LiAngelo Ball Files for Divorce Weeks After Pregnancy Announcement

LiAngelo Ball, the professional basketball player and rapper, has filed for divorce from his wife, Rashida Nicole, after just three months of marriage. According to reports from TMZ on July 9, 2025, the filing cites “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split. This development comes only weeks after the couple had announced they were expecting their first child together.

The Short-Lived Marriage

LiAngelo Ball and Rashida Nicole tied the knot on March 24, 2025. Their relationship, which seemed to be progressing rapidly, took a sharp turn when they decided to part ways in late June. Just days before the divorce filing, Nicole publicly announced her pregnancy on June 26, sharing her excitement and gratitude on Instagram. In her post, she credited her teenage daughter, Diana, for providing emotional support during this significant moment in her life.

Nicole, a podcast host, revealed that she had Diana when she was just 15 years old and expressed hesitation about becoming a parent again. However, she noted that her daughter’s reassurance helped her embrace the journey. “As a teen mom, I was always hesitant about going through pregnancy and parenthood again. I want to thank my daughter for being here for me during this process,” Nicole wrote.

Custody and Support Disputes

In his divorce filing, Ball requested joint custody of their unborn child but declined to seek spousal support for either party. This legal move underscores the complexities of their short-lived union, especially given the timing of the pregnancy announcement.

Ball is no stranger to fatherhood, as he shares two children, LaVelo Anthony Ball and LaNiyah Nicole Ball, with his ex-girlfriend Nikki Mudarris. Their past relationship has also been a source of public drama. Earlier this year, on February 8, 2025, Mudarris accused Ball of abandoning their children after allegedly cheating on her and impregnating another woman, a claim seemingly directed at Nicole. Although Ball did not publicly deny these accusations, he defended his parenting during an interview on The Baller Alert Show on February 25, stating that he spends significant time with his kids and dismissing internet rumors as misleading.

Public Reactions and Ball’s Perspective

Ball has made it clear that he is unfazed by public scrutiny regarding his personal life. In an interview with Billboard, he emphasized that he values the opinions of his close friends and family over those of the media or fans. “I don’t care what people think about my divorce,” he stated, adding that maintaining his focus on his inner circle is his priority.

Meanwhile, neither Ball nor Nicole has issued any direct public statements about their divorce. Their silence has left fans speculating about the reasons behind their sudden separation and its potential impact on their future co-parenting dynamic.

The Broader Context

This chapter in Ball’s life adds to a series of high-profile personal events that have kept him in the public eye. From his tumultuous relationship with Mudarris to his whirlwind marriage with Nicole, Ball’s personal life often intertwines with his career as both an athlete and rapper. For Nicole, who hosts the podcast Necessarily Nicole, the divorce marks another significant life transition as she prepares for the arrival of her second child.

As this story continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the challenges and complexities of relationships in the public eye, particularly when compounded by fame, family, and personal ambitions.