The new NBA season is underway, bringing plenty of star power both on the court and beyond it.
Basketball’s biggest names have become global celebrities, and the lavish lifestyles that come with their multimillion-dollar careers have made fans equally curious about the partners by their side.
Some NBA stars are romantically linked to women who already had celebrity status, while others have seen their wives and girlfriends build public profiles of their own by sharing glimpses of life with the league’s elite.
From the New York Knicks players whose profiles soared after an NBA Championship run to the well-known partners of icons such as LeBron James and Steph Curry, basketball’s most influential couples continue to command attention away from the hardwood.
The Daily Mail has now assembled the ultimate NBA power list, featuring models, influencers, songwriters, actresses, beauty queens and some of the most influential women connected to the sport’s biggest stars.
10) Jade Jones
Partner: Tyrese Haliburton
Instagram followers: 181k
Jade Jones is among the newest wives featured on the list after marrying Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton during the NBA offseason.
Jade Jones and Tyrese Haliburton have been together since their college days at Iowa State
Their lavish wedding featured a performance by 50 Cent, while Haliburton’s teammates and several franchise legends joined in celebrating the couple’s big day.
Haliburton proposed to his college sweetheart in July 2025 on the Iowa State basketball court where their relationship began.
“The place where our story started, and where our next chapter begins,” Haliburton wrote on Instagram with photos of the proposal. The engagement came only a month after he suffered a devastating torn Achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Haliburton played for the Iowa State Cyclones while Jones was a cheerleader, and the pair began dating in 2019.
After completing the 2020 season, Jones reflected on her cheerleading journey, writing: “I truly couldn’t imagine my life without this sport. Cheerleading has carried me on a journey that I will never forget.”
Jones and Haliburton have attended a series of high-profile events together as his NBA career has taken off
She cheered him on at the 2024 Paris Olympics before the couple married the following summer
Jones studied elementary education before building a following as an influencer, all while supporting Haliburton during his rapid rise to NBA prominence.
The guard helped lead the Pacers to the 2025 NBA Finals before his heartbreaking injury, capping a breakthrough year that also saw him represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Following the 2025 Finals, Jones praised her husband on Instagram, writing: “What a year!!! What a bittersweet ending to it all. You have been nothing short of amazing. You are so selfless, brave, and strong! I will always be your biggest cheerleader. I will forever be so proud of you!!”
9) Anne De Paula
Brazilian model Anne De Paula is married to Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid
Partner: Joel Embiid
Instagram followers: 218k
Brazilian model Anne De Paula has made her mark in the NBA world while dating Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid, now LeBron James’s teammate.
The 2023 MVP started dating Anne in 2018 after they met through a mutual friend at dinner in New York City. Their initial friendship blossomed into romance as Embiid caught her eye by ‘just being himself’ despite the fact she was ‘never looking for anything when I am single.’
De Paula, 31, grew up in Rio de Janeiro and speaks French, Portuguese and English.
She initially loved soccer and says she was a ‘tomboy’ but was convinced by her mom to try modeling. She eventually made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut after winning the 2017 model search fan vote and has been featured four times in the annual issue.
She moved to the US for her career, where she found a common bond with Embiid, who moved to the US from Cameroon to play basketball.
Embiid and De Paula met at an event in New York in 2018 and romance soon blossomed
De Paula and Embiid share a son, Arthur, and hope this will be a big season for the former MVP
‘The reason I left my country is not because I don’t love it, but the opportunities are here. But I do everything for the people I love,’ she told SI in 2019. ‘I want to buy my family my house.
‘My biggest goal is to make the people I love happy, and give them everything I can. In business, after modeling, I want to invest and start a business. I could start my own brand or my own clothing line. I would love to be able to share with people the things I love.’
They got married in Southampton, New York, in July 2023 after welcoming their first son, Arthur Elijah, in September 2020.
‘He just has this personality where he wants to motivate you,’ de Paula told ESPN of Embiid in 2021. ‘His friends, his family and now with Arthur – he pushes all of us to be the best of ourselves. That’s the type of person you want to have around.’
Embiid and the 76ers will now prepare for a massive NBA season with championship ambitions after signing James in free agency. de Paula will be supporting him throughout.
