When the Connecticut Sun clashed with the Indiana Fever on Thursday, it wasn’t just about the players. While both teams competed against each other with the aim of complete domination, what was unique was that a couple was also on opposing ends. The Indiana Fever’s Karima Christmas-Kelly and the Sun’s Austin Kelly tried to help their team defeat the other.

Though fans expect that this might have given birth to issues between the two, one would be surprised to know that there was no love lost especially since the duo share quite a strong bond. And this can be traced back to their early days when both fell in love with each other, which makes for quite an interesting story.

Karima Christmas-Kelly commits to Austin Kelly

The two first met when they were in Duke in 2007. Karima as per her admission had come from Houston and she was trying to adjust to the campus. However, Austin who plied his trade as a footballer in the same university fell in love. And as they say, in love, expect the unexpected. Initially, Kelly didn’t want to take things ahead with Austin, but had one hell of a time when they started sharing a study hall and Austin tried his best to connect with Karima through his efforts.

Austin revealed, as per Indystar, in 2023 that his efforts, in the beginning, went unacknowledged by Karima, who would usually brush things off. But, it was his persistence that paid off in the long run. As the summer went ahead, Karima “started to get more comfortable, and started to talk a little bit more.”

The two then started dating in late summer, and since then they have been inseparable. Though, there have been times when the duo are busy in their professional lives and do not get much time together, nonetheless, the two never fail to connect whenever they find the time.

A happy family

The duo have been together for 17 years and also have a son named Zayn who was born in 2023. In May this year, Karima told IndyStar that she was excited to celebrate Mother’s Day and couldn’t believe that she was living such an exhilarating journey. Plus, her child brought with him a great share of luck for the couple.

After last playing a game in the WNBA in 2020, Karima was looking to transition to the other side of basketball. Though she was an assistant with UT Arlington, her attempts to get to a much coveted program did not yield her much success. But after she got pregnant with Zayn, the Christie Sides-coached Fever contacted her to take the role of an assistant coach in the W. And from then on, the couple knew how lucky their child was for them.

As a matter of coincidence, even her husband Austin got an offer from the Connecticut Sun. Austin used to be a practice player during the time Karima played in the WNBA. While helping out his wife’s team, Austin also learned how to scout WNBA teams apart from making connections with the coaching staff. And then his unborn child bore him luck.

While the WNBA teams continue to battle out this season, Austin and Karima are living examples of how far love can take you. And what it takes to maintain peace and harmony despite being on the opposite sides.

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.