A study from Pew Research found that 79 percent of Black men are married to Black women. However, there’s a stigma that Black men tend to gravitate toward putting a ring on non-Black women. That stigma is even bigger for Black men in professional sports.
The narrative goes that when these men reach the level of fame and status that the NBA, NFL, and MLB may bring, they need a white woman by their side. With that in mind, we felt it was the perfect time to highlight the Black men in pro sports who have found love with Black women.
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Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson started dating Ciara in 2015 and got married a year later in July 2016. Since then, they’ve been busy growing their family, sharing three kids. Wilson also helps raise the son Ciara had with rapper Future.
LeBron James
LeBron James should be applauded for his consistency off the court and loyalty off of it. He’s been with Savannah James since they were in high school in the early 2000s. They got married in 2013 and have three children together: Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri.
Stephen Curry
Although they met in 2003 when they were teenagers, Stephen and Ayesha Curry did not start dating until 2008. They tied the knot two years later in 2010 and have four kids together: Riley, Ryan, Canon, and Caius.
Jalen Hurts
Although they aren’t officially married yet, these two are one of the most beloved couples in sports. They met while they were both attending the University of Alabama. Although Hurts transferred in 2018 to the University of Oklahoma, their relationship endured and the two got engaged in September 2024.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis met his wife Mariah in 2014, shortly after he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and she was working on getting her degree at Rice University, where she also played volleyball. The couple has three children together.
Mookie Betts
Like LeBron James, the star outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been with his lady, Brianna Hammonds, since high school. However, they didn’t get married until December 2021. They have two kids together.
Marcus Semien
This may be a name only baseball fans know, but Texas Rangers second basemen Marcus Semien has been married to his wife Traha Murrey since November 2013. She also has an athletic background, playing volleyball at the University of California. They have three sons and one daughter.
Aaron Donald
Yes, Aaron Donald is recently retired, but we still wanted to highlight his relationship with Erica Donald. While they only have one child together, they both raise two children from Aaron’s previous relationship.
Davon Godchaux
Unlike many others on this list, the wife is far more well known than the husband. New England Patriots defensive lineman Davon Godchaux married supermodel Chanel Iman in January 2024 on a yacht in the Caribbean Sea.
Jonathan Owens
Savannah James is the only other person on this list who can say that they married one of the greatest athletes of all time. Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles got married in April 2023 and the two have been staunch supporters of each other while they’re performing in their respective sports.
Chris Paul
If you see Chris Paul looking stylish in an NBA tunnel or on the red carpet, you can thank his wife, Jada Crawley, who is a fashion designer. The two got married in September 2011 and have two children together.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook met his wife, Nina, while they were both playing college basketball at UCLA. While Russell eventually took his talents to the NBA, Nina got her college degree and became a licensed marriage and family therapist. They tied the knot in August 2015 and have three children.
Jameis Winston
The New York Giants’ newly signed quarterback married his wife, Beion Allen, in 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, they held a private ceremony at their home in Odessa, Fla. They have two sons together.
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