Falcons' James Pearce Charged with Battery Following Altercation with WNBA Star
Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. is now facing a battery charge along with multiple offenses stemming from an alleged domestic incident involving WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
On February 7, Doral, Florida, Police Chief Edwin Lopez confirmed that Pearce, 22, was apprehended after crashing his vehicle during a police pursuit. He faces two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing or eluding police, and aggravated stalking.
A spokesperson for the Falcons acknowledged the situation, stating, “We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr. in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”
According to reports, Pearce fled the scene following an altercation with Jackson, 24, prompting police to respond to a dispute call. Chief Lopez confirmed that Jackson was indeed the woman involved in the incident.
After allegedly evading authorities, Pearce crashed his vehicle near Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street in Doral before being taken into custody. He was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, where no bond was set initially.
Inquiries have been made to Doral police for further comments, and attempts to reach out to the Sparks have also been initiated.
Pearce was selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft and participated in 17 games last season, recording 26 combined tackles and 10.5 sacks, according to Sports Illustrated. Prior to his professional career, he played three seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers.
Jackson transitioned to the Los Angeles Sparks after playing small forward for the Lady Volunteers, having transferred from Mississippi State in 2022. She was drafted as the fourth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.
Rumors of a romantic relationship between Pearce and Jackson date back to their college days in Tennessee. Jackson publicly acknowledged their relationship when she attended Pearce's NFL Draft party in April 2024.
Fans quickly noted their social media interactions, with Jackson humorously responding on X, “Soooo I have a doppelganger. Wow.”
In June 2025, Jackson addressed pregnancy rumors that arose after she missed two games due to personal reasons. Speculation intensified when she shared a selfie holding a basketball in front of her stomach.
When a fan criticized her friends for suggesting she might be pregnant, Jackson clarified, “1. My friends don’t use Twitter. Y’all gotta stop linking people because of a follow. 2. Y’all come to conclusions every day it’s hilarious, but I’m a ‘rich auntie’ typa gallll.”
Upon returning to practice on June 3, 2025, Jackson expressed her frustration over the rampant speculation regarding her absence.
“You’ve just got to be realistic with yourself. Like, at the end of the day, media isn’t about facts anymore,” she stated. “So that’s just the media. Just taking it with a grain of salt, and not being gullible.”
“Whatever sounds the juiciest, that’s what people want to go with,” she added. “Like, I’m pregnant, apparently.”
Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts sought to quell social media rumors suggesting Jackson’s absence stemmed from dissatisfaction with the team.
“In regards to Rickea, Rickea is a big part of our organization and our team,” Roberts said. “She is taking personal time and we support her. And we’re excited to get her back when she is ready to come back.”
Jackson returned to play after missing two games and continued competing despite a leg injury later in the season.
