Andrew Pace
Evelyn Lozada, who became a household name after kicking off the 'Basketball Wives' franchise in 2010, will be returning to the show for its 11th season. Lozada, who was in a 10-year relationship with NBA player Antoine Walker, left the show in 2021, citing the need to focus on her family and explore other opportunities. However, after achieving personal and professional success, she has decided to return to the series, where she is a fan favourite.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the person returning to Basketball Wives | Evelyn Lozada |
| Name of the show | Basketball Wives |
| Season | 11 |
| Year of return | 2023 |
| Previous year of departure | 2021 |
| Reason for departure | Wanted to spend time with family and explore other opportunities outside Basketball Wives |
| Reason for return | Wanted to showcase her engagement to LaVon Lewis |
| Number of seasons before departure | 9 |
| Number of new cast members joining in season 11 | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Evelyn Lozada returns to Basketball Wives for season 11
After a two-year break, Evelyn Lozada is returning to the VH1 reality series Basketball Wives for its 11th season. Lozada, who was part of the show's original cast in 2010, announced she was leaving the series in June 2021 after nine seasons. She said:
> "Reality TV could be a little draining, and I just felt like I needed a minute to recenter myself."
Lozada, who has two children, also said she wanted to spend more time with her family and explore other opportunities outside the show. However, she agreed to return for season 11, which premiered on 9 October 2023. She said:
> "The first couple of weeks, it hit me [like] a ton of bricks — like, OK, I’m back in this. [...] I didn’t want to come onto the show arguing anymore, so we had a great conversation before filming."
Lozada's return was welcomed by the show's executive producer, Shaunie Henderson, who said:
> "Evelyn's return happened as she has always been a vital part of the franchise and an anchor upon which our most vibrant and magnetic storytelling has revolved. She remains a popular fan favourite and is one of the most self-expressive voices on the show."
Season 11 will feature Lozada's engagement to LaVon Lewis, whom she met on the show Queens Court. It will also include returning cast members Jackie Christie, Jennifer Williams, and Brooke Bailey, as well as four new cast members: Brittany Renner, Vanessa Rider, Jac'Eil Duckworth, and Clayanna Warthen.
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Lozada's engagement to LaVon Lewis will be featured
After a two-year hiatus from the show, Evelyn Lozada is set to return to Basketball Wives for its 11th season. Lozada, who was part of the show for nine seasons, will be joined by returning cast members Jackie Christie, Jennifer Williams, and Brooke Bailey. The season will also feature four new cast members and the show's first-ever same-sex couple.
Lozada's engagement to LaVon Lewis, whom she met on the dating show Queens Court, will be featured in season 11. Lewis proposed to Lozada on her birthday in December 2022, during a small gathering with family and friends. However, despite their relationship blossoming on Queens Court, the couple has since ended their engagement. In October 2023, Lozada revealed that she and Lewis had called it off due to a disconnect and the difficulties of long-distance as Lewis is based in Atlanta with his family. Nonetheless, the pair remain on good terms and are still friends.
Lozada, who was previously married to NFL player Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, expressed anxiety about getting married again due to her past experience with a brief marriage. She also mentioned feeling overwhelmed by the fast pace of their relationship with Lewis, as they got engaged just six months after meeting.
Lozada's return to Basketball Wives comes after a break to spend time with family and explore other opportunities outside the show. She achieved personal and professional success during her time away, including starring in her own reality series Livin' Lozada in 2015 and 2017.
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Lozada took a break from the show in 2015 and 2021
Evelyn Lozada, who was part of the original cast of Basketball Wives when the show debuted in 2010, took a break from the show in 2015 and 2021. In 2015, she took a hiatus from Basketball Wives to lead the OWN reality series Livin' Lozada, which followed her and her daughter Shaniece Hairston. She returned to Basketball Wives in 2017.
In June 2021, Lozada announced she was leaving the series after nine seasons. She told E!'s Daily Pop:
> "I am no longer going to do Basketball Wives. I think that it's time for me to open up the universe to other things."
Lozada also cited her family as a reason for her departure, noting that her mother felt "relief" when she told her she would no longer be on the show. She added that reality TV could be \"draining\" and that she needed a break to "recenter" herself.
However, Lozada returned to the show for its 11th season in 2023, marking her third return to the franchise. She said that she didn't want to come back to the show and argue, and that she was happy that her friendship with former costar Jennifer Williams was "back".
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She left the show in 2021 after nine seasons
Evelyn Lozada, who was part of the original cast of Basketball Wives, left the show in 2021 after nine seasons. She cited her family as a reason for her departure, noting that her mother felt "relief" when she told her she would no longer be on the show. Lozada also mentioned that she wanted to explore opportunities outside of Basketball Wives. During her time away from the show, she appeared on Peacock's Queens Court, where she met and became engaged to LaVon Lewis.
Lozada's departure from the show in 2021 was not the first time she had stepped away from the franchise. In 2015, she took a break from Basketball Wives to lead her OWN reality series Livin' Lozada, which followed her and her daughter Shaniece Hairston. She returned to Basketball Wives in 2017.
After nine seasons on the show, Lozada decided it was time for her to move on and explore other opportunities. In an interview with E!'s Daily Pop, she said, "I am no longer going to do Basketball Wives. [...] It's been a hard decision, because I could do it with my eyes closed, but at the same time, it's so difficult and it takes so much energy, and it's not the most positive energy. [...] I want to open it up to the universe to allow other things to flow in."
Despite her departure, Lozada remained a popular fan favorite, and her return to the show for its 11th season was highly anticipated. Executive producer Shaunie Henderson said, "Evelyn's return happened as she has always been a vital part of the franchise and an anchor upon which our most vibrant and magnetic storytelling has revolved."
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Lozada was part of the original cast of Basketball Wives
Evelyn Lozada was part of the original cast of Basketball Wives when the show first aired in 2010. She was the first person creator Shaunie Henderson called when she came up with the idea for the show. Lozada, who owned a shoe store at the time, was initially excited about the opportunity, believing it would be great for her business. However, she later admitted that she didn't know what she was getting herself into and that reality TV could be draining.
Lozada's time on Basketball Wives was filled with drama, and she became a household name for coining the phrase "non-mothaf–kin’ factor". One of the most contentious moments on the show was during season 8, when she got into a heated and violent debate about colourism with Ogom Chijindu, the girlfriend of professional basketball player Kwame Alexander. The argument escalated when Chijindu brought up Lozada's ex-husband, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, whom she divorced due to domestic violence. The conflict continued on Instagram after the season ended, with Lozada ultimately filing a lawsuit against Chijindu for defamation due to an influx of colourist and racist remarks.
Despite the drama, Lozada was a vital part of the franchise and a fan favourite. After nine seasons, Lozada stepped away from the show in 2021 to spend more time with her family and explore other opportunities. However, she returned to Basketball Wives for its 11th season in 2023, two years after leaving the show. Lozada's return was highly anticipated, as she is considered an anchor of the franchise, and her engagement to LaVon Lewis, whom she met on Queens Court, will be chronicled in the new season.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Evelyn Lozada will return to the VH1 reality series for its 11th season.
Evelyn left the show in 2021 after nine seasons, citing her family and the need to explore opportunities outside the show as reasons for her departure. She also mentioned that reality TV could be draining and that she needed a break.
Evelyn's return to the show is likely due to her popularity and the show's need for a vibrant and magnetic storyline. She is also expected to showcase her new relationship and engagement to LaVon Lewis, whom she met on Peacock's Queens Court.
