Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon was ejected in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night following an explosive sideline meltdown directed at officials.
During her team’s 97-82 loss to the Atlanta Dream, Hammon was left incensed after feeling that star center A’ja Wilson was hacked by Dream center Madina Okot without receiving a call from the officiating crew.
On the ensuing possession, following a missed jumper from Angel Reese, Hammon stepped onto the court to retroactively vent her rage at the referees.
Her furious approach immediately earned her a technical foul from the officials.
Rather than stepping back, the three-time WNBA champion coach intensified her protest, charging forward to scream directly in the referee’s face.
The confrontation escalated rapidly, forcing several assistant coaches alongside Wilson herself to step in and physically restrain Hammon.
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon was ejected in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night following an explosive sideline meltdown directed at officials
Hammon had to be held back by A’ja Wilson after remonstrating with officials on Tuesday
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The relentless argument triggered a second technical foul and an automatic ejection, forcing assistant coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson to take over on the sideline.
As Hammon departed the floor, the home crowd inside the arena made their feelings clear, erupting into loud chants of ‘refs you suck’ in defense of their head coach.
The ejection marks only the second of Hammon’s five-year head coaching career in Las Vegas, where she holds a 121-50 overall record.
Hammon did not address reporters in the post-game press conference, leaving Thomas-Swinson to field questions from the media.
The 97-82 defeat causes the 24-13 Aces to slide into fourth place in the standings – falling behind the surging Indiana Fever – with just seven games remaining in the regular season.
