WNBA Penalizes Aces, Suspends Hammon For ‘Violation Of Workplace Policies’

By Barry Janoff

UPDATED May 17, 2023: “The WNBA’s determinations about Becky Hammon are inconsistent with what we know and love about her,” Las Vegas Aces officials said via the team. “Becky is a caring human being who forges close personal relationships with her players.”

“(Her pregnancy) wasn’t a problem, and it never was why we made the decision to move Hamby,” Hammon said during a media conference today as the team was preparing for the 2023 season.

“We made the decision to move Hamby because we could get three bodies in for her one contract  . . .  It was never an issue, and it was never the reason she was traded. It just wasn’t.

“It came down to math and business. Nothing personal. I had a great relationship with Hamby the whole time, which is why she probably felt the way she did, you know?

“It feels like a betrayal. It’s a crappy part of my job, but somebody’s got to be the bearer of bad news.

“I’ll take my little lump on the chin and keep it moving,”

“We’re bigger than this. It’s just not who the Aces are. It’s not who I am. And so, yeah, everybody’s disappointed in the situation, but at the end of the day, we know who we are and so we go to sleep every night in that truth.”

May 16, 2023: With the start of its 2023 season just days away, the WNBA today said it has suspended Becky Hammon, head coach for the defending champion Las Vegas Aces for two games without pay for what the league said were violations of the CBA and also its Respect in the Workplace policies.

The WNBA also rescinded the Las Vegas Aces' 2025 first-round draft pick (the Aces do not have a 2024 first-round selection due to a prior trade). That "has never been done before in the league’s history," according to the Women’s National Basketball Players Assn.

The situation focused on the Aces and Hammon’s interactions with former player Dearica Hamby, who last year signed a two-year contract extension with the Aces, and subsequently was traded to the Los Angles Sparks in January of this year.

Following her trade, Hamby posted to her Instagram platform, “Being traded is a part of the business. Being lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against is not.

“I have had my character and work ethic attacked. I was promised things to entice me to sign my contract extension that were not followed through on. I was accused of signing my extension knowingly pregnant. This was false . . .  I was then told . . .  I was being traded because I wouldn’t be ready (for the 2023 season) and we need bodies.”

Hamby played for the San Antonio Stars from 2015-17 and then relocated with the renamed franchise to Las Vegas.

She revealed that she was pregnant with her second child in September during the Aces championship parade. She gave birth to her son this past March. Her daughter was born in 2017.

Investigations into the allegations were launched in February and included what the league described as “interviews with 33 people and a review of numerous texts, e-mails and other documents.”

"It is critical that we uphold the values of integrity and fairness, which create a level playing field for our teams," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said via the league. "The Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations and have been disciplined accordingly.

Graphic: Basketball HoF“We are also disheartened by the violation of our Respect in the Workplace policies and remain committed to ensuring that enhanced training is conducted and standards are followed across all WNBA teams."

The Aces were purchased by Mark Davis, majority owner for the NFL Las Vegas Raiders, before the 2021 campaign.

Hammon was named the 2022 WNBA Coach of the Year. Last month, she was named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of ’23, with the induction ceremony scheduled for August in Springfield, Mass.

As a player, Hammon was named to the WNBA 15th, 20th and 25th Anniversary Teams.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Assn., which supported the inquiry to determine whether Hamby’s rights under the CBA had been violated, said the suspension of Hammon and the loss of a draft pick “misses the mark.”

“The league had an opportunity to send a clear message that it abides by and protects the provisions of the CBA, particularly those that we were most proud of — the provisions meant to support player parents,” the WNBPA posted to its social media platform.

"It is critical that we uphold the values of integrity and fairness, which create a level playing field for our teams."

“Today’s decision regarding penalties, however, misses the mark. Where in this decision does this team or any other team across the league learn the lesson that respect in the workplace is the highest standard and a player’s dignity cannot be manipulated?

“Incidents of misconduct by a team or team staff cannot always be compared, but recent penalties imposed by the league, and an honest review of the facts, demonstrate that this penalty is far from appropriate.

“While taking away a future draft pick is significant and has never been done before in the league’s history, it penalizes a future player by removing an opportunity to compete for a job.’

According toss the WNBPA,”We will continue to support our member as she considers the league’s decision and explores all available remedies.”

As defending champions, the Aces will be prominently featured in national broadcasts during the season.

Aces stars A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are among the top players in the league.

The 2023 All-Star Game is in Las Vegas in July.

In March, Tom Brady acquired an ownership interest in the franchise.

Deal Him In: Tom Brady Joins WNBA Las Vegas Aces As Minority Owner

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