Amid the drama of the CBA talks and Project B, another controversial issue has been solved on a different front. According to Front Office Sports, Dearica Hamby and the Las Vegas Aces have mutually agreed to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the now-Los Angeles Sparks star.

Hamby filed the original 18-page complaint in August last year. In it, she accused the Aces of “unlawful discrimination,” and mentioned that she believed the team’s decision to trade her to the Sparks in January 2023 was “motivated” by Hamby announcing that she was pregnant.

The lawsuit was dismissed on December 11 in a U.S. District Court in Nevada. The Aces and Hamby even agreed to pay for their own attorney fees and costs without demands from the opposing side.

Hamby was drafted by the Aces when they were the San Antonio Stars in 2015 and evolved to become one of their core pieces. She had two All-Star appearances and two Sixth Woman of the Year awards over eight seasons, which made her trade all the more intriguing. In March 2023, she gave birth to her son and went on to play all 40 games for the Sparks in 2023.

Now, given how long it went on and the disturbing details Hamby revealed, fans are stunned that it was resolved so abruptly, and the lack of clarity around it has only deepened the unease.

Fans Speculate After Dearica Hamby, Aces Offer Little Details

“Why would she do that?” questioned a fan.

Well, Hamby told Front Office Sports that “I stand by what I said” in the original complaint, but couldn’t reveal the legal details. “The case is resolved,” she added. Still, that didn’t stop fans from theorizing that Hamby and the Aces probably had a separate settlement and have kept it under wraps.

“They likely settled the case and agreed to keep the terms confidential,” another fan wrote. Theoretically, it’s possible. In Nevada, employers can still keep the actual settlement payment amount confidential in discrimination and harassment cases. They can also agree not to reveal any details, as long as the language does not prevent Hamby’s participation in investigations. However, this will remain a theory until proven otherwise.

Another fan then framed the situation in stark financial terms.

Legal issues can be a major expense, but for an individual, it’s even worse. The Las Vegas Aces are owned by Mark Davis and Tom Brady. Both are worth billions, while Hamby does not have the same financial capacity to fight this till the very end.

However, earlier, after an official WNBA investigation, the Aces lost their first-round draft pick for 2025 over “impermissible player benefits,” and Hammon was suspended for two games for violating the team’s and league’s “respect in the workplace policies.”

“Did not see this coming. Woah! Praying for Hamby’s peace of mind,” wrote another fan. What’s alleged in the original complaint is pretty brutal.

The suit claimed that Hamby twice asked coach Becky Hammon, “You’re trading me because I’m pregnant?” to which Hammon responded, “What do you want me to do?” It also mentioned that the team told players and staff to no longer speak with Hamby after the trade.

Hamby had also said the Aces assured her of several perks after she signed an extension, such as paying for her daughter Amaya’s private school and helping with housing for her family. But in her lawsuit, she claimed that after she informed Becky Hammon and team officials of her pregnancy, and later shared the news publicly during the championship parade that September, their approach toward her shifted.

According to Hamby, she was told to move out of team-provided housing, and the franchise began pulling back on its commitment to cover her daughter’s tuition.

The filing also recounts a January 2023 phone call in which Hamby said that Hammon referred to her as a “question mark,” accused her of agreeing to the contract while aware she was pregnant, and claimed she had failed to live up to her obligations.

The original complaint also named the WNBA as a defendant. Hamby argued that the league failed to take effective action on her behalf, including not stepping in to block her trade to Los Angeles. She further claimed that the WNBA is legally required to ensure a fair, non-discriminatory workplace and protect equal employment opportunities.

The case against the WNBA was, however, dismissed by a federal judge in May. The reasoning was that Hamby failed to prove her allegations that the league failed to properly investigate the Aces.

“Wow… Didn’t expect that, but glad that they fixed this together. Still hoping that the relationship can be repaired one day! I don’t care where Dearica is; she’s an Ace!” commented a fan.

While they are moving past the matter in court, personally, Hamby is not. As we discussed, she is not taking back anything from the original complaint. Dearica Hamby will continue her career with the Sparks and likely give a little extra while facing the Aces.