Update: Las Vegas Aces guard Riquna Williams has been accused of felony domestic violence not once but twice.
Police say Williams, 33, was arrested last Tuesday on felony domestic violence charges against a woman who identified herself as her wife.
The veteran WNBA player faces 5 felony battery charges, including battery by strangulation, coercion with the threat or use of physical force, and assault with use of a weapon, according to ABC News.
The Aces barred Williams from all team activities, but she’s still a member of the team.
A judge released Williams from jail without paying a bond. The judge cited Williams’ “lack of criminal history” and “ties to the community” as reasons for letting her go.
But it was Williams’ second domestic violence charge in four years. She was arrested in 2019 for breaking into a home in Palm Beach, Florida, attacking her ex-girlfriend and pointing a gun at a man. The charges were eventually dropped.
The WNBA suspended Williams for 10 games following the incident in 2019.
Now a debate is raging among WNBA Twitter and podcasters who question why Williams is receiving special treatment.
Fans say there is a culture of violence that exists in the majority lesbian WNBA that is not being properly addressed.
Players like Williams and Brittney Griner (pictured) both received slaps on the wrist for past violent acts against women.
NBA players charged with domestic violence often receive stiffer punishment than their female counterparts.
But others say domestic violence in the WNBA is simply women fighting women.
Watch the podcast discussion below.
Originally published on: July 27, 2023 at 09:50 AM:
Las Vegas Aces guard Riquna “Bay Bay” Williams has been suspended from all team activities following her arrest on domestic battery charges.
Williams was arrested Tuesday (July 25) on 9 charges of domestic battery, domestic battery by strangulation, assault constituting domestic violence with the use of a deadly weapon, and coercion constituting domestic violence.
According to a police report, officers responded to a 911 domestic battery call from the couple’s Las Vegas residence.
A woman, who identified herself as Williams’ wife, said they had been arguing since 3 a.m. after Williams accused the woman of being unfaithful.
She said Williams left the residence and took the woman’s “phone, tablet, IDs and credit cards” with her.
“Riquna logged into (the woman’s) Cloud account and allegedly found evidence of cheating. Another argument then occurred in their bedroom. During the argument, the woman stated that Riquna repeatedly punched and kicked her.”
According to the police report, as Williams strangled her, she allegedly told the woman “I’ll kill you here and walk to the jail myself!”
Williams also allegedly threw furniture and other household items at the woman.
Williams later grabbed the woman by the throat and began to strangle her. The violent incident lasted approximately one hour, she told police.
In an interview with detectives, Williams reportedly said the woman attacked her with a pair of scissors.
She then said she did not trust the police and that “they are taught when they become professional athletes that all police officers are against athletes, men or women.”
Despite the extreme violence displayed by Williams, a judge released her from jail without paying a bond on the conditions that she stay away from the victim, not possess weapons, seek mental health counseling, and undergo alcohol monitoring.
The judge cited Williams’ “lack of criminal history” and “ties to the community” as reasons for letting her go.
Williams is due back in court on August 2.
This is not Williams’s first run-in with the law.
Back in 2019, she was suspended for 10 games without pay for a domestic violence incident.
While playing for the Los Angles Sparks, Williams broke into a home in Palm Beach, Florida, attacked her ex-girlfriend and pointed a gun at a man. Those charges were eventually dropped.
Williams helped the Las Vegas Aces win the WNBA championship last year. She has not played this year due to injuries.
In 2013, Williams set a WNBA record by scoring 51 points in a game.
The Aces released a statement on Wednesday:
A statement from the Las Vegas Aces. pic.twitter.com/JGx4mPpuNU
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) July 26, 2023
Watch the news report below.
