LiAngelo Ball, aka “Gelo,” an American professional basketball player and rapper, has once again made headlines for his complicated love life, this time for separating from his wife and soon-to-be baby mama, Rashida Nicole.
The basketball star, who shares two children with his former partner Nikki Mudarris, is set to become a father for the third time.
On June 26, 2025, his wife, Rashida Nicole, announced her pregnancy on Instagram. She shared several pictures of herself wearing a white dress and holding her belly, accompanied by a sweet caption.
“New Beginnings✨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. As a teen mom, I was always hesitant about going thru pregnancy and parenthood again. (Iykyk) I want to thank my daughter for being here for me during this process, always demonstrating unconditional LOVE & reassuring me that, “Everything is alright!” And for now…I choose to protect my peace and this beautiful energy.momof2 #teamboyorgirl.”
Rashida Nicole
Ball liked the post and left a heart emoji with a lock and key in the comment section.
However, just days after his current partner and soon-to-be baby mama, Rashida Nicole, announced she was pregnant with the couple’s first child together, LiAngelo Ball filed for divorce.
According to documents obtained by TMZ Sports, the ‘Tweaker’ rapper requested the split at a Southern California courthouse on July 3, 2025, and the reason behind the divorce was listed as “irreconcilable differences.”
The documents also show March 4, 2025, for their date of marriage and June 15 for their separation.
While it’s unclear when the two actually tied the knot, TMZ Sports spotted LiAngelo Ball and his soon-to-be baby mama leaving the same SoCal courthouse back in February wearing all-white outfits and carrying a large envelope.
Similarly, the documents show that Gelo is asking for joint custody and visitation and wants to terminate spousal support for both parties.
Although neither LiAngelo Ball nor his partner, Rashida Nicole, has released a statement regarding their split, many are criticizing the basketball player for once again leaving his partner and contributing to a broken family.
LiAngelo Ball Called Out By His Baby Mama, Nikki Mudarris, For Abandoning His Family
This isn’t the first time LiAngelo Ball has faced criticism for leaving his partner, a few months back, his baby mama and former partner, Nikki Mudarris, claimed that he cheated on her and abandoned her and their two kids shortly after she gave birth to their second child.
The former couple welcomed their first child, son LaVelo Anthony Ball, on July 19, 2023, and their second child, daughter LaNiyah Nicole Ball, on December 3, 2024.
The Love & Hip Hop star, Nikki Mudarris, took to her Instagram stories to write:
“I see everyone has been sending me @gelo cheating on me. I want to clear this up and speak my truth. I am just as surprised as you are. We spent 3 1/2 years together, and last week he decided to walk out on his kids and tell me he got someone else pregnant (allegedly) and now is creating a new life with her.”
TMZ Sports
She further added:
“The ultimate betrayal is not even the word. My daughter is not even 2 months old, and dealing with this and postpartum is very hard. Please pray for me and my healing because I will get through this. I have to be strong for my kids, but I have absolutely no words.”
Nikki Muddaris also stated that Karma is real and God doesn’t like ugly.
As Nikki continues to receive support and love from people, LiAngelo Ball and Rashida Nicole are facing backlash from others.
One of the comment sections of Rashida’s picture wrote, “You got the same treatment he did to Nikki should of known better.” Another added, “One thing about Karma…“
While people continue to criticise LiAngelo Ball for leaving his partner, he seems unbothered by the reactions and opinions.
In an interview with Billboard News, LiAngelo Ball stated:
“When people conversate about my personal life, it don’t touch me or bother me too much,Like I see it, of course, because you know, everybody got a phone, but it don’t rub me the wrong way or nothing because nobody really go [through] what I go through every day. You not me, for real. So it don’t mean sh–, for real.”
BillBoard
In Case You Didn’t Know
- LiAngelo Robert Ball was born on November 24, 1998, in Anaheim, California, as the second son of LaVar Ball and Tina Slatinsky Ball.
- His parents are both former college basketball player, his father LaVar played for Washington State and Cal State Los Angeles and his mother played with the latter school.
- LiAngelo’s father played professonal football as a tight end for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football.
