Championship rings, Olympic rings, wedding rings—these power couples prove that Black love is thriving in the sports world and beyond. BET has compiled the most captivating Black athlete couples who are winning on and off the field—with recent engagements, new baby announcements, and all the relationship updates you need.
ATHLETES WITH ATHLETES: POWER PARTNERSHIPS
Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield – Olympic track stars Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield got engaged in October 2024, with the American sprint superstar proposing to his Jamaican partner with a neon sign reading “Will you marry me?” The couple started dating in summer 2022 after initially meeting the same way our grandparents all met—on Instagram.
Allyson Felix and Kenneth Ferguson – The track legends welcomed their second child, son Kenneth “Trey” Maurice Ferguson III, in April 2024, celebrating six years of marriage. Felix, the most decorated American track athlete in Olympic history, has transitioned her competitive drive into advocacy work, particularly for Black maternal health.
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens – The GOAT gymnast and NFL player enjoyed a belated honeymoon safari in South Africa in February 2025, nearly two years after their wedding in April 2023.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Andre Levrone Jr. – The record-breaking Olympic hurdler and former NFL player tied the knot in May 2022 after getting engaged in August 2021.
Sanya Richards-Ross and Aaron Ross – The four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time Super Bowl champion announced they’re expecting baby no. 3 in February 2025, while celebrating both their 15th wedding anniversary and Richards-Ross’s 40th birthday.
A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo – The WNBA MVP and her Miami Heat partner recently became public after months of speculation, with Wilson finally confirming their relationship during her South Carolina jersey retirement ceremony where she sweetly referred to Adebayo as “my favorite Olympian from out of town.”
Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner – Engaged since July 2023, these former Connecticut Sun teammates have been instrumental in increasing visibility for LGBTQ+ relationships in women’s basketball. Recently, they shared a social media post about navigating the challenges of their relationship during the 2025 season as they play for different teams (Thomas now plays for the Phoenix Mercury and Bonner for the Indiana Fever).
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Charokee Young – The Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver and Jamaican track star recently celebrated together in February 2025, with Young sharing glimpses of their elegant date night after Harrison’s impressive performance against the Dolphins.
Frances Tiafoe and Ayan Broomfield – Dating since 2015, the tennis power couple recently made headlines when Tiafoe praised Broomfield’s new initiative to bring more diversity to tennis. In April 2025, Tiafoe publicly gushed over Broomfield’s outfit choice at the 2025 WNBA Draft.
ATHLETES WITH CELEBRITIES: SPOTLIGHT ROMANCES
Russell Wilson and Ciara – The NFL quarterback and Grammy-winning singer recently made headlines with Wilson’s move to the New York Giants in March 2025, with Ciara immediately 1-2 stepped up to support his new team on social.
DK Metcalf and Normani – The NFL wide receiver and chart-topping singer announced their engagement on March 13, 2025 at Metcalf’s first Pittsburgh Steelers press conference after being traded by the Seattle Seahawks. Their three-year relationship began in 2022.
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union – Married since 2014, the NBA champion and acclaimed actress recently made headlines for their candid discussions about splitting finances 50/50 in their relationship, with Union revealing in March 2025 that she now sees this approach as a response to past trauma. The couple continues advocating for their blended family, particularly for daughter Zaya, while executive producing documentaries highlighting Black love stories.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mariah Riddlesprigger – The “Greek Freak” and his wife took their decade-long relationship to the next level by getting married in Greece in September 2024, and recently announced they’re expecting their fourth child as of March 2025. Riddlesprigger has established herself as an advocate for maternal mental health while supporting Antetokounmpo’s basketball career.
Chris Paul and Jada Paul – Married since 2011 after meeting at Wake Forest University, the NBA point guard and his wife recently celebrated their relationship milestone by funding HBCU basketball facilities. The couple shares two children and has established themselves as pillars of community service through their CP3 Foundation, focusing on youth development.
LEGACY RELATIONSHIPS: ENDURING LOVE STORIES
Grant Hill and Tamia – The NBA Hall of Famer and Grammy-nominated singer celebrated 25 years of marriage in 2024, marking one of sports’ most enduring relationships. Their quarter-century milestone inspired the creation of the Hills scholarship for artist-athletes at Duke and Howard, merging their passions for sports and music.
Magic and Cookie Johnson – Since tying the knot in 1991 after meeting at a college party, the couple has faced extraordinary challenges, most notably Magic’s groundbreaking HIV diagnosis that same year. Rather than retreating from public life, they became powerful voices in HIV/AIDS advocacy, recently expanding Magic Johnson Enterprises to include HIV testing vans in 50+ cities.
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LeBron and Savannah James – The high school sweethearts married in 2013, recently sparked social. As vice president of the LeBron James Family Foundation, Savannah has additionally established herself as a businessperson while raising their three children.
Stephen and Ayesha Curry – The greatest shooter of a basketball who ever lived recently made headlines when Ayesha revealed in February 2025 that the secret to their 14-year marriage is putting their relationship before their four children. The couple, who met as teenagers at church in 2003 and started dating in 2008, continue building their family-focused business ventures together.
Kevin Durant and Basketball*
One of the greatest love stories of our time, KD has been inseparable from his childhood sweetheart for nearly three decades. While the couple doesn’t have any children in the traditional sense, their relationship has resulted in something even greater than the millions of dollars they’ve brought one another—the kind of true love and public displays of affection that all of us can aspire to achieve in our own lives.
OTHER NOTABLE COUPLES
Jalen Hurts and Bryonna Burrows – The Eagles QB proposed in September 2024, taking their relationship public after managing to keep it largely private despite Hurts’ rising NFL stardom. Burrows is an AI partner for IBM.
Russell Westbrook and Nina Westbrook
Married since 2015, the Nuggets guard and licensed therapist recently expanded their mental health initiative for athletes during Westbrook’s move to Denver.
Mookie Betts and Brianna Hammonds
The Dodgers superstar and his middle school sweetheart continue building their legacy after their 2021 wedding, recently launching the 5050 Foundation supporting children’s healthcare.
Aaron Donald and Erica Donald
The retired Rams legend and his marketing manager wife met when she worked in Rams community relations. Erica famously accepted his ringless 2015 Hawaii proposal thinking it was a joke.
Davon Godchaux and Chanel Iman
The Dolphins defensive tackle and supermodel own a beautiful Florida home and celebrated their first wedding anniversary in February 2025 with yacht footage from their Anguilla elopement.
Jameis Winston and Breion Allen
The New York Football Giants QB’s Met proposal in 2018 (“the victory formation of my life”) preceded their son’s birth weeks later. They now have three children.
Lamar Jackson and Jaime Taylor
The Ravens QB’s high school sweetheart maintains extreme privacy despite Jackson being one of the best quarterbacks on earth. Taylor avoids games but supports Jackson’s Louisville scholarship fund for Broward County athletes.
*Just jokes. We love you, KD!
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