A professional basketball player is speaking out about alleged threats from her former boyfriend, an NFL rookie, in court documents filed for protection.
Rickea Jackson, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, successfully obtained a temporary restraining order against James Pearce Jr., a first-year player with the Atlanta Falcons, according to reports from ESPN and TMZ released Wednesday.
The protective order came after an incident on February 7 in Doral, Florida, where authorities say Pearce deliberately crashed his car into Jackson’s vehicle multiple times. Police report that Pearce then struck an officer with his car before driving away from the scene.
Law enforcement subsequently took Pearce into custody on multiple serious charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, fleeing police, and aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer.
In her sworn statement to the court, Jackson detailed a pattern of threatening behavior. “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 me on more than one occasion,” she wrote according to the reports.
Jackson also revealed that Pearce attempted to pay her significant sums of money before the February confrontation – offering $75,000 for a single visit or $200,000 “to remain in a relationship with him.” She has indicated her willingness to provide testimony against him in legal proceedings.
The court’s protective order prohibits Pearce from making any contact with Jackson and requires him to stay at least 500 feet away from her residence and workplace, plus 100 feet from her car. A court hearing to determine whether the order should become permanent is scheduled for April 21.
ESPN’s reporting indicates that police received at least seven additional 911 calls in the months leading up to the February incident, with callers reporting that Pearce was stalking or harassing an unidentified girlfriend.
The 22-year-old Pearce was Atlanta’s first-round draft selection in 2025, chosen 26th overall. During his rookie campaign, he posted impressive statistics with 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, five pass deflections and 26 tackles across 17 games with three starts, earning him third place in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting.
Jackson, age 24, was selected fourth overall by Los Angeles in the 2024 WNBA Draft. In her second professional season, she averaged 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists over 38 games with 37 starts, finishing ninth in league MVP voting.