8) Ali Marks
Ali Marks is the wife of Jalen Brunson, who led the New York Knicks back to a championship
Partner: Jalen Brunson
Instagram followers: 292k
Jalen Brunson has been anointed the King of New York City after leading the Knicks to their first NBA Championship in a generation – and he has a queen by his side.
Ali Marks’s love story with her now-husband dates all the way back to their time as high school sweethearts in Lincolnshire, Illinois. They attended prom together and Brunson proposed to Marks in September 2022 back at their high school gym.
She stayed home for school while he attended Villanova, eventually graduating from Northwestern with a doctorate in physiotherapy in 2021 then moving to Dallas to start her career where Brunson was playing.
But their life changed after he joined the Knicks in 2022, becoming the face of the franchise and transforming them into NBA champions.
Marks and Brunson are arguably the biggest sporting power couple in New York City right now
They were high school sweethearts in Illinois who married in 2023 and have a daughter, Jordyn
Ali Marks has become an endeared member of the Knicks family, proving popular among fans with her low-key lifestyle and sweet support for Jalen.
They married in July 2023 and welcomed their first child, daughter Jordyn James, the following year before he won an NBA Championship 12 months after that.
The couple are arguably New York’s biggest power couple after what he did for the Knicks last year, and that status couldn’t be in better hands as Ali continues to be by his side while also actively taking part in fundraising and charitable efforts.
7) Emma Macdonald
Influencer and social media star Emma Macdonald is married to Celtics player Payton Pritchard
Partner: Payton Pritchard
Instagram followers: 379k (+866k TikTok, 373k YouTube)
Emma Macdonald is leading a new generation of NBA WAGs with her online presence across TikTok and YouTube giving fans a glimpse into her loved-up life with Boston Celtics star Payton Pritchard.
The New England influencer enjoyed a whirlwind romance with Pritchard as they got engaged in July 2023, just months after going public with their relationship.
The couple got married in August 2024 with over 250 loved ones in attendance and retired NBA star Blake Griffin officiating the ceremony.
Macdonald documented the process on her social media accounts, having grown a large influencer platform with her sister, Maggie, before dating the Boston Celtics guard.
Pritchard initially slid into her DMs then they reconnected over dating app Raya, then moved in together in March 2023.
She regularly shares insight into their daily life together in Boston on YouTube and TikTok
The couple recently shared that they are expecting their first child together later this year
‘It’s been so easy, it was such a seamless transition,’ she said in a YouTube Q&A shortly after.
‘I’ve never lived with someone before, and I feel like all I hear when you live with someone is it’s not the same, and your relationship is different, but with Payton and I, we’re completely the same. He’s still my best friend, we still wake up and do all of our little things together.’
She continues to provide regular updates on her daily life with Pritchard, making appearances here and there.
They shared huge life news in July, announcing they are expecting their first child by posting a Polaroid picture of her in a bikini with Pritchard holding her small bump captioned: ‘Sweetest summer yet.’
6) Amelia Vega
Amelia Vega became Miss Universe 2003 when she was 18 and is now married to Al Horford
Partner: Al Horford
Instagram followers: 2 million
Amelia Vega shot to fame in 2003 when she became Miss Universe at just 18, the youngest winner in almost a decade and the first ever from the Dominican Republic.
Since then, she’s carved out a successful career as an actress, model and singer as well as finding love with NBA veteran Al Horford.
The pair are both Dominican but met in Boston at the Latin Pride Awards in 2007, and a friendship blossomed into romance.
‘We started dating, and it became pretty obvious that she was the right person for me. It just felt right,’ Horford previously told Latina.
Since getting married on Christmas Eve in 2011, they have welcomed five children together – their first born in 2015 and most recent in 2025.
Despite her busy life as a mom, Amelia wrote a children’s book in Spanish dedicated to her family.
Vega and Horford celebrated him finally winning an NBA Championship with Boston in 2024
The couple have five children
‘I am overcome with emotion! After two years, A Day in the Life of Pichín is finally born,’ she wrote on Instagram in 2019. ‘A book conceived with a lot of love, inspired by my first-born Ean and the tireless spirit of children.
