chemistry and ladies’s empowerment is disappointing and leaves me sick to my abdomen,” she added. “We fought for provisions that may lastly assist and defend participant dad and mom. This can’t now be used in opposition to me.”

Hamby was additionally the WNBA Sixth Lady of the Yr in 2019 and 2020. She averaged 9.3 factors and seven.1 rebounds because the Aces gained the championship in 2022. She was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks within the offseason.

Las Vegas Aces’ Dearica Hamby (5) dribbles up courtroom throughout a WNBA sport in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury Might 6, 2022, in Phoenix.  (AP Photograph/Darryl Webb, File)

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The impermissible advantages self-discipline got here for negotiations for an extension of Hambry’s contract. She had signed a two-year extension final yr earlier than the Jan. 21 commerce.

The Related Press contributed to this report.