A WNBA star recently sued her former team and the league itself, alleging discrimination over her pregnancy. According to the federal lawsuit, the Las Vegas Aces failed to honor parts of her contract and then traded her after she revealed she was pregnant.
The lawsuit claims Hamby alerted the Las Vegas Aces to her pregnancy in August 2022, days after she learned she was pregnant. Shortly before this, she signed a two-year contract extension with the team.
The lawsuit also claims that once Hamby publicly announced her pregnancy, one month later, the team failed to meet the terms of her contract extension, including failing to pay her daughter’s school tuition and telling her to leave temporary housing with no explanation.
The lawsuit also claims that the team’s head coach accused Hamby of knowingly signing the contract when she knew she was pregnant and failing to take precautions to avoid pregnancy. A few days after that, Hamby was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Pregnancy discrimination is illegal in the United States. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 protects people from discrimination based on pregnancy, including in all employment-related purposes. The 2023 Pregnant Workers Fairness Act also requires employers to provide workers with reasonable accommodations for limitations related to pregnancy and childbirth.
The examples of pregnancy discrimination extend beyond the WNBA. In May 2024, Walgreens agreed to pay $205,000 in a pregnancy and disability discrimination lawsuit with one of its workers. The lawsuit alleged the company denied a pregnant employee from receiving emergency leave to seek medical care, forcing her to quit. Family Fresh Harvesting also recently reached an agreement with the federal government after allegedly firing a pregnant worker and sending her back on the bus to Mexico after she requested unpaid time off for medical appointments.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of pregnancy discrimination, the skilled attorneys at Kennedy Hunt, P.C. may be able to help you. Fill out a questionnaire so we can understand your claim.