The ladies of Basketball Wives L.A. are back and more dramatic than ever!  The season starts this Monday, September 10 at 8PM ET on VH1.

Jackie Christie deals with letting her daughter go out on her own, and she's a bit unnerved to find out that her daughter has been in touch with Doug.  Given their interactions, Jackie is still as cray cray as ever.  You've got to love this woman. 

Laura Govan is back in Los Angeles from Orlando with her new body and a positive outlook on her relationship.  Her sister Gloria Govan is working on her relationship Matt Barnes after an eight month break-up, and she's creating a cookbook.  The sisters pretend they haven't had much contact in the eight months since filming last wrapped.  Oh VH1, you are so subtle with the scripting!

Draya Michelle and Malaysia Pargo are also back for another season.  Malaysia has spent the interim in Atlanta, and her jewelry line is doing great.  Draya has been modeling up a storm, but she wants to focus solely on her bikini line.  This pair of friends is much more willing to give Jackie another chance than the sisters Govan. 

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[Photo Credit: Twitter]

The Insider is confirming that VH1 has greenlit an all new season though no date has been set on when it will return to airwaves. Sources reveal Jackie Christie will be returning despite the fact that her costars have repeatedly stated they want nothing to do with her. Can’t blame VH1 though because Jackie brings the cray and the drama!

Even better, Wacky Jackie is also reportedly working to get her own spinoff show!

“Jackie will have a full plate in 2012 as she prepares to release her new book aimed couples, and how to focus on intimacy. We’re also told she just shot a pilot for BET,” states The Insider.

Interesting. This, however, wouldn’t mark the first time Jackie’s had her own reality show as she and her husband, retired NBA player Doug Christie, actually had a show on BET back in 2006 titled The Christies Committed.

TELL US – EXCITED ABOUT A SECOND SEASON? WOULD YOU WATCH A JACKIE SPINOFF?

It seems whenever there is a mention of the ladies of Basketball Wives: L.A., it involves drama. And why wouldn’t it? Since the show started, there have been catfights, rumors of infidelity, accusations of child endangerment…and we’re not even half way through the season!

Gloria Govan is a sharp-tongued character who has been at the center of the craziness since her time on Basketball Wives: Miami. She is engaged to L.A. Laker Matt Barnes, the only “husband” still playing in the NBA. The couple, who have two-year-old twin boys, have battled their fair share of rumors in the past. In a recent interview with Essence.com, the pair hoped to shed some light on their normal lives while silencing the haters.

Matt has his own take on the show. He says, “We originally thought the show was going to portray women stepping out of our shadow and raising kids and their day-to-day activities, but they’re showing red carpets, fights, drinks in the face, and girls sleeping around. I’m the sole representative of the NBA as far as the show is concerned, so everyone’s kind of looking at you crazy. I do it in support of her, but if it were just for me, I wouldn’t do it.”

Of Gloria, Matt reveals, “She can hit the red carpet, but then she’s at home with two pigtails taking care of the boys and making dinner and cleaning up — really [I want viewers to know] just how real her life is. She really is a mom just like everyone else out there. She’s also a high school basketball coach and she does a lot of regular things you don’t see.”

Gloria also sings Matt’s praises, stating, “We’re super sappy. We’re into the rose petals and candles and balloons. He leaves me notes everywhere — like in my car, my purse, and places I would never think to look in, like my sunglasses case — and then I just find them throughout the day. They’re really brilliant notes.” She continues, “He’s always encouraging and supportive. He’s so cute.”

The couple recently postponed their wedding. Gloria admits, “I’m just, like, still not there yet. The last thing I want to do is put him in a headlock and drag him down the aisle. If the wheel’s not broke… why fix it?” She explains, “We’re comfortable with where we are in our relationship. We’re really solid and we’re happy. That’s why we canceled our wedding in the first place, because we realized it wasn’t for us — it was for everyone else. It was for friends, family, viewers, everyone. That was probably the best thing we could have done.”

As for backlash from viewers, Gloria reveals that sometimes she lets the negativity get to her. She says, “People on Twitter can be very hateful. People will tweet me something so cruel at like 8 o’clock in the morning. I try not to read it at all. I feel bad because there are some really cool fans and stuff, but you know, by the time I get to reading them I’m already upset and have a bad attitude.” However, Gloria doesn’t have much time to worry about the drama, as she reveals she’s hoping for a spot on next season’s Dancing with the Stars. The show doesn’t want Bravo housewives, do you think it will cast the VH1 variety?

