Dwyane Wade, a basketball legend, says he’s always been a fan of the WNBA, but he also thanks his family with helping him become an investor.
His 5-year-old daughter, Kaavia, whom he has with actor Gabrielle Union, had the most influence on his decision to become a part owner of the Chicago Sky in 2023.
“A big part of that is that my son, Zaire, grew up and dreamed of playing in the NBA,” Wade added. “He wanted to be like his favourite athletes. You realise the value of role models, and I want my kid to have the same sense.”
Angel Reese, a rookie star forward for the Chicago Sky, is an emerging WNBA role model.
“She owns it. She accepts who she is. She aspires to be a wonderful teammate. And so, when we do chat, it’s about giving her the courage to keep being herself.”
Wade, who is now a coach to participants in the game, believes Reese contributed to the rise of women’s sports.
“The women showed up when the lights were the brightest and that started back last year when Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark had that national championship moment,” Wade told the crowd. “It’s similar to anything we want to do in life. You work and simply prepare for your moment. “You never know when it will come.”
Aside from basketball, the NBA icon is influencing change through his daughter Zaya, who is transgender and an LGBTQ advocate. The father-daughter team founded “Translatable Project,” an online resource for the young LGBTQ population and their families.
Wade stated that Zaya has been his biggest influence and best educator.
“She wants to have a genuine influence. When I asked Zaya, ‘OK, what does that look like for you?’ She wanted what she didn’t have, which is plainly resources that we all require.”
So, Wade explained, they contacted the Human Rights Campaign to “help us make an impact.”
When it comes to the future of women’s basketball, Wade expressed hope for equality.
“I want, you know, young girls, grow up and know that, you know, this league is a league that can do the same thing for them that, like, it did for our family,” according to him. “It can change your life.”
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