Rachel DeMita (Photo Via Instagram/@rademita)
Rachel DeMita didn’t wait long to clear the air. The former BIG3 courtside commentator, who was let go earlier this week, broke her silence Friday with a candid video message on X, opening up about the controversy that cost her the job.

“I wasn’t under the impression those tweets would do any severe harm to the BIG3,” DeMita said, referencing a moment that quickly spiraled beyond her control. Her “mistake”? Sharing Caitlin Clark highlights while working a live BIG3 broadcast. That move, according to the league, crossed a line.

A Tweet That Ended The Deal

Rachel DeMita posing in caitlin Clark jerseyRachel DeMita (Photo via Instagram)
DeMita joined the BIG3 in June 2024 as a courtside voice and behind-the-scenes host. Already well-known from her time as the face of NBA 2KTV, she brought solid basketball credibility and a loyal following. Fans seemed to enjoy her presence on the BIG3 sidelines, until one weekend post flipped everything.

The issue boiled down to timing. While working a BIG3 game last weekend, DeMita tweeted about a WNBA matchup between the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever. The league didn’t take it lightly.

In the video she posted Friday, DeMita revealed that her team received an email late Tuesday night. “My team received an email at 11 p.m. on Tuesday with a letter that essentially said I was terminated,” she explained.

She also read a portion of that email for her followers. “It has come to BIG3’s attention that Ms. DeMita was posting on her social media platform during this past weekend’s BIG3 games and was promoting the competing New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever WNBA game that was being broadcast at the same time,” the league allegedly wrote. “The league is completely dismayed and disappointed by Ms. DeMita’s severe lapse in judgment.”

To her credit, DeMita didn’t shy away from accountability. “I’m not making excuses, I’ll take it on the chin. I apologize for that,” she said.

Despite her apology, BIG3 hasn’t commented publicly beyond DeMita’s shared email. No replacement has been named yet. DeMita is taking the fallout in stride, saying, “I had zero intention on hurting the BIG3.” This chapter may be closed, but it’s likely we’ll hear from her again.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’