After more than a decade of reality TV chaos, confrontations, and cultural impact, Basketball Wives has officially reached the end of the road.
Shaunie Henderson (formerly Shaunie O’Neal), the creator and longtime anchor of the VH1 franchise, confirmed that the series will not return for another season, per People.
The announcement came via a video message shared on her Instagram, where she made it clear she wanted fans to hear the news directly from her before rumors took over.
“This is just called growth and moving forward,” Henderson said in the video. “I’m announcing today that Basketball Wives will not be returning.”
The show first premiered in 2010 and quickly became one of reality television’s most recognizable franchises. Built around the lives, friendships, and feuds of women connected to professional basketball players, Basketball Wives expanded into multiple spinoffs and ran for 12 seasons over roughly 15 years.
According to Henderson, the decision to close the chapter wasn’t about controversy or cancellation rumors, but about timing.
She described the series as a defining part of her career and credited it with creating space for women’s stories in unscripted television.
“What began as a vision to tell my story and stories of women like me grew into something much bigger,” she explained, calling the franchise “a foundation” of her work as a producer.
That doesn’t mean Henderson is stepping away from television altogether. In the same message, she emphasized that new projects are already in development.
“While this journey is concluding, I’m actively developing new projects that align with my personal and professional purpose,” she said, adding that her focus remains on building opportunities for women in media and business.
Still, the reaction from alumni suggests the show’s impact isn’t easily erased. Shortly after the news broke, Basketball Wives LA alum Draya Michele floated the idea of a farewell special, joking on Instagram that she’d be willing to “co-executive produce” one last filmed gathering.