Most of us think of WNBA players as exceptional athletes who work hard to improve and compete fiercely in every game. However, basketball is only one aspect of their hectic daily routine. When they’re not wowing audiences with their incredible abilities, these exceptional women are living life to the fullest and displaying an unexpected side of themselves. Continue to scroll to see what these WNBA players look like outside of their uniforms.
Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne has already distinguished herself as one of her generation’s most gifted players. She has multiple individual accomplishments, including two WNBA MVP awards and six All-Star nods, in addition to one WNBA championship.
She works on her side business, Deldon Design, while she isn’t hitting 20+ points in basketball games. This woodworking studio allows her to express her artistic side while also producing stunning handcrafted wood basketball hoops and wall art.
Lexie Brown
Fitness and a healthy lifestyle are very important to WNBA players. However, while the majority of them do it out of necessity, Chicago Sky guard Lexie Brown appreciates it. She’s a major gym rat, so you can guarantee she’s working out when she’s not on the court.
Brown is presently studying to become a personal trainer in order to share her enthusiasm for fitness with others.
Kayla McBride
Kayla McBride is one of those basketball players that enjoys playing the game. She even confesses that if she had to, she would play it for free. McBride, on the other hand, may enjoy tattoos even more than basketball.
McBride was hooked on tattoos after getting her first one, “KKAJ” in an infinity sign on her shoulder, and she couldn’t stop. She currently has six tattoos. We’re sure she’ll add more soon!
Wilson, A’Ja
Despite only being in her fifth season as a pro, A’ja Wilson has accomplished practically everything there is to do in basketball. She was the first overall pick in 2018, has appeared in many All-Star games, and was awarded MVP in 2020, among other honors.
Wilson is known for being a tough competitor on the court, so many people are surprised to learn that she also has a compassionate side. She is the founder of the A’ja Wilson Foundation, which assists dyslexic children.
Kelsey Plum
Plum’s personal life is a different tale. She has chosen to keep her personal life out of the public eye and has been fairly effective in doing so. Many people are unaware that she is married to Josh, her high school love.
Kiara Leslie
Kiara Leslie doesn’t score a lot of points, but her strong defense allows her to be an important player on the field. Her contributions on the defensive end made her a star at NC State and a vital member of the Washington Mystics.
Leslie’s accomplishments are the product of her tireless efforts, but she also credits her family and religion. Her faith has sustained her through difficult times, such as ankle and knee problems suffered early in her career.
Canada, Jordin
Some players chase championships their entire careers without ever winning one. Despite only joining the league in 2018, Jordin Canada has already won two WNBA championships. Given her recent signing with the heavily-favored Los Angeles Sparks, Canada could be in line for more championships shortly.
Canada enjoys recharging her batteries off the court by binge-watching television series. The Office and Shark Tank are two of her favorite shows.
Kaila Charles
Kaila Charles is still a rookie in the WNBA, having joined in 2020. But she has already shown signs of great promise, implying that she, like her mother, Olympian swimmer Ruperta Charles, will be a successful athlete.
Charles has a YouTube career in addition to trying to make it in the WNBA. Vlog-style films detailing her life as a WNBA player are among the content she produces.
Tiffany Mitchell
Tiffany Mitchell remained loyal to the Indiana Fever, the team that recruited her in 2016. Mitchell’s career overseas, on the other hand, took an entirely different path, as she played for five different teams. Regardless, she found success and made an immediate impact wherever she went.
Mitchell is also attempting to create an impression outside of the court. She is an advocate for single-parent families as part of the Athlete to Advocate programme, which is significant to her because she was raised by a single mother.
Dearica Hamby
Dearica Hamby is progressively establishing herself as a dominant player in the WNBA after a rocky start. She won the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year title two years in a row with the Las Vegas Aces before making her All-Star debut in 2021.
Hamby attributes her achievements to hard effort and the encouragement of her basketball-obsessed family. Alonzo Nelson-Ododa, her husband, played in the NBA G League and overseas, while Olivia Nelson-Ododa, her sister-in-law, is a UConn basketball star.
Te’a Cooper
Te’a Cooper appeared out of nowhere for many people. She was a second-round pick at one point and a starter and valuable contributor for the Los Angeles Sparks at another. This just goes to demonstrate what determination and self-assurance can accomplish.
Cooper’s personal life was also full of twists and turns. Her marriage to NBA legend Dwight Howard lasted barely a few months until they called it quits in April 2021. She is presently dating Alvin Kamara of the NFL.
Liz Cambage
While Liz Cambage of the Los Angeles Sparks can do it all on the court, she is best recognised for her scoring prowess. Her ability to collect buckets earned her a position in WNBA history. Cambage currently owns the WNBA record for most points scored in a single game, with 53, set against the New York Liberty in 2018.
Cambage is interested in music as well as basketball. She works as a DJ on the side and has performed at a number of music events.
