Probably the most well-known duos in sports activities got here to Dearica Hamby’s protection after Las Vegas Aces followers booed her throughout the Sin Metropolis workforce’s recreation towards her Los Angeles Sparks.
WNBA nice Sue Hen and her spouse, former US girls’s nationwide soccer workforce captain Megan Rapinoe, mentioned Hamby’s return to Las Vegas on their “A Contact Extra with Sue Hen & Megan Rapinoe” podcast in an episode they launched on Wednesday, August 21.
“She’s not only a participant for the Sparks who used to play on your workforce,” Rapinoe mentioned. “She’s a mom, she’s an athlete, she was discriminated towards, or feels that she was, she’s filed a federal lawsuit … I couldn’t imagine that.”
Hamby was a part of the Aces group from 2015 to 2023, courting again to once they had been the San Antonio Stars. The Aces traded her to the Sparks final January whereas she was pregnant along with her second baby.
Speak about an influence couple! Sue Hen and Megan Rapinoe, each Olympic gold medalists, began courting in 2017. The pair first met whereas backstage at a photograph shoot for the 2016 Rio Olympics. “She was in her basketball uniform and she or he had her hair down,” Rapinoe informed NBC in 2021. “We kinda crossed [paths] and […]
Hamby filed a federal discrimination criticism towards the WNBA and Aces that September, claiming the workforce traded her away due to her being pregnant and the league didn’t adequately examine. She alleged the Aces subjected her to “repeated acts of intimidation, discrimination and retaliation” earlier than the commerce.
Hamby sued each events final week.
Dearica Hamby Kirby Lee/Getty Photos
“We’re conscious of right now’s authorized submitting and are reviewing the criticism,” a WNBA spokesperson informed the AP.
Aces coach Becky Hammon mentioned in Might 2023 that the workforce traded Hamby as a result of they may get three gamers for a similar price as her contract and needed to “convey extra individuals in.”
Hamby was named to a few All-Star groups with the Aces group, received two WNBA Sixth Girl of the 12 months awards and was a member of their 2022 WNBA championship workforce. She not too long ago returned from Paris the place she received the three×3 girls’s basketball bronze medal on the 2024 Olympics.
The Aces have been measured of their public response as the method unfolds, however Hammon addressed the lawsuit briefly after their recreation Sunday, an 87-71 win over Hamby and the Sparks.
“I’ve been in both the WNBA or the NBA for 25 years,” Hammon mentioned on Sunday. “I’ve by no means had an HR criticism. By no means, not as soon as. I nonetheless didn’t, truly, as a result of Dearica didn’t file any. She didn’t file with the gamers’ union, she didn’t file with the WNBA. These are information.”
Hammon additionally denied Hamby’s description of the occasions, including, “It’s additionally factual that no one made a name about buying and selling her till Atlanta referred to as us in January [2023]. That’s a reality. So … it simply didn’t occur.”
It’s a messy state of affairs, however Hen believes followers booing her crossed a line.
“This to me crossed no matter line exists, as a result of now we’re speaking about every little thing that you simply simply touched on,” she informed Rapinoe. “One factor I’ve realized with all authorized issues is it’s important to let it play out … the booing simply felt icky.”