Yes, the women of Basketball Wives are still here, but it’s getting tiring. But this season, some unexpected drama entered the fold. The VH1 show has historically focused on the arguments between the women, as opposed to relationships with the cast and actual men in the league, and this season, we watched as an unhealthy mother-daughter dynamic took center court, and it’s nothing we asked for. The show has been plagued with the same issues for years: a bad roster within the cast, the same conflict, and overall stunted growth with the cast.
The cast has aged out, and so have the revolving storylines
And so has the audience. The viewers have been with the franchise since 2010. Fifteen years later, their interest has grown, but the cast and the drama remain the same.
Jackie Christie has remained the face and the center of the chaos in the franchise since the LA franchise was born. Her antics are too complicated to even try to make sense of. But at least she keeps us entertained, and she switches up her tricks. You never know what to expect from Jackie.
The Jennifer and Evelyn alliance and fallout are both outdated. These women are turning 50 this year, reportedly. When we met them, they were 34. Their disagreements have always stemmed from their personal romantic relationships, starting with Evelyn’s engagement to Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, which culminated in her throwing drinks, hands, purses, and jumping across tables to fight Jennifer.
Since then, both have been divorced, and Jennifer has dated a number of red flags, marrying the biggest one. Years later, their alleged final fallout is due to Jennifer’s husband, Christian Gold, who is 18 years her junior. Jennifer is taking the stand-beside-her-man approach, and remains at odds with Evelyn, bringing her adult daughter Shanice into the mix to get a rise out of Evelyn whenever she chooses. If all they have to offer is them falling in and out of friendship, we’ll pass.
There have been a few new faces drafted over the years, but no one has stuck. Brandi Maxiell is the one who has been the most constant in recent seasons, but she has given the same tears and on-and-off separation from her husband.
Some of the OGs are needed
The Tami Romans of the world have retired to bigger and better things. But the OGs are who gave Evelyn a run for her money. In order to salvage what’s left of the show, Shaunie Henderson (formerly O’Neal) may have to make a call for at least a few appearances from the likes of Tami, Royce Reed, and even O.G.
The fact that we’re seeing the same faces is a hint that they didn’t plan for life outside of the show. Evelyn had a short-lived series on OWN, which she says highlighted her in her true form, but she’s returned to Basketball Wives for more of the same. Creator and EP Henderson isn’t going to get in the mix with her longtime friends like that. The best bet would be to call some of the past cast members for a helping hand. If not, it’s time to put the show to rest for good.
Neither Jackie nor Chantel are without fault
Jackie’s house came crumbling down, but it’s not something we should celebrate. For years, Jackie has played puppetmaster, stirring the pot for the sake of the show, all the while returning to her “happy” home with her husband, Doug. But this season, her daughter brought those issues to the surface.
Any day-one viewer knows that Jackie’s motherhood has always been discussed. Her daughters have accused her of causing friction between them, being verbally and emotionally abusive, chasing behind Doug as an NBA wife while they were left to be raised by other family members, and being all around delusional. Regardless, watching this type of family dysfunction play out on television was difficult to watch, and for it to come to physical blows and live on in infamy on a platform probably caused irreparable damage.
As a result of this season’s chaos, there was no reunion special, and Jackie and Chantel remain estranged. While Jackie could have been a better mother, the revenge Chantel set forth to expose her mother’s flaws didn’t help her personal healing. It’s fair to say Jackie and Chantel don’t need to be on the same show.