The woman is seeking monetary damages, including punitive damages, for emotional distress. A source told ESPN that the woman is seeking “anywhere from $18 million to $50 million.”
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Michael C. Wright @mikecwright
Statement from Zion Williamson’s attorneys: “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them. The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless.” – 1:55 PM
Statement from Zion Williamson’s attorneys: “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them. The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless.” – 1:55 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
NBA Trade Rumors Roundup: Zion likely staying in New Orleans; would the Cavaliers consider Garland, Allen trade talks?
nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba-t… – 2:45 PM
NBA Trade Rumors Roundup: Zion likely staying in New Orleans; would the Cavaliers consider Garland, Allen trade talks?
nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba-t… – 2:45 PM
More on this storyline
A Pelicans spokesperson deferred comment to Williamson’s legal team. -via ESPN / May 31, 2025
Shamit Dua: Roughly $7.9 Million of Zion’s contract is guaranteed next season if he is waived before 7/15. He hit his weight benchmarks. This means if the Pelicans waive him, they won’t really have functional cap space. Which is whatever, they can still act as an “above the cap” team and retain the full 14M NTMLE and their trade exception from this past year. -via Bluesky / May 31, 2025
The 12-page civil complaint, obtained by ESPN, says Williamson’s alleged actions occurred in multiple states, including Louisiana and California. The court filing details two alleged incidents of rape in 2020, the first taking place that September in Beverly Hills, California. According to the complaint, the woman told Williamson “she was tired and wanted to go to sleep” but Williamson told her she could not go to sleep without having sex with him. He then allegedly pinned her down with her hands behind her back and raped her. The filing added that Williamson threw the woman’s phone across the room afterward and choked her. -via ESPN / May 31, 2025