Becky Hammon Reacts to Gregg Popovich’s Retirement from Coaching
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon expressed deep emotions following the retirement of Gregg Popovich as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after 29 legendary seasons. Speaking ahead of the Aces’ preseason game against the Dallas Wings, Hammon shared her admiration and gratitude toward her longtime mentor.
“My heart’s a little heavy for him because I know how much he loves it,” said Hammon. “He’s one of the greatest to do it. Arguably, the greatest to do it.”
Popovich, 76, will now serve as the Spurs’ president of basketball operations, a transition Hammon believes he will excel in.
A Coaching Journey Sparked by Popovich’s Belief
Becky Hammon’s historic coaching career began when Popovich hired her in 2014, making her just the second female coach in NBA history. She made headlines in 2015 by leading the Spurs’ Summer League team to a championship and again in 2020 when she became the first woman to act as head coach during an NBA game after Popovich was ejected.
“He’s a huge reason why I got this job,” Hammon said. “That’s who mentored me. That’s who spent literally thousands of hours with me.”
During her eight years on the Spurs’ staff, Hammon admired Popovich’s leadership style, noting his ability to maximize the potential of any roster.
“People have different leadership styles, but I thought he got the absolute most out of his roster,” she added.
Becky Hammon Focused on Dominating the WNBA
Despite calls from the sports community for Hammon to return to the NBA and replace Popovich, she made it clear she is committed to her current role.
“I’m super happy where I’m at,” Hammon said. “I bet on myself instead of maybe waiting it out for a ‘maybe’ in the NBA. I’ve enjoyed being back on the women’s side.”
Hammon has found tremendous success with the Las Vegas Aces, leading them to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023, and holding an impressive 87–29 coaching record in just three seasons.
Will Becky Hammon Return to the NBA?
Although she’s happy with the Aces, Hammon didn’t completely close the door on returning to the NBA in the future.
“If I were to ever make that jump again, it would just have to be the right fit, right time and for the right people with the right team.”
For now, however, Hammon remains focused on building a dynasty in the WNBA, proving that women can lead—and win—at the highest levels of professional basketball.
