LeBron James and his son Bronny made NBA history this season by becoming the first father-son duo to play together for the Los Angeles Lakers. While Dwyane Wade may not have had the chance to replicate that on the basketball court because of his retirement, he took inspiration from their bond and teamed up with his daughter, Zaya, but not for hoops. Instead, the father-daughter duo hit a dazzling and unexpected “court”: the fashion world.

Dwyane Wade shared photos of himself and Zaya on his Instagram story, and they were nothing short of stunning. Both sported matching peach hoodies in one, while Zaya stole the show in a stylish black dress. Capturing the moment, Wade wrote, “My child is beautiful @zayawade” and added another heartfelt caption: “Beauty is her name.” The two were attending a glamorous Revolve event, effortlessly blending style and love.

Over the years, D-Wade has sealed his status as the ultimate dad. His unwavering support for his children has earned him admiration, especially for how he’s supported Zaya, who came out as transgender in 2020 at just 12 years old. From day one, her family—including her mom, Gabrielle Union—has stood by her side. But Wade? He’s been her loudest and proudest cheerleader.

Like her dad, Zaya’s got some serious talent. But while D-Wade dominated on the court, Zaya chose to shine on the runway. A rising star in fashion, she’s been featured in campaigns for Miu Miu and made waves at fashion weeks. She’s carving out her space in the industry and using her platform to advocate for transgender rights. And through it all, her dad has been her biggest fan, offering encouragement from the front row.

For Zaya, Wade isn’t just her dad—he’s her hero. She’s often called him her inspiration, praising his strength and advocacy. However, there was a time when D-Wade was “forced” to give up on LeBron James-Carmelo Anthony dream as he lost hope on Zaya’s hooping career.

D-Wade altered his dream for Zaya

Last year, on Club Shay Shay podcast, Dwyane Wade opened up to Shannon Sharpe about a dream he once shared with his NBA brothers. He envisioned their kids—Zaya, LeBron’s son Bryce, and Carmelo Anthony’s son Kiyan—dominating basketball courts together, continuing the legacies of their iconic fathers. “We on!” Wade recalled saying. “Boy, we gonna have three babies hooping together!”

But everything changed when Zaya came out as transgender at the age of 12. Wade had to face the reality that the vision he’d crafted for his child’s future wasn’t hers. He told Sharpe, “See what happens when you start making plans for other people’s lives?”

Even with this shift, Wade realized an important truth: Zaya’s life is hers to define. “You couldn’t tell me that we wouldn’t be on the circuit right now, baby!” he joked. But instead of courts, Zaya’s path led her to runways and advocacy—a future Wade couldn’t have planned but fully embraced.

And to him, Zaya remains exactly who she’s always been. “A lot of people talk about Zaya’s transition,” Wade said, “but to me, Zaya hasn’t transitioned into anything. She’s just Zaya, growing into a young adult.”