Rikea Jackson, a forward for the Sparks, is reportedly willing to testify in the felony battery case against Falcons pass rusher James Pierce Jr., as indicated by recent court documents.
A notice submitted on Tuesday in the criminal case in Miami-Dade County states that Jackson’s attorney confirmed the WNBA player is “cooperative and ready to testify at trial if needed.”
Pierce Jr. faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, and fleeing, following claims that he threatened Jackson during an incident on February 7 in Doral, Florida.
The complaint states that Jackson, who had a relationship with Pierce Jr. for several years before their recent breakup, texted him on February 6 asking him to stop contacting her. However, it is alleged that on the following day, he began following her in his vehicle.
According to Jackson, Pierce Jr. exited his car at a red light and attempted to enter hers, but then drove away. It’s alleged that he later rear-ended her car as she was en route to a nearby police station, resulting in a head-on collision.
Afterward, Pierce Jr. reportedly confronted police but fled again, as per the criminal complaint.
He allegedly crashed his vehicle at a nearby intersection before being apprehended following a confrontation with a police officer.
After his release on February 9, Pierce Jr.’s legal team stated that he “maintains his innocence.”
His attorneys expressed their intent to work closely with the State Attorney’s Office to thoroughly investigate the situation and to highlight that while allegations can influence perceptions, they do not represent the complete truth.
They added that they are eager to defend their client and believe he will continue to positively contribute to both the team and the community.
The Falcons commented that they are currently gathering more information and would not provide further comments on ongoing legal issues.
Pierce Jr., who attended the NFL Honors in San Francisco just days prior to his arrest, had an impressive rookie season, finishing third in the Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
In contrast, Jackson participated in 38 games with the Sparks in 2025, averaging 14.7 points per game.
Both athletes are former players at the University of Tennessee.
