Dearica Hamby and the Las Vegas Aces have mutually agreed to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the WNBA star that alleged she was discriminated against, and subsequently traded, due to her pregnancy.
The two sides filed the motion to dismiss Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Nevada. The motion stated that the parties “resolved this matter and agree to dismiss this action in its entirety.” Both sides agreed to pay their own attorney fees and costs.
Hamby filed the original 18-page complaint in August 2024. In it, she accused the Aces of “unlawful discrimination,” and said she believed the team’s decision to trade her to the Sparks in January 2023 was “motivated” by Hamby announcing that she was pregnant.
Hamby revealed her pregnancy during the Aces’ championship parade in September 2022. Three months earlier, Hamby signed a two-year contract extension with Las Vegas. According to the suit, Aces head coach Becky Hammon “questioned Hamby’s commitment and dedication” to the team and accused her of signing the extension knowing she was pregnant.
Lawyers for Hamby and the Aces did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hamby told Front Office Sports that “I stand by what I said” in the original complaint, but otherwise could not discuss the case. “The case is resolved,” she said.
Hamby was drafted by the Aces in 2015, when they were still the San Antonio Stars, securing two All-Star appearances and two Sixth Woman of the Year awards over eight seasons. She has spent her last three years in Los Angeles.
In March 2023, she gave birth to her son, then played in all 40 games for the Sparks in the 2023 season. She averaged 8.9 points per game that season, her lowest in six years. The following season, she averaged a career-high 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds and was named to her third All-Star team.
The WNBA was also a defendant in the original suit. Hamby alleged that the league did not provide “meaningful redress,” including potentially vetoing her trade to Los Angeles. The suit alleged that the WNBA has a legal obligation to provide a “fair non-discriminatory work environment and employment opportunities.”
The case against the WNBA was dismissed in May.
After Hamby was traded to the Sparks, she took to social media saying she was “bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against,” in a since-deleted caption. The WNBA investigated the Aces and in May 2023 revoked the Aces’ 2025 first-round pick and handed a two-game suspension to Hammon.
In February, Las Vegas signed Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, who revealed publicly two months later that she was pregnant. She gave birth in July and made her season debut for Las Vegas two months later. The 33-year-old played a total of eight games, two in the regular season and six in the playoffs.
The Aces won the 2025 WNBA championship, their third in the last four seasons.
— Annie Costabile contributed reporting.
