Williams, a former WNBA All-Star player and Olympian, helped get the Las Vegas Aces to two championship runs in 2022 and 2023 as their General Manager. However, the Aces are also embroiled in a major lawsuit and are accused of playing unfairly.
On Saturday, the Las Vegas Aces announced that they have not renewed the contract of General Manager Natalie Williams. The news comes as a surprise, partly because the Aces are one of the WNBA’s best teams. And also it’s because the Washington Mystics fired, or parted ways with then-General Manager MIke Thibault earlier this week.
With Williams now on the open market, the Mystics, now have a possible opportunity to at least interview one of the WNBA’s top executives, if she wants to, that is. The Aces won championships in 2022 and 2023. The core of the Aces should be largely intact with WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson as their centerpiece. And the team boasts state of the art training facilities that few WNBA, let alone NBA teams, can match.
That said, Williams also leaves the Aces with a complicated legacy in other ways. First, the team is a defendant in a federal lawsuit by former Aces (and now Los Angeles Sparks) guard Dearica Hamby regarding a hostile work environment when she was pregnant. Ultimately, Hamby was traded to LA. Williams and the Aces claim that the team just wanted to get in position to acquire Candace Parker.
Hamby also posted this on X when it was known that Williams was out from Vegas. Take it for what it’s worth.
The Las Vegas Aces will be restructuring its front office and will not be renewing the contract of General Manager Natalie Williams, the team announced.
— Khristina Williams (@Khristina) October 26, 2024
What a beautiful day!!! The sun is out.. the birds are chirping and the sky is BLUEEEE!!!!
— Dearica Marie Hamby (@dearicamarie) October 26, 2024
Hamby’s lawsuit came after a 2023 WNBA investigation regarding her situation, which culminated in the Aces losing their 2025 first round pick and a two-game suspension for Head Coach Becky Hammon.
Williams also led the Aces when that aforementioned investigation revealed impermissible player benefits. This was in connection to benefits Hamby would have received if she stayed with the Aces.
And even this season, the Aces players received $100,000 sponsorships from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority just for representing the city and making some appearances. The LVCVA claims that the team didn’t know about this plan beforehand, but the sponsorship is still an ancillary benefit most WNBA players won’t get.
Do I think Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger should consider interviewing Williams? Since she is one of the most successful executives in recent memory, sure, from that standpoint. However, do I think Williams should be the front runner for the Mystics’ vacancy? No.
In short, Winger and Monumental Basketball should be hesitant about Williams, considering the Aces’ legal situation.
It’s certainly possible that Williams could lead another WNBA team to championship heights, especially after Hamby’s lawsuit is resolved. But, if a team, whether it’s the Mystics or anyone else hires her to be the General Manager in 2025, that could make their team less desirable to some players, considering Hamby’s situation.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.