‘The story reflects and illustrates our family and in a simple way tells some of the values that as a home we try to instill in our children.’
The family is now in California where Horford, 40, is still going strong with the Golden State Warriors and eyeing one more NBA Championship after finally winning a ring with the Celtics in 2024.
5) Coco Jones
Coco Jones, who performed at last year’s Super Bowl, is married to Donovan Mitchell
Partner: Donovan Mitchell
Instagram followers: 5 million
Singer-songwriter and actress Coco Jones is another new wife on the list after she married Donovan Mitchell on August 1.
The Grammy award winner and Cleveland Cavaliers star have had a blossoming romance since meeting at a networking event in 2023 and getting engaged in July 2025.
Jones already had a massive profile of her own after shooting to fame on the Disney Channel then seeing her music career take off along with various acting roles.
She even performed at last year’s Super Bowl, singing a stunning rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing with Mitchell supporting her from the sidelines.
She initially processed her engagement to Mitchell with a career-minded view, admitting to People in January: ‘I think about my life so much like business, and I’m like, ‘Girl, you got to stop. This is the biggest contract I’ve ever signed.’ You know what I’m saying? This is a real-life, forever commitment.
‘I talk about forever, I sing about forever, and then I’m like, ‘Oh, this really forever. OK, word up, word up.’
Mitchell and Jones have previously been pictured attending the US Open tennis together
The famous pair are a power couple and Jones supported Mitchell in last year’s playoff run
Mitchell has become a star for the Cavs, leading them to a deep playoff run last year, and Jones believes their shared ambition has been a common ground in their connection.
‘We both go really hard for the things we love, and they’re demanding careers,’ Jones said.
‘I feel like we speak a different language that makes me really feel seen. And he’s my biggest cheerleader, so I feel like I’m never able to doubt myself in his presence. It’s just not going down like that.’
While they try to keep their relationship private, Mitchell and Jones bring star power across cultural sectors of sports and music.
4) Ella Mai
Singer-songwriter Ella Mai has been very private about her relationship with Jayson Tatum
Partner: Jayson Tatum
Instagram followers: 5 million
British R&B songwriter Ella Mai and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum keep their relationship VERY private, but it is hard to deny their star power.
The Grammy winner has been dating the NBA superstar since 2019, but they never post content together and have rarely been seen out in public. However, she was seen among the Celtics celebrations after winning the championship in 2024.
A few months later, they welcomed their first child together, though they never publicly announced it at the time. She was spotted with their newborn as she supported Tatum playing for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.
‘I think it’s been a weird topic because obviously I never announced it myself,’ she said on Capital XTRA in December. ‘So, people don’t know whether or not to say it. But I’m not going to act like I don’t have a child. I have a child.
‘But motherhood honestly is incredible for me. I never really envisioned myself as a mom before. I didn’t think I was super maternal. But now I can’t even imagine my life without my son. Like, it’s been incredible.’
She later explained their very private stance during her appearance on Baby, This is Keke Palmer podcast.
Mai and Tatum have never posted pictures together but have occasionally been seen in public
Mai confirmed in an interview months later that she welcomed her first child with Tatum in 2024
‘I think it’s important to keep some stuff to yourself,’ she said. ‘I think it’s important to protect what it is that you love.
‘And I think we give so much of ourselves anyway, just in terms of us sitting down and having this conversation, you showing up to work every day, me showing up to work every day, me showing up to the studio. You give so much of yourself anyway that you should feel like I have some stuff to myself. I think that’s an important balance.’
3) Jordyn Woods
Jordyn Woods continues to live a lavish life with husband Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks
Woods grew up in the spotlight as Kylie Jenner’s childhood friend
Partner: Karl-Anthony Towns
Instagram followers: 11 million
Model, socialite and singer Jordyn Woods has added NBA WAG to her list of titles in recent months thanks to her relationship with Karl-Anthony Towns.
Woods was a prominent figure during the New York Knicks’ dramatic NBA Championship last year, supporting her boyfriend in the biggest season of his life before they got married in the offseason.
Woods has grown up in famous circles having been family friends with Will Smith then gaining prominence on Keeping Up With the Kardashians as Kylie Jenner’s childhood friend.
