The Las Vegas Aces are losing their next first-round draft pick and a two-game suspension for head coach Becky Hammon, part of penalties handed by the WNBA.
The league announced on Tuesday that the Aces would forfeit their 2025 first-round pick due to "promises of impermissible benefits" made during salary negotiations with former player Dearica Hamby.
It's worth noting that the team had already traded away their 2024 first-round pick.
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Importance of Maintaining Integrity and Fairness
Additionally, Hammon, aged 46, received a two-game suspension without pay for violating both league and team Respect in the Workplace policies.
This was in response to her comments to Dearica Hamby when the player was pregnant. Hamby had accused the franchise of referring to her as a "question mark" and claimed that she was criticized for not taking precautions to avoid getting pregnant. Hamby was traded from the Aces to the Sparks during the offseason.
Becky Hammon's name has previously been mentioned in connection with NBA head coaching positions.
When the Aces signed forward Alysha Clark and two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker, the league investigated possible "impermissible benefits" related to their compensation. According to reports, Parker, who earned $195,000 in the previous season, signed with the Aces for $100,000. However, the WNBA stated that it could not substantiate any violations in these cases.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity and fairness within the league and expressed disappointment with the Aces' failure to comply with the rules and regulations.
She announced the disciplinary measures against Hammon and the Aces and reaffirmed the league's commitment to conducting enhanced training and upholding standards across all teams to ensure a respectful workplace environment.
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