Arike Ogunbowale
Arike Ogunbowale established herself as a clutch player in college, making a game-winning shot to help Notre Dame win the NCAA title in 2018. She is currently playing for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA.
As it turns out, Ogunbowale succeeds on more than just the basketball court. She’s also a natural on the dance floor. When Ogunbowale appeared on Season 26 of Dancing with the Stars, fans were able to see this. She came in seventh place with her partner Gleb Savchenko.
Betnijah Laney
Take a look at Betnijah Laney’s social media to see how much she loves fashion. Laney never fails to wow, whether she’s wearing high-end apparel or streetwear.
She’s also a standout basketball player for the New York Liberty. She just received her first All-Star selection, and she’s only getting started. This is even more remarkable when you realize that she used to loathe basketball!
Sabally Satou
Sabally’s basketball abilities are only surpassed by her advocacy and humanitarian initiatives. Since her rookie season, she has served as a member of the WNBA Social Justice Council and as a UNICEF Supporter.
Amanda Zahui
Amanda Zahui knew as a teenager that the journey from her native Sweden to the WNBA hardwood would be difficult. Despite this, Zahui was able to handle it successfully with the appropriate attitude and effort, and she went on to become a league mainstay and major player for the Los Angeles Sparks.
Knowing this, it’s no surprise that Zahui enjoys playing video games. She takes advantage of any opportunity to sit in front of a video game controller, and she usually plays one or two sessions before returning to basketball.
Glory Johnson
Johnson also uses her own life to guide young brains. She gave birth to two beautiful twin girls in 2015 and spends all of her spare time with them.
Katie Lou Samuelson
Katie Lou Samuelson appears to have it all on the surface. She’s a successful young woman who is pursuing her dream of becoming a professional basketball player. However, the Seattle Storm’s forward has faced her fair share of difficulties in the past, including depression and anxiety.
Samuelson, fortunately, has overcome her mental health issues and is now in a lot better position. She shares her story publicly in the aim of assisting others who are facing similar difficulties.
Chelsea Gray
When Chelsea Gray first entered the WNBA, many people questioned her ability. She was returning from a knee injury and finding it difficult to make an immediate impression. Gray, on the other hand, came into her own after a few seasons as a pro and has since been a consistent All-Star.
She opted to devote her free time to activism and has been a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community while also participating in the Amateur Athletic Union.
Napheesa Collier
When she’s not practicing or playing for the Lynx, Collier runs the basketball app Through the Lens, which offers lessons, suggestions, and assistance to budding basketball players. Alex Bazzell, her fiancée and a skills trainer, helped her design this useful software.
Kia Nurse
Nurse is a great role model for the younger generation. She was a member of the UConn women’s basketball team that won two NCAA championships and is now a WNBA All-Star.
Candace Parker
Parker is already planning her future ventures, even though her basketball career isn’t over yet. Along with her daughter Lailaa, she has joined the ownership group of the National Women’s Soccer League club Angel City.
Dolson, Stefanie
When it comes to her basketball career, Stefanie Dolson has a lot to be proud of. She’s a two-time NCAA champion, a WNBA champion, and has appeared in two All-Star games. But, as you can see from her social media, there’s one thing she’s even more proud of: being a mother.
But not any mother, a puppy mother! Dolson is the proud mother of a lovely puppy named Theodore, with whom she spends practically all of her free time. He’s even referred to as her “best friend” by her.
Tayler Hill
In 2013, Tayler Hill joined the WNBA as one of the most dominant collegiate players in recent memory. Unfortunately, she had a lackluster professional career after that, but it didn’t stop Hill from living life to the fullest.
She is a regular traveler who takes advantage of the offseason to visit famous tourist locations. Her exploits may be followed on social media, where she routinely posts photos from her travels.
Kristine Anigwe
Kristine Anigwe has yet to find her footing in the WNBA, having been traded twice since the Connecticut Sun selected her ninth overall in the 2019 Draft. However, given Anigwe’s abilities, it should only be a matter of time before she finds a long-term home.
Meanwhile, Anigwe, who plays in Turkey during the WNBA summer, is concentrating on training and getting in the greatest form possible. She considers herself a fitness enthusiast who loves Pilates.
Kalani Brown
Kalani Brown grew up watching her father, P. J. Brown, dominate on defense in the NBA and win a championship with the Boston Celtics. This encouraged her to pursue basketball as a career, which she did successfully. With Baylor, she won an NCAA championship and was selected seventh overall in the WNBA draft.
Brown, in addition to being a talented athlete, has a geeky side. She is an avid anime enthusiast who frequently boasts about it on her prominent TikTok channel.
Bria Hartley
The guard for the Phoenix Mercury Bria Hartley is a multi-talented woman. She is the founder of the apparel firm All Hart Clothing, in addition to being a successful basketball player in the WNBA and internationally.
