Becky Hammon, the coach of the Las Vegas Aces, has addressed the federal lawsuit filed by former player Dearica Hamby. The lawsuit accuses the team of discrimination and retaliation linked to Hamby’s pregnancy, claims which Hammon firmly rejects.

“Here are the facts: I have been part of either the WNBA or the NBA for 25 years. In that time, I’ve never faced an HR complaint—never once,” Hammon stated on Sunday after her team triumphed over the Los Angeles Sparks, Hamby’s current team. “In fact, Dearica never made an HR complaint. She did not report anything to the players’ union or the WNBA. These are established facts.

“Additionally, nobody discussed trading her until Atlanta reached out in January 2023. That’s a fact as well. So what’s being claimed didn’t happen. I’m truly sorry about the allegations of bullying. I spoke with her daily. If she wanted to practice, she was free to do so; if not, that was perfectly fine too. I was genuinely concerned for her well-being.”

The lawsuit, submitted on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, claims that Hamby faced a decline in her reputation and brand value, as well as a loss in marketing or endorsement chances following her trade to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2023.

The suit contends that the Aces had offered Hamby additional incentives apart from her two-year contract signed in June 2022 to keep her on the team. Such incentives reportedly included the Aces agreeing to cover her daughter Amaya’s private tuition costs, as well as housing provided by the team, which Hamby used for family members to help with childcare while she traveled for away games.

Moreover, the lawsuit claims that Hamby observed significant changes in her treatment from Aces staff after she publicly announced her pregnancy, just weeks post-contract signing.

This reportedly included the team allegedly retracting the promised tuition assistance for her daughter and forcing her out of the housing provided by the team. The lawsuit also states that Hammon questioned Hamby’s commitment to the team during a phone call in January 2023 and did not refute the claim that the trade was influenced by Hamby’s pregnancy.

The lawsuit is seeking compensation through a jury trial.

<p”On Sunday, Hammon explained that the decision to trade Hamby was purely business, stating, “It came down to math in business. That’s simply what it was. There were no hard feelings. I maintained a solid relationship with Hamby throughout, which might be why she felt betrayed. It’s difficult to be the one to deliver such news, but that is part of the job.”

In that game on Sunday, Hamby recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals, but the Sparks fell short against the Aces.