Allie LaForce, a big name, in recent news headlines, bid goodbye to NBA All-Star festivities this weekend. This marked TNT’s final All-Star Game. Sharing a post on her official Instagram handle, the lead reporter thanked everyone for backing them all these years. “It was a fun ride, and I am grateful for the people I’ve met, and moments I’ve been a part of. All-Star Weekend over the years.”

Without any doubt, Allie, who is a Vermilion native, loves basketball as she hooped during her childhood days. However, little did she know that one day, despite being an ‘everything-basketball’ kind person, she’d fall for an MLB star!

Who is Allie LaForce’s husband, Joe Smith? How did the NBA reporter meet an MLB pro?

Super-sideline reporter Allie LaForce is married to former MLB relief pitcher Joe Smith. The couple met each other in 2011, eventually tying the knot on January 17, 2015.

Allie LaForce’s husband is an MLB icon who made his pro debut in 2007. During this phase, the MLB player played with eight teams – New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels, and Minnesota Twins, as a pitcher. In his 866 career games, Smith had a record of 55-34 with 762.1 innings pitched. But when it comes to his love for LaForce, their innings are slated to go on forever!

In 2011, Joe Smith looked at his future wife for the first time, and guess what he did?

To come into her notice, he got his teammate, Justin Masterson, to ask her questions during an interview… Despite being a reporter, Allie LaForce was confused as to why a person was so curious about her, and most importantly, wasn’t this guy married!? “I thought, What is up with this guy?”, she recalled the unusual day. Then came the real challenge.

Allie posted a bold statement on X: “Can anyone take me one-on-one in basketball?” Joe replied, “I can.” So, the future couple played in front of a Fox 8 News crew, and the footage was aired! At the time, LaForce wasn’t interested in Smith, unlike the MLB veteran.

Two reasons were behind this. One–Allie LaForce was already in a relationship at that time. Two—She also had doubts about dating an athlete considering it an unwritten breach of professional conduct.

In addition, the former pageant competitor also had a stereotype that all professional athletes were serial cheaters! That’s why when Joe Smith texted her, she ignored his messages.

But later, when Allie broke up with her former boyfriend, the two met for drinks. This time, they barely spoke to each other. But when the two were about to leave the bar, Joe escorted Allie to her ride. Recalling that moment, she said, “He walked me to my car and just said, ‘Make sure you call me when you get home so I know you’re safe.’ He was so respectful.”

This changed her mind, and destiny too reunited them when the pitcher was chosen by the team Angels. His facility, as well as LaForce’s studio, was just 8 miles away, making them believe – they were meant for each other. And in this way, their love bloomed, leading to their marriage. The couple also has a son named Jacob Michael Smith, whom they welcomed with a lot of struggles.

Why did Allie LaForce and her husband, Joe Smith, struggle to conceive?

When Allie was pregnant with the baby, the power couple had an amazing photoshoot experience. At the 20 weeks of pregnancy, LaForce gently cradled her baby as the couple posed with a smile, looking at each other. Their years of struggle and hope finally relieved them, being happily expecting parents.

Before moving forward, let us remind you that Allie LaForce and Joe Smith were on a three-year journey to conceive a child. Why?

Well, the reason behind it is genetic Huntington’s disease. Smith’s mother and grandmother both died from this disease – a cruel, fatal disorder that destroys the brain over time… The former MLB star has a 50% chance of developing it, and any children they conceived naturally would have faced the same odds. So they chose a different path – IVF with genetic testing.

This testing is actually a long, painful, uncertain process. But it was the only way to ensure their baby wouldn’t inherit the disease. Hence, they struggled. They founded HelpCureHD, a nonprofit organization helping other families do the same. Since 2015, their work has led to 17 babies born free of Huntington’s, with more on the way, while raising roughly $3 million.

IVF isn’t easy, as it seems. No one can control how many eggs will survive, or how many embryos will be healthy. But Allie LaForce never feared, as she once expressed, “When you’re in love with someone, you would do anything to make them happy. Their struggle becomes your struggle. And your battle becomes their battle.” And the power couple won the battle, as the TNT reporter addressed her excitement with, “When you finally do. You just want everybody to know.”

LaForce and Smith finally welcomed their baby son in November 2022.