With her clothing line, Hartley handles everything from the business side to helping design new items to modeling. She’s a mother on top of being a businesswoman. There’s nothing this WNBA superstar can’t accomplish.
Natalie Achonwa
Natalie Achonwa is focused on advancing the situation of women in sports when she isn’t pouring buckets in the WNBA or in Italy, where she plays during the offseason. She’s working to improve the playing and living conditions for her fellow WNBA players as a member of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association.
She also takes part in different events and projects targeted at assisting female athletes in various ways. Achonwa is very outspoken about various social concerns and usually utilizes her platform to show her support for those in need.
Aerial Powers
Aerial Powers is a superb shooting guard who was a college standout at Michigan and played a key role in the Washington Mystics’ journey to the WNBA lifestyle.
She is passionate about cuisine and enjoys experimenting with new foods while traveling. Her favorite dish so far is a doughnut burger with fries and a peach cobbler shake.
Alanna Smith
When the Phoenix Mercury’s power forward Alanna Smith is called upon, rest confident that she will deliver. Smith, on the other hand, takes a new perspective after the game clock reaches zero.
Smith likes to spend her time off the court living her best life and resting as much as possible. Her preferred location is the beach, where she can soak up the sun and work on her tan. Given that she was born on the Australian island of Tasmania, this should come as no surprise.
Copper Kahleah
Kahleah Copper waited patiently for her moment to make an impact in the WNBA, and it arrived in 2021. She not only made her first All-Star appearance, but she also guided the Chicago Sky to their first WNBA championship, earning MVP accolades along the way.
Cooper is an avid basketball fan who spends the most of her leisure time participating in basketball-related activities. Purdue University Northwest’s women’s basketball team has one of them as an assistant coach.
Sylvia Fowles
For Sylvia Fowles, age is simply a number. Despite playing in the WNBA for 14 seasons and achieving everything there is to achieve in the league (many times), she continues to play at a high level and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Fowles spends her free time on a variety of things, including knitting, which she learned when she was six years old, and pursuing a major in mortuary science.
Sue Bird
Sue Bird is one of the best basketball players of all time, with a record four WNBA championships and 12 All-Star selections. Even more astounding is the fact that she did it with only one squad, the Seattle Storm. Bird is also one of the most decorated Olympians, having won five gold medals with Team USA at the Olympics.
Bird’s basketball expertise with the Denver Nuggets was recognised by the NBA, and she was hired as a front-office executive. Since 2018, she has worked as the franchise’s Basketball Operations Associate.
Jewell Loyd
Jewell Loyd had high expectations when she was drafted first overall by the Seattle Storm in 2015. Loyd, on the other hand, proved to be even better than expected, leading the Storm to two WNBA championships and three All-Star selections since her pro debut.
Loyd is also focused on making an impact off the court. She is helping others with learning difficulties by supporting groups like The Dyslexic Advantage and Eye to Eye, which were inspired by her dyslexia battle.
Sabrina Ionescu
Sabrina Ionescu bounced back from injuries early in her WNBA career with a great 2021 season with the New York Liberty.
She’s the WNBA’s youngest triple-double player, and she’s only a part-time model. She’s also active in advocacy and is a vocal opponent of kid obesity. In addition, the Indiana native runs basketball camps both domestically and internationally.
DeWanna Bonner
DeWanna Bonner is all about winning on the basketball floor. She’s a fearless competitor who has led the Phoenix Mercury to two WNBA championships and is still an All-Star player in her mid-thirties. But it’s a different story off the court.
Bonner’s personal life is centered on her family and friends. She loves being a mother to Demi and Cali, who are gorgeous twins. Erica McCall, her sister, is also a WNBA player.
Stevens, Azurá
Azurá Stevens successfully represented two universities in college, Duke and Connecticut. She did the same in the WNBA, first with the Dallas Wings and later with the Chicago Sky, with whom she won a championship in 2021.
Stevens, unlike other players, enjoys taking a vacation from basketball in her leisure time, filming TikTok dance videos and assisting her father, who owns a food truck.
Isabelle Harrison
Isabelle Harrison was born into a family of athletes and was destined for greatness. Dennis Harrison, her father, was a Pro Bowl defensive end, and several of her siblings went on to play professional sports. She became a star for multiple WNBA teams, notably the Dallas Wings, thanks to strong role models.
Harrison wants to get involved in the business side of basketball in addition to thriving on the court. She accepted a position as a basketball operations apprentice with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and is considering a front-office job after retirement.
Isabelle Harrison
Isabelle Harrison was born into a family of athletes and was destined for greatness. Dennis Harrison, her father, was a Pro Bowl defensive end, and several of her siblings went on to play professional sports. She became a star for multiple WNBA teams, notably the Dallas Wings, thanks to strong role models.
Harrison wants to get involved in the business side of basketball in addition to thriving on the court. She accepted a position as a basketball operations apprentice with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and is considering a front-office job after retirement.