Meanwhile, Gloria’s cast mate is going through a very devastating ordeal. We all watched last week as a heartbroken Jackie Christie had to Skype in her ailing mother to her sixteenth wedding to husband Doug.

Jackie and her sister were coping with the doctor’s news that their mother’s cancer had spread and she wasn’t responding to treatment. Sadly, Jackie’s mother passed away last week. She revealed the tragic news in an interview, saying she was glad her mother was able to see her marry Doug a sixteenth time before her passing. Jackie also explained that she and her daughter, Takari, who has publicly bashed her mother’s parenting skills, are resolving their issues. I’m glad they are working on their relationship, especially in light of their recent family tragedy. My thoughts go out to the Christie family.

A new episode of Basketball Wives: L.A. premieres tonight at 8ET on VH1.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF GLORIA AND MATT’S INTERVIEW? WOULD YOU WATCH GLORIA ON DWTS?

Basketball Wives L.A. premiered last week to not only high ratings, but a ton of drama!

The L.A. cast wasted no time as a physical altercation occurred on the premiere episode! Laura Govan and Malaysia LaQuisha Pargo came to blows after Laura referred to Malaysia as a “rat.” Even more shocking, Laura had just given birth to her fourth child 3 weeks earlier.

In a recent radio interview, Laura’s little sister Gloria Govan reveals she was “upset” about the fight. “Ooh, I was so upset. But you know when I realized what it was really about, I couldn’t really be mad at her. She was going through so much stuff,” said Gloria about her sister. Gloria also promises that fight will be the only physical altercation on the show. How disappointing!

When it comes to her relationship with fiance Matt Barnes, Gloria admits the 5-year romance hasn’t been perfect. This was clearly evident following Matt’s arrest last year for domestic violence. Even more surprising, she doesn’t deny that he’s never been unfaithful to her. “I’m not gonna sit up here and be like, ‘No, you know he’s perfect and we’re fabulous’… it’s never been in my face,” said Gloria.

The rumor today is that Matt might have dumped Gloria. Below is more gossip and secrets about each of the Basketball Wives L.A. cast member as well as their bios!

A new episode of Basketball Wives L.A. airs tonight on VH1 at 8/7c.

Draya Michele – Draya is currently a model and aspiring actress in Los Angeles with several music videos and magazine covers to her credit. A controversial beauty with a history of dating players, the funny and engaging Draya says “I have a million haters. I open the list of haters and it rolls across the floor.” No word yet if any of the new LA wives make that list.

Gossip - Before joining Basketball Wives LA, Draya (real name Andraya M. Howard) had a pretty poor reputation as being a big time groupie. One who has allegedly slept with a ton of athletes, rappers, and entertainers. The former stripper is from Philly and is also a single mother of one. Draya, 25, actually lost custody of her 7-year-old son earlier this year after she was arrested for child endangerment. Her son called 911 and told cops he was being left home alone on a regular basis. Draya also dated R&B singer Chris Brown just last year.

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LAURA GOVAN – sister to Gloria Govan, Laura may be rebuilding her life with just her kids and brand new baby to keep her company, but she’s never alone as Govan family ties run strong. Like her sister, Laura has no trouble speaking her mind or sticking up for family when things get rough.

Gossip – Laura, 31, has 4 kids with NBA player and former? fiance Gilbert Arenas. Laura is best known for allegedly sleeping with Shaquille O’Neal while he was still married to Shaunie. While Laura continues to deny this, sources say it really did happen and leaked emails seem to support that.

But back to Laura and Gilbert as the two have always had a crazy and volatile relationship. Just in February, Laura had Gilbert served with child support papers during an NBA game. All seemed to be going well for the always on-again off-again couple when Gilbert finally proposed to Laura last year. However things quickly went sour when Gilbert decided to ditch her along with their three kids last November after being traded to a different team. Laura’s publicist stated back then that Gilbert cut off all access to money for a pregnant Laura and their kids, leaving them “with no money to purchase foodor Christmas gifts.” Fast forward to today and things between the couple seem to be better. Laura stated in a recent interview that the two are now communicating and might be getting back together.

Jackie Christie – wife of retired player Doug Christie, Jackie claims to have the strongest marriage in basketball, and it shows: she and Doug renew their vows every year! Bulldozed in the press for being overbearing and controlling in her relationship, she’s not one to hold her tongue, even with other players’ wives. She loves the spotlight and seems unfazed by her reputation as a polarizing figure in the world of basketball wives.

