WNBA

Ex-NFL superstar Albert Haynesworth claims he's the victim of domestic violence -- alleging his baby mama physically and verbally abused him ... and TMZ Sports has the police report.

The drama between Haynesworth and his ex, Brittany Jackson, went public Wednesday when she accused him of skipping out on child support for their young son.

Jackson's a former college basketball star who says she also played in the WNBA.

Haynesworth -- who reportedly made more than $50 MILLION during his NFL career -- fired back with allegations of his own.

"Not only has she called me unthinkable names she has been extremely violent," Haynesworth claims.

The 6'6", 350-pound defensive tackle says he called police on the woman more than 10 times during their rocky 2-year relationship.

"I have witnesses and bruises but me for some reason still tried to protect her by not sending her to jail bc I didn't want to ruin her so called career and name."

TMZ Sports obtained a police report filed back in January in which Haynesworth told police in Tennessee that Jackson kicked him in the groin twice after an argument at a friend's house. Albert told cops she had been drinking wine.

According to the police report, Haynesworth refused medical attention. Albert never pushed forward with charges.

Haynesworth claims his ex, who is white, would call him the n-word -- despite the fact they have a mixed race child together -- because "she said she wanted me to feel hurt bc I didn't show her affection."

Haynesworth adds, "Being a man I am a provider and protecter I have millions of faults that are not flattering but NO ONE deserves to be mentally and physically abuse!!!"

Hey WNBA (hell, maybe NBA), Kobe Bryant's daughter is coming to dominate you all ... here's video of the making of a new Mamba -- and it seems like the snake doesn't slither far from the father.

Kobe posted video of his 11-year-old daughter, Gianna, getting some work in ... and that work was learning some signature Bryant moves -- the same moves that dominated the NBA for 20 years.

Bryant explained the workout in one of his captions, saying they were both inspired to get up and sweat by the upcoming WNBA Finals rematch ... and debuted a new nickname for her -- "Mambacita."

WNBA star Sue Bird is going public with her sexuality for the first time ... revealing she's dating U.S. women's soccer player Megan Rapinoe!!

The 36-year-old All-Star opened up about her relationship with Rapinoe ... saying she's never purposely kept her relationship with the 32-year-old Seattle Reign star a secret to her close friends, but explains why it was time to finally go public.

"It's happening when it's happening because that's what feels right," Bird told ESPNW.

"So even though I understand there are people who think I should have done it sooner, it wasn't right for me at the time. I have to be true to that. It's my journey."

WNBA superstar Diana Taurasi tied the knot with ex-teammate Penny Taylor this weekend ... less than 24 hours before Diana hit the court for the Phoenix Mercury's season opener.

Taurasi and Taylor won 3 WNBA championships together with PHX ... before Taylor retired in 2016 to become the team's director of player development.

The 2009 MVP scored just 3 points in the Mercury's 68-58 loss to the Dallas Wings ... but Taurasi says that didn't take away from her special weekend, telling reporters "It's going to be one of those days we'll remember for the rest of our lives."

Taurasi is one of the biggest names in women's basketball, but kept her relationship with Taylor out of the public eye until discussing the wedding after Sunday's game.

One of the greatest female basketball players ever is calling out Jameis Winston ... saying the time of women being silent, submissive and meek is OVER ... and he'd better get used to it.

TMZ Sports spoke with Chamique Holdsclaw, a former 2-time NCAA player of the year and 6-time WNBA All-Star who says Jameis was WAY OFF when he told elementary school kids that women are "supposed to be silent, polite and gentle."

"Young girls to be silent? That's not the way that I was raised," Holdsclaw told us.

"When I'm out there ministering to young girls, I'm telling them you gotta be your authentic self ... you can't be stuck in a box. You can't heed to traditional stereotypes of what a woman should be."

She didn't stop there ...

"We have to teach these men and boys not to tear us down either and not limit us with their expectations or perceptions of us."

WNBA superstar Candace Parker has just been hit with divorce papers from her husband, a former NBA player, who's demanding spousal support from the 2016 Finals MVP ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We obtained court docs filed by Shelden Williams -- a former Duke star who was the #5 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. Williams played in the NBA for 6 seasons.

Williams and Parker were married back in 2008 -- and have a 7-year-old daughter together.

According to the divorce docs, Williams says the two separated back in August and are living apart. Now, he wants to officially end their 7 year marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. He's asking for joint custody of their kid.

But get this ... Williams -- who reportedly made more than $12 MILLION during his NBA career -- is demanding spousal support from Parker. He also wants her to pay his attorneys fees.

FYI, Parker reportedly makes in the low 6-figures with the L.A. Sparks -- but crushes it overseas, where reports say she hauls in more than $1 MILLION per year. She also has major endorsements including a deal with Adidas.

We reached out to Parker's camp. So far, no word back.

THE CHAMPS HAVE RETURNED!!!

The WNBA champion Sparks made their triumphant return to L.A. moments ago -- so, we had to ask the obvious question ... HOW'D YOU CELEBRATE?????

Clubs? Yes. Boozing? Absolutely. Strippers??? Not exactly ... at least not yet.

