Watch: Dearica Hamby gets booed by Aces fans after Sparks forward's lawsuit against former team

Three-time WNBA All-Star Dearica Hamby faced boos from Las Vegas Aces fans after news broke of her federal lawsuit against the league and her former team, alleging discrimination and retaliation related to her pregnancy.

Dearica Hamby, now playing for the LA Sparks, filed the lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Nevada on Aug. 12. She is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages, claiming the Aces traded her to the Sparks because she announced her pregnancy shortly after signing a two-year contract extension with them in June 2022.

During Sunday's game between the Aces and the Sparks, which the Aces won 87-71 despite Hamby recording a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, Aces fans greeted her with boos. Watch the video below.

Dearica Hamby’s lawsuit alleges that the Aces did not honor commitments made to her, including paying her daughter's private school tuition and providing team housing for childcare assistance during away games.

She claimed that after publicly disclosing her pregnancy, the Aces staff's treatment of her changed dramatically, including facing scrutiny over her commitment to the team.

Hamby initially requested an investigation through the WNBA Player's Association in January 2023. The league found that the Aces violated league rules concerning impermissible player benefits and penalized the team by rescinding its 2025 first-round draft pick and suspending coach Becky Hammon for two games without pay.

More details of Dearica Hamby’s lawsuit vs the Aces

According to Dearica Hamby’s lawsuit, the Aces' treatment of her after she announced her pregnancy could have broader implications for other female athletes in the league, stating that "every potential mother in the league is now on notice that childbirth could change their career prospects overnight."

Her legal team also claimed that the trade caused her to miss out on promotional and endorsement opportunities, among others.

Aces coach Becky Hammon had denied Hamby's allegations, stating that the trade was a strategic move based on team needs, not her pregnancy.

The Aces traded Hamby, along with a first-round pick, to the Sparks in what appeared to be a salary dump, receiving only a 2024 second-round pick and the negotiating rights to forward Amanda Zahui B in return for the former Sixth Player of the Year.

Hamby gave birth to a baby boy in March 2023 and joined the Sparks' training camp the following month.

Despite her pregnancy, Hamby played in all regular-season games that year, a feat she accomplished for the first time since 2020.