With head coach Becky Hammon on the sideline for the first time this season, the Las Vegas Aces received their 2022 WNBA championship rings Saturday night. So did former Aces player Dearica Hamby, who was traded in January to the Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas’ opponent for the evening.
Hamby criticized the Aces after the trade, accusing them of treating her in an “unprofessional and unethical way” due to her pregnancy and not following through on promises that were made to her when she signed a contract extension during the 2022 season. The Aces have denied mistreating Hamby.
But after an investigation, the WNBA on May 16 imposed penalties on Hammon and the Aces for violating the league’s Respect in the Workplace policy and impermissible player benefits regarding Hamby. Hammon was suspended two games, and the Aces were stripped of a 2025 first-round draft pick.
On Saturday, the crowd at Las Vegas’ Michelob Ultra Arena gave a warm ovation to Hamby when she was presented her ring and received a hug from both WNBA commissioner Cathy…
