A six-time WNBA All-Star, Hammon retired from the San Antonio Stars at age 37 and made an historic leap across town to the Spurs, becoming the first paid, full-time female assistant coach in NBA history. On December 31, 2021, Becky announced that she was headed back to the WNBA and was named the Head Coach of the Las Vegas Aces.
Since becoming the Head Coach of the Aces, Becky has won Coach of the Year, and has won back to back WNBA Championships in 2022 and 2023.
In high school, Hammon broke every Rapid City (S.D.) Stevens school record en route to capturing 1994-95 Gatorade South Dakota Girls Basketball Player of the Year honors, averaging 26 points, five steals and four rebounds as a senior.
The major colleges, however, thought she was too small, too slow and too South Dakota. Colorado State took a chance, and the 5-foot-6 point guard broke all of the Rams records too, earning All-American recognition, winning the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the best senior player under 5-foot-8, and passing 11-year NBA veteran Keith Van Horn as the leading scorer, males or females in Western Athletic Conference history.
Becky Hammon remains as the most decorated CSU women’s basketball player in school history. Her career was one of excellence, winning 14 conference player of the week awards, four first-team All-Conference awards and an Associated Press first-team All-American award in 1999. Hammon also won WAC Mountain Division player of the year in 1998 and 1999, WAC Pacific Division player of the year in 1997 and WAC freshman of the year in 1996. Hammon held the school career record for points, points per game, field goals, field goal attempts, free throws made, free throw attempts, 3-pointers, 3-point attempts, steals and assists upon graduation. She also posted nine single-season records including points, free throws and assists. She led her teams to the WNIT in 1998 and NCAA tournament appearances in 1996, 1998, and in 1999 when the Rams made it to the Sweet 16. She led the Rams to WAC Mountain Division Championships in 1998 and 1999 along with a WAC Championship in 1996.
In 2004 Becky was inducted into the Colorado State Athletic Hall of Fame and her jersey has also been retired by the school.
In spite of her stellar college career, Becky was not selected in the four-round 1999 WNBA draft, but she ended up signing a training camp contract with the New York Liberty, which was the beginning of a 16-year playing career that earned her several award and accolades, including being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Becky’s aggressive play at both ends of the court made her a favorite among Liberty fans. Primarily used to provide instant points off the bench, Hammon had a breakout WNBA season in 2003, providing much-needed offense for the Liberty, earning her an All-Star spot, however, her season was cut short by a knee injury.
On August 16, 2005, Hammon scored her 2,000th WNBA career point, was named to the All-Star Team again, and at the end of the 2005 season, she was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
On April 4, 2007, Hammon was traded to the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars. Hammon posted career high averages of 18.8 ppg (fourth best) and 5.0 apg in 2007. She led the league in assists that year. While in San Antonio, Hammon earned the nickname “Big Shot Becky” because of her ability to make shots in important moments.
In 2008, Hammon averaged 17.6 ppg, and 4.9 apg as she led the Silver Stars to a WNBA best record 24–10 and led them into the playoffs for a second straight year. In the conference semi-finals, Hammon scored 30 points in a Game 1 win against the Sacramento Monarchs. San Antonio would eventually win the series and advance to the Western Conference Finals. Following a loss in Game 1 and a win in Game 2, Hammon’s 35 points propelled the Silver Stars to a victory in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Sparks. The Silver Stars advanced to the 2008 WNBA Finals, where they were defeated by the Detroit Shock 3–0.
Becky averaged a career-high 19.5 ppg and 5.0 apg in the 2009 WNBA season. The Silver Stars had a record of 15–19 and lost to the eventual champion Phoenix Mercury in the first round. Hammon was an All-Star as well as a first-team All-WNBA selection. On August 31, 2011, Hammon became the seventh player in WNBA history to score 5,000 points. Later in the year, Hammon scored 37 points in a playoff-clinching win against the Los Angeles Sparks.
In 2013 in a game against the LA Sparks, Becky tore her ACL and would miss the rest of the season. During her recovery time Becky was invited to shadow the San Antonio Spurs staff and Head Coach Gregg Popovich.
Becky announced her retirement from the WNBA during the 2014 season and was then named and Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs. She became the first woman to serve as a full-time paid assistant coach in the NBA.
In 2015, Becky was the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs Summer League team and lead them to the 2015 Summer League Championship.
In 2020, during her seventh season with the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich was ejected in the second quarter of the Spurs’ 121–107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and Hammon became the first female to become an acting head coach in NBA history.
One thing that hasn’tt changed for Hammon is her South Dakota roots. Ron Riherd, Becky’s high school coach, went to see her play in the WNBA multiple times and remembers Hammon being endlessly accommodating to fans and admirers after games. “I certainly never forget where I come from,” Hammon said. “There’s not a professional team in South Dakota anywhere, so I think the fact that they get a chance to interact with these professional athletes in unique situations, to be able to impact those young lives, hopefully that’s something they never forget. Hopefully I gave them a piece of knowledge or encouragement or something that will help them later on in life.”
That hospitality has still been present in Hammon’ss career as an assistant coach. When Riherd got the boys head coaching job at Stevens High School two years ago, he called Hammon and asked her if he could come to San Antonio and watch a Spurs practice. When Riherd was down at a practice, Spurs head coach Greg Popovich came over to introduce himself and exchange some banter, which led to the subject of Hammon. “Pop said, “Oh by the way, did she do to you what she’s doing to me?” and I said, I’mm not sure” Riherd said. “And he said, “Damn, I think she’s after my job already.”
During her Assistant Coaching duties with the Spurs, Becky continued to rack up the awards and accolades.
On August 2, 2015, Hammon was inducted into the Ring of Honor during halftime of the game between the New York Liberty and the Seattle Storm. The Ring of Honor recognizes players who have “made the most significant contributions to the Liberty’s tradition of excellence and to the growth of the WNBA.” Previous inductees include Vickie Johnson, Teresa Weatherspoon, Rebecca Lobo, Sue Wicks, and Kym Hampton.
On June 25, 2016, the San Antonio Stars retired Becky’s jersey prior to the Atlanta Dream game.
On December 31, 2021, Becky was named the Head Coach of the Las Vegas Aces, after 8 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs as an Assistant Coach. “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 replaced Bill Laimbeer, who coached the Aces for the team’s first four years in Las Vegas.
In August 2022, Becky was named the WNBA Coach of the Year, making her the first former WNBA player to win the award in her debut season.
In September 2022, the Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA Championship. Becky was the first WNBA Head Coach to win a championship in their rookie year of head coaching.
In 2023, Becky and her Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA Championship again.
In 2008, Hammon made a hard decision and joined Russia’s national team and captured an Olympic bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics. She played again for Russia in 2012.