But according to rookie Evgeniia Belyakova (she's from Russia), it ain't outta the question!

WNBA star Candace Parker says there's NO WAY we've seen the last of Brangelina ... telling TMZ Sports she thinks -- and hopes -- the two will come to their senses and stay together.

The news of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's decision to split took pretty much everyone by surprise ... and Parker was no exception.

"I'm devastated," the 2 time MVP says. "I still think they're gonna get back together. I'm still going for they're gonna go to court and they're gonna throw it out."

Glory Johnson is a wanted woman ... a warrant was issued for the WNBA star's arrest after officials say she did NOT complete a court ordered domestic violence program, TMZ Sports has learned.

It all stems from the violent altercation with her ex-wife, Brittney Griner, back in 2015. Both Johnson and Griner were arrested for attacking each other in their AZ home.

Part of Johnson's sentence was to complete a 6 month domestic violence program by Sept. 25th -- or else she could face up to 6 months in jail.

But according to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, Johnson didn't keep up her end of the bargain -- and as of May 2016, hadn't attended a single session.

Do the math ... impossible to complete a 6 month session in 4 months ... so a warrant was issued for failure to comply. Court records show the warrant is still active.

For her part, Johnson has been incredibly busy ... she gave birth to premature twins back in October and has been raising them by herself. She also divorced Griner and went back to work in the WNBA.

WNBA superstar Elena Delle Donne -- the reigning MVP of the league -- has come out publicly for the first time ... revealing in a piece for Vogue magazine she's engaged to a woman.

E.D.D. had never addressed her sexuality in public before ... but in the Vogue piece acknowledges her fiancee Amanda Clifton ... with whom she lives.

It should be noted that Delle Donne and Clifton haven't been shy about being seen together ... regularly posing for pics on social media.

Delle Donne is currently in Rio to dominate the rest of the basketball world with Team USA and we only have one thing to say to her ...

WNBA superstar Tamika Catchings is severely disappointed in her league for its reaction to players supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, and thinks something needs to change quickly.

Good news, America -- one of the best basketball players in the country says she's NOT SCARED of Zika -- and will absolutely travel to Rio to lock up that gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.

We spoke with WNBA superstar Angel McCoughtry -- 4-time All-Star, 2-time scoring champ -- who tells us she believes the Zika situation is being blown WAY out of proportion.

"There's always something that comes out every year," Angel said.

"Last year it was Ebola. Before that it was swine flu. It was something before that ... guess what 00 we ain't worried about that Zika Virus!"

WNBA superstar Brittney Griner is officially out of one of the WORST marriages ever -- because a judge just finalized her divorce from Glory Johnson ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Griner and Johnson -- both WNBA players -- got married back in May 2015 ... right after they were both arrested for domestic violence for attacking each other in their Arizona home.

The marriage lasted only 28 days before Brittney pulled the plug ... while Johnson was pregnant with twins! Griner claimed Johnson was cheating on her with an ex-boyfriend.

Johnson had claimed they both agreed to parent the children -- and demanded financial support.

A judge saw it Glory's way and ordered Griner to fork over $2,516 per month PER KID in child support ... PLUS another $2,835 per month to pay for daycare services.

Griner will NOT have to pay spousal support.

So, that's it ... it's over.

Candace Parker just issued a statement on the whole "should the WNBA lower the rims" controversy ... and it goes a little something like, "BOOOOM!"

The WNBA star just posted a video of her dunking on a regulation size rim ... and then tells the camera, "8 feet, 10 feet ... it don't matter."

This comes on the heels of WNBA star Elena Delle Donne suggesting the league lower the rims to make the game more exciting ... you know, with crazier dunks and alley-oops.

But Parker ain't buyin' it ... adding a caption to the video that included some strong hashtags:

"People WANA know how I feel about the "rim discussion" .... Here's my ANSWER. #Dunk #WhyIsntThereABallDiscussion #SinceWeMakingThingsTheSameWhyCantWeMakeMenPlayWitCramps #BarefootAndPreggoInTheKitchen #Equality #10Feet8FeetDontMatter #Controversy #SpartanWoman #BEASTMom #Mama."

Kobe Bryant's daughters to the WNBA???

It could happen ... because Lakers great and WNBA coach Michael Cooper says he can't wait to sign 'em if they're anything like their dad on the court!

The 5-time NBA champ -- who now coaches the ATL Dream in the WNBA -- was at LAX when we asked if he had any advice to Kobe in retirement.

That's when he brought up Kobe's daughters -- 9-year-old Gianna and 13-year-old Natalie -- and said, "I hope one of them turns out to be like Kobe-ish ... 'cause I'm still looking for that player!"

For the record, Kobe DID brag that Gianna is starting to shoot like him ...

Will Brittney Griner ever consider forgiving Gilbert Arenas for the stupid sexist comments he made about the WNBA??

"Hell no."

Griner says EVERYONE in the league knows what Gilbert said -- and personally, she doesn't ever want to see him at a WNBA game ever again.

Check out the clip ... she's pissed -- and quite frankly, can't really blame her.