WNBA confirms investigation of Aces
The WNBA is investigating Dearica Hamby’s allegations that the Las Vegas Aces bullied and manipulated her for being pregnant, the league said in a statement Wednesday.
It was the first time the league acknowledged it was looking into the situation. The players’ union had pushed for an inquiry into whether Hamby’s rights under the league’s 2020 labor agreement were violated, as well as state and federal laws.
Hamby made her allegations after being traded Jan. 21 to the Sparks. The Aces were trying to clear up salary-cap room to sign twotime MVP Candace Parker, who agreed to a deal Jan. 28.
Hamby agreed to a twoyear contract extension with Las Vegas in June. After she was traded, she posted on Instagram: “Being traded is a part of the business. Being lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against is not.”
Hamby, who is pregnant with her second child, stuck by her words in her introductory news conference with the Sparks.
Aces President Nikki Fargas
responded to Hamby’s comments Tuesday during Parker’s introductory news conference, but didn’t use Hamby’s name in saying that “our players and their families will always be in the forefront of who we are as a franchise.”
“We are here to assemble the best team possible, and when putting together a team, there are times when trades will happen,” Fargas said. “But that’s for us to also remain competitive. The moves we’ve made, obviously, have given us the flexibility we needed to sign (those) players.”
• Jordin Canada is staying with her hometown Sparks, the guard signing a training camp contract. Last season, the former UCLA star started 25 of 32 games and averaged 9.2 points, 5.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals in her first year with the Sparks.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were injured during the Australian Open last month, and Djokovic’s COVID-19 vaccination status also is still an issue for the tournament that runs March 6-19 at Indian Wells.
Djokovic, a five-time winner in the desert, missed last year’s tournament because of his vaccination status. The U.S. is set to end its COVID emergency declarations on May 11, long after the tournament concludes.
Djokovic won the Australian Open last month for his 22nd career major despite being bothered by a left hamstring injury. He returned to No. 1 in the world rankings. Nadal injured his hip during a second-round loss at the Australian Open and could be out up to two months.
Cup, a round-robin tournament with Canada, Brazil and Japan that starts next week. Matches are scheduled in Florida and Texas, two states that have enacted laws aimed at transgender athletes.
“Looking at these games in Florida and Texas respectively, we’re going to need to continue to step it up, and have internal discussions as well with the team, because we’re not ones to shy away from hard conversation or taking a stand for what’s right,” Morgan said in a conference call with reporters.
The U.S. women have previously criticized efforts to limit transgender kids from playing organized sports. Last year during a game in Texas, several players wore wristbands that said “Protect Trans Kids.”
Defender Becky Sauerbrunn wrote an op-ed last week for the Springfield News-Leader in her home state of Missouri defending the rights of transgender athletes. Lawmakers there are considering legislation to restrict transgender girls from taking part in girls sports.
• Real Madrid secured its place in the Club World Cup final with a 4-1 win against
Egyptian club Al Ahly in Rabat, Morocco, to keep alive its quest for a recordextending eighth world title.
Vinícius Júnior, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and Sergio Arribas scored for the Spanish side, which will play Al-Hilal in Saturday’s final. The Saudi Arabian team beat Brazilian club Flamengo 3-2 on Tuesday.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will undergo surgery on his injured elbow later this month and should be fully recovered by training camp.
Purdy will undergo the surgery on Feb. 22 to repair the torn ligament in his right elbow, multiple sources reported.
Fanchini died on the same day that fellow Italian Marta Bassino won the super-G at the world championships in Meribel, France; and two days after Federica Brignone — another former teammate — claimed gold in combined.
Sofia Goggia, who is the favorite for Saturday’s downhill, dedicated her win in Cortina d’Ampezzo last month to Fanchini.
Fanchini last raced in Dec. 2017. She was cleared to return to train nearly a year later but never made it fully back and her condition grew worse in recent months.
Fanchini won a silver medal in downhill at the 2005 world championships and also won two World Cup races in her career — both in downhill.
She missed the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics because of her condition.
Fanchini’s younger sisters Nadia and Sabrina were also World Cup racers.
“I’m sending my condolences to the whole Fanchini Family, who have had such a strong impact on our sport and world with their passion and kindness,” tweeted Mikaela Shiffrin, who finished second to Bassino in the super-G.