Becky Hammon
Rebecca Lynn Hammon was born on the 11th of March 1977 in Rapid City, South Dakota. She learned to dribble a basketball at a very young age while playing Nerf ball with her older brother and father. Her home court became the place where she honed her skills before stepping onto any professional stage. Hammon attended Stevens High School in her hometown of Rapid City during the early 1990s. As a junior, she earned the title of South Dakota Miss Basketball. By her senior year, she averaged 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 steals per game to win the state Player of the Year award. Graduating in 1995, she also received the female class athlete honor from her graduating class. College recruiters initially ignored her because they considered her too small and too slow for their programs. An assistant coach at Colorado State University eventually noticed her talent and offered her a spot on the Rams roster.
Hammon entered the Women's National Basketball Association as an undrafted free agent on the 12th of May 1999. She signed with the New York Liberty that same month after going unnoticed by draft teams. Her rookie season saw her back up starting point guard Teresa Weatherspoon while making aggressive plays on both ends of the court. Fans quickly embraced her style of play despite her lack of initial recognition. After the 2003 season, she took over as the team's starting point guard alongside co-captains Vickie Johnson and Crystal Robinson. Hammon scored her 2,000th career WNBA point on the 16th of August 2005 during her tenure with the Liberty. She earned All-WNBA Second Team honors at the end of that 2005 season before joining San Antonio. The Silver Stars traded for her on the 4th of April 2007 when she posted career-high averages of 18.8 points per game and 5.0 assists per game. That year she led the entire league in assists and earned the nickname Big Shot Becky due to her clutch shooting ability. Her performance helped lead the team to a best record of 24 wins and 10 losses in 2008.
Hammon announced in 2008 that she would attempt to join the Russian national team after missing out on U.S. Olympic selection. She became a naturalized Russian citizen later that same year to compete in the Beijing Summer Olympics. This decision sparked immediate backlash from American basketball commentators who questioned her patriotism. Anne Donovan, then head coach of the U.S. national team, stated that playing for Russia made her appear unpatriotic. Hammon responded by explaining that patriotism meant different things to different people and emphasized her love for her country. She scored 22 points against China to help secure a bronze medal for Russia despite shooting just 1-for-6 from the field in the semifinal loss to the United States. Financial incentives played a role as her salary with CSKA Moscow tripled after obtaining citizenship. The government offered her $250,000 for winning gold and $150,000 for silver medals during this period. She continued representing Russia at EuroBasket 2009 and the 2012 Olympics before returning focus to her WNBA career.
On the 5th of August 2014, the San Antonio Spurs hired Hammon as an assistant coach making her the first full-time female assistant in NBA history. Head coach Gregg Popovich praised her basketball IQ and work ethic during the hiring announcement. Her contributions to the staff impressed Popovich enough to integrate her deeply into game planning and strategy sessions. On the 3rd of July 2015, she became the first female head coach in the NBA Summer League when the team announced her leadership of their summer squad. The Spurs won the Las Vegas Summer League title on the 20th of July 2015 under her direction. At the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, Hammon joined the coaching staff becoming the first woman to hold that position. During a the 30th of December 2020 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Popovich was ejected in the second quarter. Hammon took over as acting head coach making her the first Russian and first female to serve in that capacity during an actual NBA game. She interviewed for the Portland Trail Blazers general manager role in June 2017 but did not become a finalist for the position. Pau Gasol wrote an open letter supporting her capabilities stating she could coach NBA basketball without qualification.
Hammon accepted the head coaching position with the Las Vegas Aces on the 31st of December 2021 after leaving the Spurs. In her rookie season as a head coach, the Aces won the 2022 WNBA Finals making her the first rookie to win the championship. The following year they repeated as champions in 2023 becoming back-to-back winners for the first time in two decades. By 2025, the team had secured their third championship title by sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in the finals. Her success earned her the WNBA Coach of the Year award immediately upon taking the helm. On the 12th of August 2023, she was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recognizing both her playing and coaching contributions. Hammon became the highest-paid WNBA head coach when her salary exceeded $1 million per year starting from her tenure with the Aces. The transformation of the franchise into a dynasty occurred within just four seasons of her leadership beginning in 2021.
In May 2023, Hammon received a two-game suspension from the WNBA for violating workplace respect policies regarding former player Dearica Hamby. An investigation involving interviews with 33 people reviewed documents including texts and emails before issuing the penalty. The league also stripped the Aces of their first round draft pick in 2025 due to the findings. Hamby filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September 2023 after criticizing the initial probe. She alleged that Hammon questioned her commitment and asked if her pregnancy was planned during conversations in early 2023. A federal lawsuit filed on the 12th of August 2024 claimed Hammon told Hamby she did not hold up her end of the bargain regarding contract terms. Hammon denied all allegations stating she had never faced an HR complaint in her 25-year career. She noted that no formal complaints were filed by Hamby with the players union or the league prior to the lawsuit. The case remains ongoing as both sides present evidence in U.S. District Court.
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Common questions
When and where was Becky Hammon born?
Rebecca Lynn Hammon was born on the 11th of March 1977 in Rapid City, South Dakota. She learned to dribble a basketball at a very young age while playing Nerf ball with her older brother and father.
What year did Becky Hammon become the first female head coach in NBA Summer League history?
Becky Hammon became the first female head coach in the NBA Summer League on the 3rd of July 2015 when the San Antonio Spurs announced her leadership of their summer squad. The team won the Las Vegas Summer League title on the 20th of July 2015 under her direction.
Why did Becky Hammon play for the Russian national team during the Beijing Olympics?
Hammon became a naturalized Russian citizen later that same year to compete in the Beijing Summer Olympics after missing out on U.S. Olympic selection. Financial incentives played a role as her salary with CSKA Moscow tripled after obtaining citizenship and the government offered her $250,000 for winning gold medals.
How many WNBA championships has Becky Hammon won as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces by 2025?
By 2025, the Las Vegas Aces had secured three championship titles under Becky Hammon including wins in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Her success earned her the WNBA Coach of the Year award immediately upon taking the helm.
What happened to Becky Hammon regarding workplace respect policies in May 2023?
In May 2023, Hammon received a two-game suspension from the WNBA for violating workplace respect policies regarding former player Dearica Hamby. The league also stripped the Aces of their first round draft pick in 2025 due to the findings.