She has turned that profile into a wide-ranging career of business ventures and modeling.
Woods found herself at the center of an NBA WAG scandal when she was accused of being involved with Tristan Thompson during his relationship with Khloe Kardashian.
But after the storm blew over, she found love with Towns. They started dating in 2020 after being close friends for years.
Towns and Woods got engaged in Paris last year then got married this summer in the offseason
Woods and Towns, pictured at the US Open, are regulars at events together around New York
‘I think it’s kind of cool dating your best friend,’ Woods said on her Instagram series Regular-ish in September 2021. ‘We know each other. We know each other’s hearts. We know each other on good days and bad days and we’ve been through a lot of bad days together.’
Their star power and influence was on full display at their Malibu, California, wedding on August 15, which was attended by Towns’ Knicks teammates as well as Kylie Jenner and boyfriend Timothée Chalamet, Hailey and Justin Bieber, Teyana Taylor, Michael B Jordan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor.
There is uncertainty over where their future lies, however, with Towns starting the Knicks season with contract talks at a standstill.
2) Savannah James
Savannah James is married to King of the NBA LeBron James and has been called his queen
Savannah and LeBron met in high school before he was drafted straight into the NBA in 2003
Partner: LeBron James
Instagram followers: 3 million
LeBron James is still the King of the NBA, with wife Savannah his queen. The two Cleveland-area natives met at a high school football game when they attended rival schools.
She was unaware of his presence as the best basketball talent America has ever seen, and they started dating before he was drafted straight into the NBA as a teenager in 2003.
Just a year later their son, Bronny, now an NBA player himself, was born and another son, Bryce, and daughter Zhuri soon followed.
As James rose to superstar status, going through highs, lows and shifting public perception, Savannah was a constant by his side, despite admitting she finds fame ‘kind of weird’ and wanting to stay in the background.
Now 40, she has made use of their shared status, becoming a philanthropist and businesswoman who has maintained close ties to their Akron, Ohio, roots.
Savannah has been by James’s side throughout his rise to global icon
Savannah is mom to three kids – NBA player Bronny, younger brother Bryce and daughter Zhuri
‘I’m still a very private person,’ she told Cleveland Magazine. ‘But these things reflect the passion that I have as far as giving back, the philanthropic part of me. So with those things, I don’t mind stepping out.’
She has stepped more out of her comfort zone and into the limelight in recent years, appearing on magazine covers and launching the podcast Everybody’s Crazy with her longtime friend April McDaniel in 2024.
‘It’s freeing because it allows me to show a side of my personality,’ she told People. ‘We are both very private and I’ve been very private and kind of played the background this far in my husband’s career. But I am excited to venture off into new things. We’re going into new phases of our lives.’
1) Ayesha Curry
Ayesha Curry, wife to NBA superstar Steph Curry, has carved out a profile of her own
Ayesha has become known for her food and cooking content and other ventures
Partner: Steph Curry
Instagram followers: 8 million
Through Steph Curry’s ascent to be arguably the biggest NBA superstar of his generation, wife Ayesha has been by his side.
The couple met at a youth group in Charlotte as teenagers but properly connected in 2008 when Curry was playing college basketball at Davidson and traveled to Los Angeles, where Ayesha was pursuing her modeling and acting career, to attend the ESPY Awards.
After a first date on Hollywood Boulevard, the rest was history. They got married in 2011, welcomed their first daughter in 2012 then added three more kids, another daughter born in 2015 and sons born in 2018 and 2024.
The Currys, pictured at the Met Gala, are the NBA’s biggest power couple these days
They share their foundation, as well as various other business and cultural ventures
Ayesha has built up her own status as a big personality online, appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast and also appearing on Michelle Obama’s podcast alongside her husband.
She has carved out a role as a chef online with her cooking content as well as launching a successful lifestyle brand and skincare products alongside other business ventures.
While Steph Curry is nearing the end of his NBA career, Ayesha’s career is going from strength to strength.
She returned to acting in 2024 alongside her best friend, Lindsay Lohan, while the family continues to work extensively on their foundation, which aims to help improve the well-being of children.
