A woman has filed a serious lawsuit against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, accusing him of rape, as well as sexual, physical, emotional, and financial abuse throughout a multiyear relationship. The lawsuit was submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday and identifies the woman as Jane Doe. According to the complaint, Williamson is accused of a continuous pattern of abusive, controlling, and threatening behavior, which allegedly began during his freshman year at Duke University and lasted from 2018 to 2023.
The 12-page civil complaint, which has been obtained by ESPN, claims that Williamson's alleged abusive actions took place across multiple states, including Louisiana and California. The accusations highlight a troubling pattern of conduct that has raised significant concerns. In response to these serious allegations, Williamson's attorneys, from the law firm Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, LLC, issued a statement emphasizing their unequivocal denial of the claims, labeling them as "categorically false and reckless."
Williamson's legal team asserts that this lawsuit appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete for financial gain, rather than stemming from any legitimate grievance. They maintain that Williamson and the woman had a consensual and casual relationship that ended several years ago, and at no point during or immediately after that relationship did she raise any concerns about her treatment. Furthermore, Williamson's attorneys revealed that he has reported the woman’s alleged extortion attempts to law enforcement and plans to file a counterclaim in response to the lawsuit. They expressed confidence that the legal process will reveal the truth and vindicate Williamson.
At just 24 years old, Zion Williamson has already made a notable impact in the NBA. He played one season at Duke before being drafted first overall by the Pelicans in 2019. Despite his talent and earning two All-Star nods, his career has been marred by injuries, limiting him to 30 games or fewer in three of his five seasons. Notably, he sat out the entire 2021-22 season due to injury.
In the 2024-25 season, Williamson averaged 24.6 points over 30 games, shooting an impressive 56.7% from the field while also contributing a career-high-tying 7.2 rebounds and a career-best 5.3 assists per game. Unfortunately, his season was cut short when he suffered a lower back contusion in a fall against the Minnesota Timberwolves in March.
Williamson's contract for the 2025-26 season is set to become guaranteed on July 15. Earlier this month, he represented New Orleans at the NBA Draft Lottery, where the Pelicans secured the No. 7 pick. A spokesperson for the Pelicans has chosen to defer all comments regarding the lawsuit to Williamson's legal team, indicating the seriousness of the ongoing situation.
As the case develops, both the allegations and the responses from Williamson’s team will be closely scrutinized, highlighting issues of accountability and the impact of personal conduct on professional sports careers.
