According to a May 31 report by ESPN, NBA Pelicans star forward Z. Williamson (Zion Williamson) was accused by an anonymous woman of rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and financial control by Z. Williamson during the relationship.

NBA Pelicans star forward Z. Williamson

ESPN reported that an anonymous woman filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, US time, alleging that Z. Williamson continued to behave, control and threaten her during 2018 and 2023. According to the complaint, Z. Williamson sexually assaulted the plaintiff twice, the first occurred in Beverly Hills, California, in September 2020, and the plaintiff said that he had told Z. Williamson that he was tired and wanted to sleep, but Z. Williamson responded: "You can't sleep without having sex with me", and then suppressed her hands and raped her, after the incident, Z. Williamson also threw her mobile phone to the other side of the room and choked her neck.

The text also writes that Z. Williamson strangled the plaintiff's neck vigorously on several occasions, causing her to fall into a coma and be terrified several times. In addition, Z. Williamson had trespassed into her home and stolen items without her consent, and more seriously, the plaintiff claimed that Z. Williamson had repeatedly threatened to kill her and her family. According to reports, the plaintiff plaintiff is seeking compensation of between $18 million and $50 million.

In response, Z. Williamson's law firm, Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver LLC, issued a statement stating that "we take these allegations extremely seriously and completely deny their veracity, which are completely false and clearly for money and not based on any legitimate demands." ”

Z. Williamson & Associates stated that Z. Williamson and the woman had a "consensual, easy relationship" that had long since ended, and that the plaintiff never brought any allegations during and after the relationship. They also noted that Z. Williamson had reported the intimidation and extortion to law enforcement and planned to file a countersuit.

Z. Williamson, 24, joined the Pelicans in 2019 after playing a season at Duke University, and although he was selected to the All-Star Game twice, he suffered from injuries and did not meet expectations in his career, playing less than 30 games in three of his five seasons and missing the entire 2021-22 season.

Z. Williamson played in 30 games in the 2024-25 season, averaging 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 56.7% from the field.