Full Breakdown
Former Sacramento Kings Trainer Files Lawsuit Alleging Pregnancy Discrimination
8/21/2026, 5:50:49 AM
Core Allegations and Timeline
Crystal Lee, who served as an assistant athletic trainer for the Sacramento Kings from 2022 until her termination on June 12, 2025, filed a civil complaint in California Superior Court in August 2026. The suit accuses the franchise and its senior director of athlete health, Jaspreet Randhawa, of pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination.
- February 2023 – While in her second trimester, Lee was barred from traveling on road games.
- July 2023 – Lee returned from maternity leave but was not reinstated to her original duties and was excluded from road trips and the NBA combine.
- September 2024 – The organization removed the “assistant athletic trainer” title entirely, assigning her to a performance-administration position that precluded treating players.
- May 2025 – In a meeting with general manager Scott Perry, Lee was told that “complainers will not be tolerated.”
- Late May 2025 – Lee reported the same concerns to senior vice-president of human resources Stacy Wegzyn.
- June 12, 2025 – The Kings terminated Lee, citing alleged failure to meet performance expectations, including incomplete expense reports.
Lee seeks unspecified damages and alleges additional violations, such as being forced to pump breast milk in the women’s locker room with inadequate privacy and the team’s refusal to allow her infant on the premises despite a policy permitting new parents to bring infants up to six months old.
Background & Context
When Lee joined the Kings in 2022, she was among roughly fifteen female athletic trainers employed across the NBA and became the first trainer in league history to announce a pregnancy while on staff. The lawsuit claims the Kings’ internal culture, as directed by Randhawa, demanded “no days off” and equated long hours with commitment, creating an environment that disadvantaged pregnant employees.
Data & Statistics
- Female NBA trainers (2022): ~15.
- Employment period: 2022 – 2025.
- Demotions: Two—April 2023 (title change) and September 2024 (title removal).
- Road-game exclusion: February 2023 (second trimester).
- Termination date: June 12, 2025.
Official Statements & Responses
The Kings’ legal representative, Alexis Gabrielson of Cook Brown LLP, issued a statement denying all allegations, emphasizing the franchise’s commitment to a respectful workplace and indicating that the organization will vigorously defend itself in court.
Lee’s counsel, attorney Robert King, said the team had previously engaged in mediation attempts that failed, and that the lawsuit reflects unresolved efforts to address the grievances.
The NBA has not provided a comment on the matter.
What’s Next
The lawsuit remains pending in California Superior Court. No court-scheduled hearing dates have been disclosed in the available filings. Both parties have indicated that the case will proceed through the legal process, with the Kings planning to contest the claims.
