Former Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon eyed by Toronto Raptors for head coach, Time reports

Becky Hammon left the San Antonio Spurs organization for the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA in December 2021. 

A year later, Hammon became the first rookie head coach to win the WNBA Championship. Now, according to Time magazine, Hammon is receiving interest from NBA teams, including the Toronto Raptors. Hammon is determined to stay with the Aces, formerly known as the San Antonio Silver Stars (and then the Stars in 2014) after the Aces won the championship and built a new practice site and headquarters for the team. 

The Time report, released Monday, came just before the WNBA on Tuesday suspended Hammon for two games following an investigation that found the franchise violated league rules regarding impermissible player benefits and Respect in the Workplace policies.

The WNBA found that team promised impermissible benefits during contract extension negotiations for former Aces player Dearica Hamby and Hammon violated the Respect in the Workplace policy due to comments made about Hamby’s pregnancy. 

Hamby was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks this offseason and alleged in an Instagram post that the Aces organization treated her in an “unprofessional and unethical way.” 

The league said its investigation was not able to substantiate any of the allegations made about the Aces’ cap circumvention. Still, Hammon’s suspension was accompanied by the Aces forfeiting their first-round pick in 2025. 

“The Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations and have been disciplined accordingly,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. 

“We are also disheartened by the violation of our Respect in the Workplace policies and remain committed to ensuring that enhanced training is conducted and standards are followed across all WNBA teams.” 

FOLLOWING IN HER FOOTSTEPS: WNBA legend Candice Dupree follows Becky Hammon’s lead, joins Spurs coaching staff

Hamby said she was “lied to, bullied, manipulated and discriminated against” by the Aces. Hamby added that the Aces accused her of signing her contract extension in June of 2022 while knowing she was pregnant. Hamby announced her second pregnancy shortly after the Aces won the championship in September. 

Time reported in its piece that Hammon was a potential candidate for the open Toronto Raptors head-coaching job following the departure of former coach Nick Nurse on April 21. Hammon became the first woman to be a full-time coach in the history of the Big 4 major North American sports leagues (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB) in 2014.

She served as the head coach for the Spurs’ summer-league team and won a championship, the first woman to do so. When Gregg Popovich was ejected from a regular season game in 2020, Hammon became the first woman to serve as head coach. 

Hammon, who previously interviewed for many head-coaching positions, spent eight years with the Spurs and told Time she believes one of the major factors behind her not having an NBA head-coaching position was sexism. 

HALL OF FAME: Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, Becky Hammon among finalists

Hammon said she will consider all options but that her happiness comes first, telling Time that the NBA’s 82-game schedule is a lot more punishing for a parent of young children than the WNBA’s 40-game calendar.

“You’re going to have to come after me,” Hammon told Time. “I’m not going to beg for a job anymore.” 

If Hammon stays with the Aces, she will attempt to win her second title in Las Vegas. Hammon would be the first coach, and the Aces the first team, to win back-to-back in 21 years. 

Hammon will enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame alongside fellow Spurs Popovich and Tony Parker in August. 

shepard.price@express-news.net