5:15pm: The Las Vegas Aces officially announced Hammon as their next head coach in a press release. “I am so excited to return to the WNBA and grateful for Mark Davis and Nikki Fargas having a vision for me to lead the Aces,” said Hammon. “This is where I come from, and I wouldn’t be me without the W. I’m thrilled to be able to give back and lead this next group of women.”
“Becky has become an integral part of our program in every way, shape and form,” said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. “This is a great opportunity for her to highlight her many skills. Her intuitive feel for the game and ability to teach will serve the Aces very well as she institutes her system and culture.”
“I have so many incredible memories and proud moments in San Antonio from my time with both the Stars and the Spurs,” added Hammon. “From the fans and players to coaches and staff, everyone in the organization has treated me so well for so many years and the entire experience has been amazing.
“I’m especially thankful to Pop, who only cared about my potential, not my gender. He saw something special in me and was willing to invest the time and energy to help teach and develop a young coach.”
Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports TV (Twitter link) reported earlier today that Hammon would also get the title of general manager in Las Vegas. That wasn’t mentioned in the Aces’ press release.
8:41am: Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon is nearing a “landmark” deal with the Las Vegas Aces that will make her the WNBA’s highest-paid coach, sources tell Shams Charania and Chantel Jennings of The Athletic. Hammon, who was also pursued by the New York Liberty, will replace Bill Laimbeer in Vegas.
According to an ESPN report, Hammon will receive a five-year deal from the Aces. She plans to finish the 2021/22 season with the Spurs before officially transitioning to her new job.
A six-time All-Star as a WNBA player from 1999-2014, Hammon joined the Spurs following her retirement as a player, becoming the first woman to be hired as a full-time NBA assistant coach.
Hammon has since interviewed for a handful of head coaching openings, including the Trail Blazers’ job this past offseason, and has long been considered the best bet to become the NBA’s first female head coach — perhaps even as Gregg Popovich‘s successor in San Antonio. However, her new deal with the Aces will take her out of the mix for NBA positions in the short term.
It will be interesting to hear the terms of the contract… Obviously, the money figures in the WNBA are nowhere close to what they are in the NBA. Perhaps she’s getting impatient and wants to show that she can indeed be a good head coach? I’d really have to guess that if an NBA team wants to hire her as a head coach, she’ll be gettable.
Women’s basketball does not bring in money. They do not get the same amount. This is the reason Wokies.
Wow… My comment was quite an understatement. Just googled it… the highest paid player in the WNBA is Skylar Diggins-Smith at $221,450…
Probably more than you make, chill out
WNBA is basically a stepping stone and a short season for players to get a lucrative offseason contract overseas.
$221k is already a lucrative salary IMO, but yes.
Ome always want more of that luc.
The question is why Europeans support the women’s game so much more… to compare, historically they have not been much interested in women’s soccer.
I’m happy for her if she is. I hope though she doesn’t give up on pursuing an NBA head coaching job if that is still her goal.
Good for her.
Honestly I don’t think it would’ve ever happened in the NBA, and I think she sees that now.
The most likely spot was with the spurs as Popovich’s successor, but that doesn’t seem likely or she would’ve just waited.
Nothing good will (or has) come out of waiting for Pops to retire. IDKY people think she has a promise there, or that she has dibs anyway… Hammon was just employed by the WNBA in SA when she retired, and both BB teams have the same owner. Also she was successful in the WNBA, and, about the cutest. And seemingly cynical about feminism. So fine… but a HC?— now we can find out finally!
How old are you, brother? You be rambling and making no sense on many articles. You sound like my grandpa if he had a phone.
Ageist comment a hole
Talking to me slim? I counted 10 points in my post and crap in yours. I remember things, you just spit into the wind cluelessly. Hope you have not reproduced enough to be a grandpa, how awful that would be.
Your grandpa doesn’t have a phone?
Think it’s a mistake, I think she woulda gotten a shot in the nba soon. She seemed to be gaining more traction in coaching cycles the past few years.
But hey if this is what she wants good for her.
I agree. She cant be this impatient. So many other qualified assistant coaches have waiting a lot longer before getting their first hc job. Besides, she has a great training job now.
Two things come to mind. 1. She didn’t see it as likely that she would get an NBA head coaching gig anywhere in the near future after going through the interview process last off-season. 2. If she is an heir apparent in San Antonio, Pops has probably told her he is not leaving anytime soon. This could actually potentially hurt her. If she doesn’t set the world on fire in Las Vegas, it could be used as fodder against her for any future NBA opportunities.
Pop probably told her that she is NOT the heir apparent in SA. Still, she’s in a position to even get DiV 1 Men HC job soon which is much more lucrative. Whatever it is, we dont have a full story.
As a woman, I bet she makes way less than male NBA head coaches. Shameful
Does WNBA make as much money as NBA? If Wnba players and coaches make more than G league players and coaches, is that shameful too?
Last time I checked the WNBA doesn’t even make money, so why on Earth should the players and coaches get paid anywhere near their NBA counterparts? No disrespect to them personally or their skill levels.
Come on rxbrgr…you’re smarter than that.
Pretty big shoes to fill. The Prince of Darkness himself Bill Lambeer.
Glad he’s done lurking over everyone. (Speaking of…) Ever been poster 111tacocat111?
Who was Nigeria’s mbb coach in the (2021) Olympics?
Nevermind.
Hammon has to have the title of GM to justify her salary. No way could she have the highest coach salary in wnba history and the team still be able to afford and employ a separate GM. Actually, most wnba coaches are the GM too, for the same reason.
Good Luck to her. NBA experience doesn’t guarantee WNBA success – ask Derek Fisher or Brian Winters.
But, somebody has to win… why not Becky?!
She one of the best wnba players in history that helps . SHe has coaching experience been on the spurs for a few years . She not a person with no coaching experience
Where was it mentioned that she has no coaching experience??
Who cares, this is the WNBA we are talking about after all. Basketball’s XFL.
Matters. WNBA…meh
Just means old man pop is coming back next year.
I have to say it’s disappointing. Same with Brittany Griner not trying out for the NBA. The money and sense of accomplishment from succeeding in the NBA would just be too much to settle for the WNBA but, like others said, maybe Popovich made it clear he wasn’t leaving anytime soon or it was made clear to her that she wasn’t the heir apparent.