Kelsey Plum, a prominent figure in the WNBA, has emphatically embraced a new chapter in her life and illustrious basketball career since her trade to the Los Angeles Sparks. This pivotal move from the Las Vegas Aces, where she secured back-to-back championships, marked not only a significant professional transition but also a profound personal reset for the athlete.
The shift to the City of Angels has allowed Kelsey Plum to openly address deeply personal aspects of her life, including her highly publicized athlete divorce from former NFL tight end Darren Waller. In a candid moment at the 2025 WNBA All-Star weekend, Plum humorously admitted her ongoing struggle to remove a tattoo dedicated to Waller, bluntly stating, “Girl, yeah, I got married and divorced. [I’m] Still trying to get it removed.”
Waller, in turn, offered his own reflections on the marital dissolution, emphasizing a journey of self-honesty and introspection. During an interview on Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM, he spoke about the necessity of confronting personal patterns and making authentic decisions for his own well-being, acknowledging a mutual decision to move forward without hostility, highlighting the complexities of an athlete divorce.
Plum’s personal revelation converged with her public activism, as she recently joined fellow WNBA players in advocating for fairer compensation, sporting ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’ t-shirts. This collective action underscores the disparity in revenue sharing within professional sports, drawing a stark contrast between the WNBA and the NFL, and highlighting her commitment beyond the court.
On the court, Kelsey Plum has quickly cemented her role as a veteran leader for the Los Angeles Sparks. Her performance has been exceptional, leading the team in both points scored (20.3 per game) and assists (6.0 per game), demonstrating her critical impact as a core player for the Los Angeles Sparks in her new team environment.
Plum’s adaptability has been a hallmark of her tenure with the Sparks, as she detailed her evolving role from scoring to defensive assignments, and facilitating plays for teammates. Her insights emphasize the dynamic nature of professional basketball, stating, “my role is gonna change, not just in every game, but in every quarter, every time out, and just being okay with that and being super present.”
Meanwhile, Darren Waller, a former Pro Bowler in the NFL, made headlines of his own by announcing his retirement from professional football at just 31. After a single season with the New York Giants, where his production saw a dip, Waller’s decision marked an abrupt end to a promising career, adding another layer to the narrative surrounding their intertwined lives.
Waller’s retirement has significant implications for teams like the Miami Dolphins, who are now facing a remarkably slim list of viable tight end targets in the NFL market. This development further highlights the personal and professional journeys both Kelsey Plum and Darren Waller have navigated, publicly and privately, since the dissolution of their high-profile athlete divorce.
