WNBA star Rickea Jackson recently revealed in court documents that she was “in fear of my life” after an alleged altercation with her NFL ex-boyfriend, James Pearce Jr.
Pearce Jr. was arrested in February 2026, according to a previous report from The Blast, after he allegedly rammed his vehicle into Jackson’s SUV in Miami, Florida.
Rickea Jackson, a Los Angeles Sparks player, shared an emotional statement with the court and alleged that Pearce Jr., an Atlanta Falcons player, had been physically abusing and stalking her for weeks.
WNBA Star Rickea Jackson Shared An Emotional Statement With A Judge About Her NFL Ex-Boyfriend
Jackson, 24, filed a request for a restraining order against Pearce Jr. shortly after his February arrest, according to ESPN. The court granted the athlete’s request and set a hearing for April 21, 2026.
In court filings, Jackson wrote about the alleged “physical” abuse she’s endured from Pearce Jr. The court documents also alleged that the NFL player has threatened to harm her and place a bag over her head.
Jackson pleaded with the court to step in, stating that if it didn’t, she believed Pearce Jr. would “kill me.”
What Happened With Rickea Jackson And Pearce Jr. In February 2026?
Pearce Jr. was arrested in Florida on two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of aggravated stalking, per The Blast.
The 22-year-old was also charged with fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence.
Pearce Jr.’s arrest followed an alleged altercation with Jackson, which ended with him reportedly slamming his vehicle into hers as she attempted to get help.
Rickea Jackson Claimed Pearce Jr. Tried To Stop Her From Receiving Help
According to ESPN, Jackson told authorities that Pearce Jr. had been following her around Miami the day of his arrest in February. When she noticed she was being tailed, Jackson called the police department and began traveling there to find safety.
Jackson reportedly told law enforcement officers that she decided to go to the police station “because I knew James was going to hurt me.”
Jackson’s attempt to reach safety, however, was complicated by Pearce Jr.’s alleged actions, which she claimed included traveling at high speeds, blocking her vehicle at traffic lights, jumping on top of her car, and hitting her car’s tail end in an attempt to get her to spin out and crash.
Pearce “maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that is hardly the full, complete story,” his lawyer said, per CBS Sports.
Jackson Calls Out Pearce Jr.’s Alleged ‘Obsessive’ Behavior
Jackson claimed in her petition that she’s been dealing with Pearce Jr.’s alleged “obsessive, insecure, violent, and aggressive behavior” for nearly a month after she attempted to end their relationship.
“James has threatened to kill me, James has threatened to harm me, James has threatened to injure me, James has threatened to place a bag over my head, and James has verbally and physically abused,” she wrote.
Jackson alleged that Pearce Jr. has been harassing her for weeks, and even claimed that the NFL player offered her $75,000 to visit him and $200,000 to stay in a relationship with him, according to the AP.
Social Media Users Speak Out After Latest News About Pearce Jr. Hits The Internet
Social media users have shared their reactions to the latest news, and many are hoping Pearce Jr. receives some form of serious punishment.
“What a joke if he doesn’t get prison time,” someone wrote on Reddit. “You can tell by the look in Pearce’s eyes at the awards show that he has a warzone in his head.”
“Throw that peace [sic] of sh-t under the jail,” another Redditor commented.
“It’s sad to say, but a protective order will not stop him,” a third wrote. “He clearly doesn’t care, and it will probably just piss him off more. He needs to be in a center for psych help. Also, what the f-ck are the Falcons doing not cutting him? They have multiple videos of him doing this.”
Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham broke his silence on the news earlier this week, calling the allegations “concerning.”
“… but outside of that, I’ll just keep it just very similar to what we said at the combine. We’re not going to comment on an open legal matter here moving forward,” he finished.