Riquna Williams not welcomed back to Aces after domestic violence charges were dropped
A day after domestic violence charges against Las Vegas Aces guard Riquna Williams were dropped, coach Becky Hammon told reporters that she's not welcome to return to the team.
"We're aware of the charges being dropped," Hammon said. "Her status with the Aces has not changed."
A Las Vegas judge dropped the charges on Thursday after the alleged victim, her wife, stopped cooperating with prosecutors.
Williams was arrested July 26 on three felony counts of strangulation, one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon, one felony count of coercion and four misdemeanor counts of domestic battery. The Associated Press reports that Deputy Clark County District Attorney Taylor Reeves told Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Amy Wilson on Thursday that prosecutors have not been able to reach Williams' wife.
“She stopped responding to our office,” Reeves said in court ahead of a preliminary hearing that would have determined if the case should go to trial.
Wilson then dropped the charges against Williams, released her from home detention and GPS monitoring and lifted bans on travel and alcohol use.
Per a police report, the alleged assault took place after Williams accused her wife of infidelity. Per the report, as cited by ESPN, Williams allegedly punched, kicked and attempted to strangle her wife. Police cited injuries to the alleged victim's throat, eyebrow area and thumb, per the report.
Williams was suspended 10 games in 2019 after separate allegations of domestic violence while a member of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Williams, 33, hadn't played this season prior to her arrest because of a back injury. The Aces announced after her arrest that she would be “precluded from team activities.” Williams’ attorney, Brandon Albright, told reporters after the decision that her desire was to rejoin the team.
“It’s our hope that in short order she’ll be able to join her team,” Albright said.
Williams, 33, averaged 6.7 points, 2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 18 minutes per game as a backup guard during the Aces' run to the WNBA championship last season. The Aces have the best record in the league, at 32-6, with two games remaining in the regular season.
