Helena Frye
The cast of VH1's hit reality TV show *Basketball Wives* has undergone several changes since its premiere in 2010. The show follows the lives and relationships of the wives, girlfriends, and ex-wives of NBA athletes. Over the years, the cast has featured women with strong personalities and dramatic relationships, including Shaunie O'Neal, Tami Roman, Evelyn Lozada, Jennifer Williams, Jackie Christie, Malaysia Pargo, and Brandi Maxiell. Cast members have come and gone, with some leaving due to personal reasons or strife with co-stars, while others have been fired or demoted. The show has also spawned several spin-offs, including *Basketball Wives LA*, and the upcoming *Basketball Wives Orlando*. The 11th season of the original series premiered in 2023, with the return of Lozada and several new cast members, while several others did not return.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cast members of Basketball Wives LA | Jackie Christie, Malaysia Pargo, Brooke Bailey, Brandi Maxiell, Brittish Williams, Angel Brinks, and LaTosha Duffey |
| Upcoming twelfth season cast members | Christie, Henderson, Lozada, Maxiell, Williams, Brittany Renner, Ming Lee, and Ty Young |
| First season cast members | Jennifer Williams, Evelyn Lozada, Mesha O'Neal, Royce Reed, Faith Rein, and Shaunie O'Neal |
| Second season cast members | Tami Roman, Juli Richmond, Kimberli Russell, and Ashley Walker |
| Third season cast member | Meeka Claxton |
| Fourth season cast members | Kesha Nichols and Kenya Bell |
| Fifth season cast member | Tasha Marbury |
| Sixth season cast members | Evelyn Lozada, Jackie Christie, Malaysia Pargo, Shaunie O'Neal, Tami Roman, and Brandi Maxiell |
| Ninth season cast members | Liza Morales, Nia Dorsey, Noria Dorsey, and Kristen Scott |
| Tenth season cast members | Jackie Christie, Malaysia Pargo, Jennifer Williams, Angel Brinks, Brandi Maxiell, Brooke Bailey, Brittish Williams, and LaTosha Duffey |
| Current cast members | Shaunie O'Neal, Evelyn Lozada, Tami Roman, Jennifer Williams, Jackie Christie, and Malaysia Pargo |
| 11th season cast members | Evelyn Lozada, Brittany Renner, Vanessa Rider, Jac'Eil Duckworth, and Clayanna Warthen |
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What You'll Learn
Evelyn Lozada's return to the show
Evelyn Lozada was part of the original cast of Basketball Wives when the VH1 show debuted in 2010. She starred on the series for nine seasons before announcing her departure in April 2022. Lozada shared that it was a hard decision, but she felt it was time to open herself up to other opportunities and spend more time with her family.
Lozada became a household name and was known for her highly-publicized fertility struggles and short-lived marriage to former NFL player Chad Johnson. She also had a spin-off show called Ev and Ocho, which explored her relationship with Chad, whose birth name was Chad Ochocinco.
After a two-year hiatus, Lozada returned to Basketball Wives for its 11th season. She shared that jumping back into the show was daunting, but she was grateful for the experience. Lozada's return was welcomed by fans and the show's producers, who considered her a vital character.
In addition to Lozada's return, four new cast members joined the show: Brittany Renner, Vanessa Rider, Jac'Eil Duckworth, and Clayanna Warthen. The season promised to focus on "sisterhood, growth, and adversity as new and returning cast members continue to evolve and face life's challenges head-on."
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Tami Roman's exit
Tami Roman, the ex-wife of Kenny Anderson, joined the cast of "Basketball Wives" in 2010. She announced her departure from the show in 2019, after nine years and eight seasons.
Roman had a prominent presence on the show with her outspoken personality and, at times, abrasive demeanor. She was both loved and hated by fans. Some viewers praised her for choosing to leave the reality show, while others claimed that she brought nothing to it.
Roman herself stated that she wanted to free up time to pursue other opportunities. She also mentioned that filming "Basketball Wives" was time-consuming, taking up to six to seven months at a time. Additionally, Roman had issues with former co-star Evelyn Lozada, and her relationship with Shaunie O'Neal, the show's creator and executive producer, had deteriorated. Roman felt a lack of friendship and sisterhood with O'Neal, which influenced her decision to leave.
Roman's exit from "Basketball Wives" marked the end of a chapter, but it also opened up possibilities for new endeavors and experiences outside of the reality show.
