Rashida Nicole, a 33-year-old influencer and rapper, confirmed the pregnancy on June 26, 2025, through an emotional Instagram post that put months of speculation to rest. In her heartfelt announcement, she shared photos of herself in a flowing white dress, cradling her baby bump, and opened up about the complex emotions surrounding her pregnancy journey.
“Wish I had all the right words to describe this journey, but I guess if I had to define it, all I can truly say is: I’m grateful, terrified, anxious, nauseous, HANGRY all of thee above,”
Nicole wrote in her Instagram caption.
She acknowledged her past hesitations about pregnancy and parenthood, stating,
“As a teen mom, I was always hesitant about going thru pregnancy and parenthood again.”
Nicole also expressed gratitude to her daughter from a previous relationship for her support during this process.
This pregnancy marks the third child for LiAngelo Ball, who already has two children with his ex-girlfriend Nikki Mudarris: son LaVelo Anthony Ball, born in July 2023, and daughter LaNiyah Nicole Ball, born in December 2024. This will be her second child for Rashida Nicole, as she has a daughter from a previous relationship. The announcement comes just six months after Ball welcomed his daughter LaNiyah with Mudarris. Ball responded to Nicole’s pregnancy announcement with a simple but meaningful gesture, leaving a heart emoji with a lock and key on her Instagram post.
Ball and Nicole’s relationship began shortly after his highly publicized split from Nikki Mudarris in February 2025. The breakup was marked by controversy, with Mudarris accusing Ball of infidelity and abandoning their family after more than three years together. In a series of social media posts, Mudarris claimed that Ball “decided to walk out on his kids and me” after revealing he had gotten another woman pregnant. She described the situation as “the ultimate betrayal,” particularly as she was dealing with postpartum depression just two months after giving birth to their daughter LaNiyah.
Mudarris further alleged that Ball informed her about the pregnancy via text message, which she called “cowardly pathetic sh*t.” Despite the public drama, Ball has maintained his commitment to his children, as seen during Father’s Day weekend celebrations.
The pregnancy announcement coincides with a remarkable period in Ball’s music career. His viral hit “Tweaker,”released in January 2025, became an internet sensation and transformed his trajectory from basketball player to legitimate recording artist. The song, which features a Southern drawl over a bouncy early 2000s-style beat, garnered over four million views on YouTube and caught the attention of established artists like Lil Yachty, Meek Mill, and T-Pain.
The success of “Tweaker” led to significant opportunities, including Ball’s inclusion in XXL Magazine’s prestigious 2025 Freshman Class. This annual list has historically spotlighted emerging hip-hop talent, with past honorees including Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Megan Thee Stallion. Performing under the stage name GELO, Ball’s selection marks a notable crossover achievement for the athlete-turned-artist. The viral success also earned him his first appearance at Rolling Loud, the popular hip-hop festival scheduled for March 15-16 in Los Angeles. Sports figures like Angel Reese and A’ja Wilson have also incorporated the track into their social media content, further amplifying its reach.
LiAngelo Ball is the middle son of LaVar and Tina Ball, both former college basketball players. He is part of the famous Ball basketball family, with brothers Lonzo (Chicago Bulls) and LaMelo (Charlotte Hornets) playing in the NBA. Ball’s basketball career took an unconventional path after a shoplifting incident during a UCLA team trip to China in 2017, which led to his suspension and eventual withdrawal from the university. He subsequently played professionally overseas in Lithuania and later in the NBA G League with teams including the Greensboro Swarm.
Ball continues to build his music career with upcoming XXL Freshman Class activities, including cyphers and interviews produced by CardoGotWings. He is now preparing to welcome another child into his growing family.
The couple’s relationship has been in the public eye since its inception, with speculation about their commitment reaching new heights in May 2025 when rumors of a secret marriage began circulating on social media. While Ball has publicly remained relatively quiet about the pregnancy announcement, the couple was spotted together at a California courthouse shortly after the initial drama with his ex-girlfriend, both wearing white outfits.
