New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson has been embroiled in a sexual assault and abuse scandal.

An anonymous woman filed a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 30, accusing Williamson of sexually, physically, emotionally and financially abusing her for a long time during their relationship that began in 2018.

The woman claimed that the relationship between the two began when Williamson was a freshman and lasted until 2023. During this period, she was forced by Williamson in multiple states, including being forced to have sex, suppressed and strangled, and accused him of threatening her personal safety.

The lawsuit also mentioned that Williamson had broken into the residence without permission and took away his belongings. The plaintiff is currently seeking compensation of approximately $18 million to $50 million, covering emotional trauma and punitive damages. His lawyer said that the case is serious and detailed, and the parties hope to state their experiences in court and seek a fair judgment.

In response, Williamson's legal team strongly denied all the allegations, calling them completely false and impure. The lawyer pointed out that Williamson had a voluntary and relaxed relationship with the woman, which had ended long ago, and emphasized that the plaintiff never made any related allegations during and after the relationship.

They also revealed that Williamson had previously reported the extortion to law enforcement and planned to file a counterclaim. At present, the New Orleans Pelicans have not commented on the incident, only saying that all responses will be handled by Williamson's legal representatives.