The Las Vegas Aces and WNBA forward Dearica Hamby have mutually agreed to drop her lawsuit against the team, according to court documents filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Nevada.
Hamby, now with the Los Angeles Sparks, initiated the lawsuit in August 2024, accusing the Aces and the WNBA of unlawful workplace discrimination and retaliation related to her pregnancy with her second child. She alleged that after announcing her pregnancy in late 2022, the team’s treatment of her changed noticeably, leading to her trade in January 2023 due to her pregnancy.
In the lawsuit, Hamby, 32, also claimed the WNBA failed to properly investigate the Las Vegas franchise after she reported discrimination following the trade. A federal judge dismissed her lawsuit against the WNBA in May, ruling that the league did conduct an adequate investigation. However, the judge allowed her suit against the Aces to proceed.
On Thursday, both Hamby and the Aces agreed to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning Hamby cannot file the same claim again against the team. Each party will cover their own legal fees.
Hamby told Front Office Sports last week that she “stands by what I said” in her original complaint but that the case is now resolved. She declined to comment further.
Following Hamby’s trade in 2023, she alleged discrimination, prompting a WNBA investigation. The probe resulted in the league penalizing the Aces by stripping their 2025 first-round draft pick and suspending coach Becky Hammon for two games for violating the Respect in the Workplace policy.
Hamby’s complaint mentioned a January 2023 phone call where Hammon reportedly expressed “question marks” and did not deny that Hamby was traded because of her pregnancy. Hammon has denied any wrongdoing, insisting she treated Hamby with care from the start and that the trade was a business decision, aiming to get better value from the contract.
Hamby won a WNBA Championship with the Aces in 2022 before her trade. The Aces won two additional titles in the subsequent three years. Playing for the Sparks in 2025, Hamby appeared in 44 regular-season games, posting career-best averages of 18.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
Fan Take: This settlement is a crucial moment for WNBA fans as it highlights ongoing challenges related to player treatment and workplace fairness, especially concerning pregnancy. It could lead to stronger protections and awareness in the sport, helping to create a safer, more supportive environment for female athletes balancing career and family.
