Former Aces player Hamby files discrimination complaint against team, league

Dearica Hamby filed a gender discrimination complaint last week against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces, saying her former team and its coach, Becky Hammon, retaliated against her after she informed them she was pregnant.

Hamby filed the complaint with the Nevada Equal Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday.

The complaint said that the franchise created an "abusive and hostile" work environment for Hamby last year before trading her to the Los Angeles Sparks in the offseason. That came after Hamby told the team she was pregnant with her second child.

Hamby also said that the WNBA failed to properly investigate her allegations. The league had a months-long probe that concluded right before the season started and suspended Hammon two games for violating league and team "respect in the workplace" policies.

"The league conducted a thorough investigation of the allegations and levied appropriate discipline based on its findings," a WNBA spokesperson said.

The Washington Post was the first to report the complaint.

The complaint will be investigated and the EEOC may attempt to resolve the matter through mediation. If mediation fails or if the EEOC does not find reasonable cause that discrimination or retaliation occurred, it will issue a "right to sue" letter, giving Hamby 90 days to file a lawsuit in federal or state court.

The Aces are getting ready to face New York in the WNBA Finals, which begin Sunday. The team declined comment on the new complaint.

In May, Hammon refuted Hamby's claims and said the Aces traded the two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year because it was best for the team.

"[Hamby's pregnancy] wasn't a