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Cast members' relationship troubles
The cast members of Basketball Wives LA have had their fair share of relationship troubles, both on and off the screen. One of the most talked-about relationships on the show was that of Evelyn Lozada and Chad Ochocinco (also known as Chad Johnson). The couple dated for about two years before tying the knot in 2012. However, their marriage was short-lived as Chad was arrested on a charge of domestic battery just a month after their wedding, prompting Evelyn to file for divorce, claiming that their marriage was "irretrievably broken."
Before her marriage to Chad, Evelyn was engaged to NBA player Antoine Walker, which made her eligible to star in Basketball Wives. She also had a relationship with Carl Crawford, which caused a feud between her and Vanessa Rider, a new cast member in season 11. Vanessa labeled Evelyn a "homewrecker" and insisted that she broke up Carl and her best friend, Amy Freeman. In August 2023, after her exit from the show, Evelyn announced on Instagram that she had ended her relationship with LaVon Lewis, whom she met on the show Queen's Court.
Another cast member, Shaunie O'Neal, who is also the creator and executive producer of the show, had a well-publicized divorce from NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal in 2009. Shaquille later confessed that he had been unfaithful, which served as the catalyst for their breakup. Before her divorce was finalized, Shaunie dated actor Marlon Yates for almost six years before they broke up in 2016.
In addition to Evelyn and Shaunie, other cast members have also faced relationship troubles. Tami Roman, who joined the show in season two, left midway through season eight due to issues with her co-stars, stating that they were not her friends, just her co-workers. She also opted to leave the show to focus on her acting career. Jennifer Williams, another long-time cast member, has kept her relationship with her fiancé, Chris, under wraps on the show, while flaunting her engagement on social media, much to the confusion of fans.
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Shaunie O'Neal's divorce from Shaquille O'Neal
Shaunie O'Neal, also known as the "'boss' of the Basketball Wives LA cast, was previously married to NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal. The pair tied the knot in 2002 and share four children: Shareef, Shaquir, Amirah, and Me'arah. Shaunie also has a son, Myles, from a previous relationship.
In 2007, Shaquille filed for divorce in Miami, but the couple reconciled about a year later. However, they called it quits again in 2009, and their divorce was finalized in 2011. Shaunie revealed that she started to become suspicious of Shaquille's activities when they moved to Miami, as he often went "missing" and she heard rumours of him having a condo in Miami Beach. Shaquille later confessed to being unfaithful, which served as the catalyst for their breakup.
Shaunie, who is the creator and executive producer of Basketball Wives, detailed the events leading up to their divorce in her 2024 memoir, "Undefeated: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms." Shaunie admitted that the decision to end her marriage was not easy, but she felt a weight lift off her shoulders after filing for divorce in 2009.
Despite their split, Shaunie and Shaquille have maintained a co-parenting relationship, and Shaquille has expressed well-wishes for his ex-wife, demonstrating a level of mutual respect and support.
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Brandi Maxiell's feud with Shaunie O'Neal
The feud between Brandi Maxiell and Shaunie O'Neal was one of the most contentious relationships on the reality TV show "Basketball Wives LA". During a cast trip in 2015, Maxiell confronted O'Neal for being overly judgmental of the rest of the cast. The situation escalated when Maxiell called O'Neal a "b", to which O'Neal responded with "I will be that b" and "Thank you for your services."
Although O'Neal, who is also the creator and executive producer of the show, considered firing Maxiell, she ultimately left the final decision to the network. In the end, O'Neal agreed to bring Maxiell back for Season 5, stating that she didn't want to hold grudges and that their issue was petty.
Despite their reconciliation, the tension between the two women continued, and in a preview for Season 5, Brandi and Shaunie are seen getting into an argument when Brandi refuses to apologize to her co-star. However, by the premiere of Season 10, it appeared that O'Neal and Maxiell had once again buried the hatchet, with O'Neal noting that they had resolved their differences off-camera years ago.
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Frequently asked questions
Evelyn Lozada left Basketball Wives after season nine, citing the "heavy" toll and "not the most positive energy" of the show. She then joined the cast of Peacock's celebrity dating series, Queen's Court, where she met and became engaged to LaVon Lewis. Lozada returned to Basketball Wives for its 11th season.
Tami Roman, ex-wife of Kenny Anderson, was added to the cast in season two. Roman left midway through season eight due to ongoing issues with her co-stars. Kristen Scott joined the cast in season seven and left after three seasons.
Season 11 of Basketball Wives LA features Jackie Christie, Jennifer Williams, Brooke Bailey, and Shaunie Henderson, with new cast members Brittany Renner, Vanessa Rider, Jac'Eil Duckworth, and Clayanna Warthen.
