The WNBA suspended Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon for two games without pay Tuesday for comments she made to All-Star forward Deirka Hamby about her pregnancy.
Hamby was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in January, four months after the Aces won the championship. At the time, Hampi wrote in a post on Instagram An unnamed person had made “disgusting comments” to her. She said she was accused of signing a contract extension when she found out she was pregnant and was told she was being traded because “I won’t be ready, we need bodies.” He said his commitment to the team was also questioned.
“Did the team expect me to promise not to get pregnant in exchange for a contract extension?” Hampi wrote in the post. He signed a contract extension in June 2022.
The WNBA did not elaborate on what Hammon said to Hamby, but said Hammon’s comments violated its policy on respect in the workplace.
The league also said the Aces will forfeit a first-round pick in the 2025 draft for promising Hamby unspecified impermissible benefits during contract negotiations. In his Instagram post, Hampi said, “The things that were promised to entice me to sign my contract extension have not followed through.”
The WNBA Players Association called for an investigation into Hamby’s allegations. On February 8, the Aces said in a statement that the league had opened a formal investigation and that the team would cooperate.
“As an organization dedicated to supporting and celebrating the most talented women in our league, we take seriously our responsibility to hold ourselves to the highest professional standards,” the Aces said in a statement at the time.
On Tuesday, the WNBA Players Association said in a statement that the Aces’ fines were “not appropriate.”
“Where does this team or any other team across the league learn in this decision that respect in the workplace is the highest standard and a player’s dignity cannot be compromised?” The union said in its statement.
The WNBA season begins Friday.
This is breaking news. This article will be updated.
