Former Sacramento Kings trainer sues franchise for pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination

Crystal Lee, a former assistant athletic trainer for the Sacramento Kings, has filed a lawsuit against the NBA franchise and its senior director of athlete health, Jaspreet Randhawa, alleging pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, details a series of alleged incidents beginning after Lee announced her pregnancy in early 2023.

According to court documents, Lee joined the Kings in 2022 and worked as an assistant athletic trainer. The suit claims that after she informed Randhawa of her pregnancy, he made derogatory comments, including telling her "You're fed" and stating that her "life is ruined after you have kids." Lee alleges Randhawa fostered a work culture where staff felt they had to work around the clock to be considered committed.

The lawsuit outlines a progression of professional setbacks Lee says she experienced. In February 2023, during her second trimester, she was barred from traveling with the team for road games. In April 2023, she was demoted from her assistant athletic trainer role to an administrative position, which limited her ability to treat players. Lee claims she...