WNBA Star Rickea Jackson Willing To Testify in Domestic Violence Case Against Ex-Boyfriend, Falcons’ James Pearce Jr.

WNBA star Rickea Jackson’s attorneys have filed a court notice informing Miami-Dade County that she is willing to testify in the case of alleged domestic violence by her ex-boyfriend, James Pearce Jr. 

Jackson and Pearce Jr. dated for three years until about April 2025. On Feb. 7, police reports say that Pearce Jr. followed Jackson with his car. He allegedly tried to open her car door at a red light and rammed his car into hers when she tried to enter the Doral Police Department. 

Officers attempted to arrest Pearce Jr. on-site, but he got into his vehicle and escaped. Pearce Jr.’s SUV ran into the knee of a police officer. Pearce Jr. was involved in an accident at an intersection, which allowed police to reach him. Pearce Jr. attempted to resist arrest further, but police were able to arrest him anyway. 

Along with the domestic violence charge, he’s also charged with stalking Jackson. He also received charges of felony aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing, and resisting an officer without violence to his person for his alleged attempts to evade arrest. The last charge is a misdemeanor. 

Jackson had transferred to Tennessee for the 2022-23 college basketball season. Pearce Jr. played football at Tennessee for three seasons before being drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Pearce Jr. maintains his innocence. His legal team said that the allegations do not tell the complete story. The Falcons issued a statement saying they were gathering more information before making any further comments. 

Pearce Jr. was released on $20,500 bond on Feb. 8. Pearce Jr. received a pretrial order to stay away from Jackson. At this point, no trial date has been set for Pearce Jr.