Aerial Powers has been on and off the court in recent months, especially before she joined the Atlanta Dream this year. In a season fraught with friction between Powers and the Minnesota Lynx, the WNBA player was barely on the court, averaging just 9.6 minutes per game. There had been rumors of a feud, but while nothing else was confirmed, Powers did have one person standing by her side – Azure Rae. But perhaps not anymore.

The couple had reportedly been going out since 2020, and even had a joint YouTube channel that saw a more personal side of them. But in her latest vlog on Youtube, Azure Rae dives deep into what’s been going on in her life lately with the apt title, “LIFE UPDATE | THE END OF THE ERA + ENDING A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP | THE TRUTH”. She begins the video by jumping straight to the point – Rae and Powers have split up.

“Aerial and I are not together anymore, we have went our separate ways,” Rae says. “I generally feel that it is for the best, I feel like our relationship became very toxic.” Rae goes on to describe how she didn’t feel seen or heard the way a relationship should make her feel valued and respected. Referencing some infidelity she went through around her previous two birthdays, Rae goes on to describe how a lightbulb moment came this June.

Still trying to hold on to her relationship, Rae says, June confirmed that the relationship could not be saved. “We went from…working on our relationship to planning a trip to you’re not sexually attracted to me anymore to you’re not it. Everything just to like belittle me as a person.”

When fans wondered what was going on in the franchise last year, Rae stepped in to add fuel to the fire. When one X user asked why Powers was on Twitch and everywhere else but the court, her then-girlfriend replied, “Because this toxic team environment is full of haters. but it’s okay the bag is healthy”. It seems now that the toxicity from the court has seeped into the life outside the lines as well.

Powers has not spoken about the situation yet. The former couple used to be active on social media with pictures together, but it’s been months since they’ve been spotted together. While the 2019 World Champion is understandably focusing on her WNBA career as playoffs inch closer, Rae’s latest vlog has shed light on some behind-the-scenes information.

While today we see WNBA as one of the most inclusive leagues in all of sports, Powers still had trouble coming to her team as well as the world once upon a time. But her former teammates helped her lower her guard!

When the well-meaning Washington Mystics helped Aerial Powers be bold

Back in 2018, when the 2016 fifth-overall pick was newly traded to the Mystics, the Washington team had a game with Powers’ former team, the Dallas Wings. The WNBA star’s then-girlfriend, Brittni Taylor came to cheer for her and got noticed by the Mystics players. They even spotted Powers and Taylor kissing behind the team bus, and so the beans were spilled!

From meeting Taylor on FaceTime to introducing themselves, to helping their team member be more comfortable with what she wanted to and did not want to share, the Mystics were there for it all. “Me and Elena, we were talking to her like, ‘If that’s what you want to do — if you’re happy, we’re happy,’” Tianna Hawkins told The Athletic in 2019. “If you’re in love, if that’s your boo, then that’s your boo! Be happy!”

Slowly but surely, the Detroit native opened up on social media, finding her strength and self-confidence in the action. “Now I feel way more comfortable in my own skin and being who I am,” she said. In 2024, her personal life might be a tad different from what it was five years ago, but one thing is certain – Aerial Powers will always only share what she’s comfortable about, without feeling the need or pressure to explain herself.

Stay tuned for more such updates and 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.