Sparks’ Dearica Hamby slams Aces for ‘traumatizing’ her after pregnancy announcement; WNBPA determined

During her introductory press conference with the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, forward Dearica Hamby confirmed that the Women’s National Basketball Players Association had opened an investigation into the behavior of the Las Vegas Aces’ management prior to Hamby’s January trade.

“Right now it’s just an investigation,” Hamby said. “I’m not going to talk too much about the situation, what’s been said, what’s been done, but I’m confident the league will do what it needs to do.

“It’s a process that has to happen. For now I’ll stick with what I said in my statement and that [Players Association] just doing her part and then we’ll see.”

Hamby, who was traded from the Aces to the Sparks on January 21, blasted the Aces for “traumatizing” them in an explosive statement posted to Instagram hours after the deal was finalized. Later that night the WNBPA announced that it had begun investigating the Aces’ behavior after an unnamed player raised “serious concerns”. As commonly believed, this player has been confirmed to be Hamby.

Hamby claimed the Aces were dishonest with her during contract negotiations this summer, adding that they falsely accused her of signing an extension while she was knowingly pregnant. The two-time sixth Player of the Year announced her second pregnancy after the Aces won their first-ever WNBA title last September, leading Aces management to question her commitment to the team because, according to Hamby, they don’t “expected” to become pregnant within the following two years.

“I was asked if I planned my pregnancy,” Hamby wrote. “When I answered ‘no,’ I was told that ‘I am not taking any precautions to avoid becoming pregnant.’ I was traded because “I wasn’t ready and we need bodies”. I intended to play this season and I expressed my desire to play this season. I’ve pushed myself and continued to train (including basketball) throughout my pregnancy, alone and with the team members — even on days when it was uncomfortable to leave, only to be falsely told I couldn’t complete my workout seriously.”

Hamby claimed she has “remained transparent” with the team simply because her honesty was “met with coldness, disrespect and disregard from members of management.” The 29-year-old found the treatment particularly troubling because it came from women who held values ​​that support other women.

“The unprofessional and unethical way I was treated was traumatizing,” Hamby wrote. “To be treated like this by an organization, BY WOMEN who are mothers who have claimed to be ‘in those shoes’ that preaches family, chemistry and women’s empowerment is disappointing and sickens me.”

During her press conference, Hamby reiterated her hopes of playing this season. “As for the schedule, I’ll do what feels right and right now I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” Hamby said. “Obviously I’m planning healthy labor and birth and if that goes as planned I’ll be back on the field soon.”

The Aces have yet to respond to statements from Hamby and the WNBPA.