Paris Olympics medalist files federal lawsuit against WNBA star A’ja Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces
WNBA star, Dearica Hamby played alongside A'ja Wilson on the Becky Hammon coached Las Vegas Aces before being traded.
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A'ja Wilson's former teammate Dearica Hamby filed federal lawsuit against WNBA and Becky Hammon coached Las Vegas Ace
Now with the Paris Olympics over, Team USA women’s basketball players are returning home with medals. A’ja Wilson‘s heroics netted the 5x5s with gold. Whereas, Dearica Hamby led the 3×3 women’s team to bronze. For Hamby, this was destiny, as she was called on to join the team late as an injury cover. But she feels it was not destiny with what happened between her, the WNBA, and the Las Vegas Aces a while back.
Therefore, she and her legal team have decided to take her battle with the back-to-back champions to the federal courts. As reported by the Review Journal, she has filed a lawsuit, seeking compensation for reputation and income loss. She wants compensation for the emotional damages she incurred. It is not just against the team, in fact, the WNBA is also one of the defendants in this lawsuit. She felt the league did not punish the Aces or head coach Becky Hammon enough.
Becky Hammon was suspended for two games without pay. Add to that, the Aces were docked their 2025 first-round pick. That is all the WNBA did when investigating why the Las Vegas Aces decided to trade Hamby in January last year even though it was evident that the 3-time All-Star was pregnant. The league’s rules generally protect players through pregnancy.
But Dearica Hamby feels the Aces and Hammon were disrespectful to her after the pregnancy came to light. The 30-year-old alleged that the team did all they could to make her feel unwanted while also not honoring promises made to her at the time of her contract extension. All because they felt she would not be ready for the start of the season, even though Hamby was clear that she would be ready.
Dearica Hamby did not have A’ja Wilson’s support
Dearica Hamby was a team favorite with the Las Vegas Aces. Just like she is now with her Los Angeles Sparx. She has become the de facto leader and is playing at an All-Star level. So, for someone to have that level of support from her teammates, one has to wonder how her Aces teammates back then did not support her.
Her lawsuit targets the WNBA for not speaking with her then teammates. She feels had the league spoken to the likes of A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, they would have known more about the perils she faced. But it seems Wilson and Plum could not do anything about it. The Las Vegas Aces had barred any player from speaking about the situation.
But it is not clear if A’ja Wilson, one who speaks her mind when it comes to social issues, could say anything against her team. Ultimately, they are her employers. This entire mess brings to light some of the cracks that are appearing in the WNBA.
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Joseph Varghese
(2269 Articles Published)