Hammon's Aces Job Is Not A 'Step Back'

WNBA star Angel McCoughtry says Becky Hammon taking the Aces' head coaching job shouldn't be looked at as a "step back" ... telling TMZ Sports both the WNBA and the NBA are on "the same level."

"Why is that considered a step back?" the WNBA forward said at LAX this week.

"She's coaching elite women that are just as good as LeBron, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry. These women are just as good."

Hammon became the Las Vegas Aces' HC last month -- and some have perceived it to be a disappointment, considering many believed she deserved to be an NBA HC right now.

After all, she served eight seasons as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio ... and did have interest from NBA…