Darren Waller and Kelsey Plum, NFL and WNBA stars, divorced after 13 months of marriage, citing career pressures and long-distance challenges
NFL tight end Darren Waller and WNBA star Kelsey Plum officially divorced on 23 April 2024, ending their 13-month marriage.
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The couple, once celebrated as a “Vegas power couple,” tied the knot on 4 March 2023 in a private ceremony in Las Vegas.
The marriage was quickly tested when Waller, then of the Las Vegas Raiders, was traded to the New York Giants just 10 days after the wedding.
The transfer forced the newlyweds into a long-distance relationship, straining their union despite frequent video calls and travel.
Waller and Plum’s romance began around 2021, initially kept private, with fans first noticing the pair at Las Vegas Aces games and other public events throughout 2022.
Their wedding plans were inadvertently revealed by Raiders coach Josh McDaniels during a press conference, frustrating Waller, who had sought a quiet ceremony.
In a social media post shortly after the wedding, Plum shared her first kiss with Waller, describing the moment simply: “Him 🖤 3.4.23.”
Waller later admitted that the wedding had been somewhat spontaneous, even surprising his own team.
Despite efforts to manage the distance, the physical separation and professional pressures ultimately proved too challenging. Plum shared her heartbreak on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “I am devastated. I walked through fire for that man, but now I see it’s time to go.”
Following the split, Waller briefly retired from the NFL before returning in 2025 with the Miami Dolphins. In May 2024, he released a music video titled Who Knew (Her Perspective), claiming the project was an exercise in growth and empathy, written from Plum’s perspective to process the heartbreak.
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Kelsey Plum currently plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, having previously spent eight seasons with the Las Vegas Aces, where she earned multiple All-Star nods and an All-Star Game MVP award. She also secured Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
