LiAngelo Ball’s decision to file for divorce from Rashida Nicole has left fans reeling, especially since it came just weeks after she announced they were expecting a child. On July 3, 2025, the 26-year-old former basketball player, now carving out a rap career, submitted divorce papers in a Southern California courthouse. This surprising move followed Nicole’s emotional pregnancy announcement on June 26, 2025, casting a shadow over what seemed like a joyful moment for the couple, who had only been married since May.
Their relationship kicked off in February 2025, soon after Ball had ended his romance with Nikki Mudarris, the mother of his two kids, LaVelo (born July 2023) and LaNiyah (born December 2024). Ball and Nicole, a 33-year-old model and influencer with massive Instagram fan bases and rapper, didn’t allow the period of the paparazzi season to go waste. Early in their relationship, Ball surprised Nicole with a $187,000 Mercedes-AMG G63 on a trip to Las Vegas, and the act turned heads. Nicole by May 2025 confirmed that they had secretly married, responding to a fan’s question on Instagram with a simple, “I already did,” but not sharing specifics of the ceremony.
On June 26, 2025, Nicole shared news of her pregnancy in a heartfelt Instagram post called “New Beginnings.” She posted photos in a white dress, gently holding her baby bump, and reflected on her journey as a former teen mom to a daughter from a previous relationship. Her words conveyed excitement mixed with nerves, but Ball’s silence on the announcement stood out. One week later, his divorce filing shocked fans, as the couple had shown no public signs of discord.
There is no specific reason for the split, with Ball and Nicole staying tight-lipped. The timing, coming so soon after their wedding and pregnancy news, has sparked questions. Some point to Ball’s past, including Mudarris’s accusations that he cheated with Nicole and left their family behind. Others speculate that Ball’s pivot to music, with his debut album League of My dropping on July 18, 2025, and his inclusion in the 2025 XXL Freshman Class, might have added stress.
Yet, on July 8, 2025, Ball seemed carefree while promoting a new song on a Kai Cenat stream, not mentioning the divorce.