Gossip – Most NBA fans are familiar with Jackie due to her very unconventional methods of preventing her husband Doug from cheating. In addition to renewing their wedding vows every year, Doug had to follow other rules during his NBA playing days including not being allowed to make eye contact with female reporters, and having to signal I love you signs to Jackie an average of 50 times a game. Jackie also made certain to attend most of the road games while riding on the Team’s charter bus alongside Doug’s teammates. The bizarre methods seem to be working for the couple as they have now been married for 16 years.

Also it appears one of Jackie’s daughters, Ta’kari Lee Christie, is planning to write a tell-all book about her. Ta’kari, 22, and a mother of two, tweeted that Jackie kicked out her out of her home with Doug, and that she is now forced to sleep on people’s couches with her two kids. Ta’kari also claims that Jackie was not a real mother to her and that she doesn’t allow husband Doug to own a cell phone. It gets even worse as Ta’kari claims Jackie used to accuse her of flirting with Doug when she was younger. Wowzers.

Gloria Govan – fiancée of LA’s Matt Barnes, Gloria may be fairly new to the West Coast, but not to viewers of Basketball Wives. After relocating to Los Angeles and surviving Barnes’ first season playing for the most recognizable team in the world, she’s keeping busy both as a mom to her twins and taking on a new challenge: easing into the Southern California lifestyle.

Gossip – Most of us are familiar with Gloria going back to the first and second seasons of Basketball Wives (Miami). While Gloria has always maintained that the other wives were jealous of her relationship with fiance Matt, some light was shed on their relationship last year after the couple decided to call off their wedding at the last minute. Cheating allegations against Matt emerged and just weeks later he was arrested and charged with domestic violence against Gloria. The charges were later dropped and the couple has always maintained it was all a big misunderstanding. The latest rumor today is that Matt might have dumped Gloria but only time will tell if that is true.

Malaysia Pargo – wife of Chicago’s Jannero Pargo, Malaysia grew up in Compton, California before meeting her husband at 22. On being a basketball wife, she confesses that she always has her guard up and that one has to be a strong individual in order to live this lifestyle because it will “swallow you up and spit you out.”

Gossip – Not much dirt can be found on Malaysia other than the typical rumors that her NBA hubby might be cheating.

Kimsha Artest – self-described ‘partner’ of Ron Artest and mother of three, Kimsha is proud of her New York (Jamaica, Queens) roots and not a fan of living in Los Angeles. After seventeen years with Artest, she’s rolled with the punches when it comes to the basketball lifestyle. Kimsha refuses to resign herself to the LA “party” lifestyle, also shying away from the bling.

Gossip – Not much gossip to report about Kimsha other than a recent TMZ report which revealed she and Ron are no longer married. According to the report, the couple actually got divorced in 2009, which would explain why Ron has been publicly parading around other women. There are also whispers that despite the divorce, the two are still together but now have an open relationship.

Imani Showalter – ex-fiancée to player Stephen Jackson and mother of three, Imani has fought hard against being stigmatized since parting ways with her famous ex and isn’t shy to confess that she hasn’t dated since. A former singer with a New York girl group, Imani says she’s in the process of “rediscovering what makes me happy again… I want to find my passion and that’s where I want to go.”

Gossip – The rumor is that Imani got left at the altar by Stephen because she refused to sign a prenup. Sources say Imani had been putting off signing the prenup and when Stephen showed up with the contract on the wedding day, all hell broke loose. There are also whispers that she might have lied about her age and other things to Stephen.

Following the mega success of Basketball Wives, VH1 is now planning to expand the series with a new spinoff!

The network announced this week that Basketball Wives L.A. will debut in August! The new series is descried as “explosive” and will follow the lives of the wives and girlfriends of players on both the Lakers and their cross-town rivals, the Clippers.

The Basketball Wives LA cast includes: Kimsha Artest (wife of Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers), Gloria Govan (fiancée of Matt Barnes, Los Angeles Lakers), Laura Govan (sister of Gloria Govan and former fiance of NBA player Gilbert Arenas whom she has three kids by), Jackie Christie (wife of Doug Christie, former player for the Los Angeles Clippers) and Imani Showalter (fiancée of Stephen Jackson, Charlotte Bobcats) as well as others.

Shaunie O’Neal will also serve as the executive producer of this 10 episode, hour-long series. The press release promises “cameras will follow these women as they attempt to juggle their relationships, infidelity issues, children and friendships while trying to find the perfect balance between supporting their families and realizing their own career ambitions.”

“Basketball Wives LA” is coming to VH1 Monday, August 29 at 8 PM ET/PT.

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THE NEW SERIES & CAST? ARE YOU EXCITED?