Dwyane Wade‘s second attempt at married life is going strong. Yes, the former Miami Heat star has been married before he tied the knot with Gabrielle Union-Wade. Even if some of you may not know about his first marriage, most fans would know about his son Zaire and daughter Zaya.

The 3x NBA champ brought these two children into this world with his first wife. Completing a decade of togetherness with Gab in 2024, Wade was with his first partner for a significant time as well. So, let’s have a closer look at how the 13x All-Star has navigated the path of matrimonial life.

A closer look at Dwyane Wade’s first marriage

The first time the former NBA star stepped into married life was with Siohvaughn Funches. For those who are not familiar with the name, she has been a successful lawyer, author, and entrepreneur. But how did Funches first come in contact with the Heat icon, you ask? Well, the two had known each other since their school days at Harold L. Richards High School.

Being one year junior to Funches, Wade first met her when he was just 9 years old while she was in fifth grade. However, as per the reports, the two did not start dating each other until they were 16. Yes, Wade and Funches were high school sweethearts and stayed together even when The Flash reached Marquette. But, little did they know that they would be welcoming their first child at the young age of 20.

Following this, it was only a matter of months before the couple tied the knot with each other. It is worth mentioning that The Flash was still in the final year of college when he got married. But then what was it that resulted in the two separating from each other? Well, that did not happen until Wade made a name for himself in the league and also welcomed his second child with Funches.

It was only five years after their marriage and the birth of their second child, Zaya, that things went south between the couple. As per the reports, it was Wade himself who filed for the divorce in 2007. Some may wonder how a couple split up after surviving through the initial rough phase and early pregnancy.

Well, as per what D-Wade said during the time of divorce, it was this period itself. The Flash had stated that he and Funches had been together since they were 16, but they had not been able to handle the growing differences. And thus, the divorce, which reportedly took 6 years to be finalized.

Wade gives marriage a second chance with Gabrielle

Most fans of the couple would by now know that the two met for the first time in 2007 at a Super Bowl party. However, it was not as if the Heat icon was able to spread his charm in the first interaction itself. In fact, if anything, the first interaction between the two was a letdown, as per Gab. “When I met Dwyane, his resume looked like crap — athlete, going through a divorce, nine years younger than me. None of that screamed, ‘Let’s have a lasting relationship,'” she once said, via Glamour.

Seemingly, it was only destiny that Union herself went through a terrible breakup. And she decided to give the Heat icon a chance, but the two did not start dating until 2009, as per reports. But once they did, the couple did not keep their relationship a secret for long. In fact, Dwyane Wade and Gab made their first public appearance in 2010 at the Summer Groove Benefit Dinner in Hollywood.

Just a few days later, the two sharing some affectionate moments at an All-Star game let the NBA fans be sure of D-Wade’s new love interest. And it was all going well until the couple had a brief split in around 2013. However, the couple has never been the one to shy away from addressing any issues they have faced.

“When Dwyane and I broke up briefly in 2013, it was because of distance and scheduling. I finished filming [Being Mary Jane], then I flew to Vegas right away to start shooting Think Like a Man Too. I couldn’t take time off, and I missed some quality togetherness we desperately needed … Moving forward, I decided my work schedule has to make sense for our family,” Gab said, as per People. 

It’s worth mentioning during the time Wade was separated from Union, he fathered a child with Basketball Wives star Aja Metoyerin. But once Gab made up her mind to make the 3x NBA champ the one, she held his hand despite his third child with a second woman. Subsequently, the couple announced their engagement in 2013, and eventually tied the knot on August 30, 2014.

Now many would think that it has all been a happy and buttery smooth ride since then. While the two have always stood by each other’s side, they have faced their fair share of challenges. Tying the knot in 2014, the couple since then have faced the infertility issue, bringing a daughter into this world through surrogacy and even rumors of divorce in 2023. But, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union-Wade survived it all, completing 10 years of marriage in 2024.

Stay tuned for more such updates. Further, join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.