Los Angeles, CA – The Women’s Nation Basketball Associated suspended a player without pay for 10 games in relation to a domestic violence incident while the criminal case is ongoing.
The incident occurred at about 5:50 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2018 when police responded to the home in Pahokee for a report of domestic violence, Sports Illustrated reported.
The probable cause affidavit said Los Angeles Sparks guard Riquna Williams went to the home of ex-girlfriend Alkeria Davis and bashed her car with a skateboard.
Then Williams “attempted to make entry via hitting the outside door with the skateboard,” Sports Illustrated reported.
Antonio Wilson and his 10-year-old so were also in the residence with Davis at the time.
The affidavit said that Williams called out to Davis to “come outside and face her,” according to Sports Illustrated.
But when Davis opened the front door of her house, Williams hit her in the head and pulled her hair, according to ESPN.
Wilson broke up the fight, Sports Illustrated reported.
So Williams went to her car and got a black handgun and placed it on the trunk of the car, pointed at Wilson, according to the affidavit.
“You’ll get all 18,” she told him, referring to the number of bullets she had.
Then she left, Sports Illustrated reported.
Williams was indicted on Jan. 22 on one count of burglary with assault or battery and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm. Both charges are felonies.
She was arrested on April 29, posted bond, and was released, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
Williams has continued to play for the Sparks throughout the investigation, but on Tuesday, the WNBA announced she had been suspended for 10 games – amounting to nearly a third of the season – while the criminal case is ongoing, ESPN reported.
The WNBA said that it had done its own investigation and talked to domestic violence experts before determining Williams’ punishment.
"Based on the investigation, consultation, and a careful weighing of all the facts and circumstances, the WNBA determined that a ten-game suspension was appropriate," the WNBA said in statement. "Among other factors, the WNBA took into account the nature and seriousness of the conduct at issue, including the involvement of a firearm."
The league also ordered Williams to do mandatory counseling, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The WNBA players union said it would file a grievance over the suspension prior to adjudication.
"We are disappointed with the league's actions,” Terri Jackson, executive director of the WNBA player’s union, told ESPN. “There is an ongoing criminal proceeding and in fairness to the player, the league could have and should have awaited its completion before taking any action. Riquna has not had a fair opportunity to fully defend herself. We are immediately filing a grievance and will seek the arbitrator's review.''
Williams is 29 years old and has played seven seasons in the WNBA.
She has averaged 10.8 points per game during her career and reportedly earns an annual salary of $113,000, according to Sports Illustrated.
