After retiring from the NBA, Dwyane Wade has been spending more time with his family. The 3-time NBA champion has been married two times & is the father of four, two sons & two daughters.
Dwyane Wade’s daughter Zaya (eldest) came out as transgender in 2020; earlier, she went by Zion.
Zaya actively advocates for the LGBTQ+ teen community & has been a role model for many.
The retired basketball player’s other daughter, Kaavia, was born via surrogacy.
Even though he keeps himself occupied in his post-season career as TV host of The Cube, Wade always has time for his family.
Not to mention, Dwyane is equally in love with his two sons: Xavier & Zaire; they share a basketball passion like their father.
Before going any further, let’s examine some facts about Dwyane Wade’s daughters and sons.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Zion Malachi Airamis Wade (Second Child) |
| Known As | Zaya Wade |
| Date of Birth | May 29, 2007 |
| Age | 17 Years Old |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Hair Color | Bright Blue |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Education | Sierra Canyon School |
| Height | 5’5″/ 1.65 m/ 165 cm |
| Weight | 54 Kg/ 114 lb. |
| Father’s Name | Dwyane Wade |
| Mother’s Name |
|
| Siblings |
|
| Last Update | September 2024 |
| Full Name | Kaavia James Union Wade (Fourth Child) |
| Date Of Birth | November 7, 2018 |
| Age | 5 Years Old |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Father’s Name | Dwyane Wade |
| Mother’s Name | Gabrielle Union |
| Siblings |
|
| Last Update | September 2024 |
Parents
Dwyane Wade, Former Basketball Player
Wade was born in Chicago, Illinois, to JoLinda Wade and Dwyane Wade Sr. on January 17, 1982.
Dwyane Wade has two stepsiblings and one older brother, Tragil Wade, whom he credits for paving him in the right direction.
As a kid, the legendary basketball player was difficult and troubled because his parents divorced, and his mother was given custody of him and his sister.
He was the 5th overall pick by the Miami Heat in the 2003 NBA Draft and spent most of his career with them.
Wade’s potential was instantly visible to the Miami Heat, who were able to observe his game when he was on the court.
He averaged 16.2 points, four rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 46.5 percent shooting in his rookie year in Heat.
Gabrielle Union, Present Wife
Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade’s wife, has her own identity and does not rely on Wade’s stardom for success. She is a well-known American actress who has been in numerous blockbuster films.
Gabrielle and Dwyane Wade have been married for eight years and have been together for nearly a decade. They’ve learned a lot about how to live and love together during their romantic adventure.
Gabrielle Union is a Haitian-American actress born on October 29, 1972. In the 1990s, she began her career. She then made her debut appearance on television sitcoms.
She was cast in the teen comedy films “She’s All That” and “10 Things I Hate About You (1999).” On the other hand, Union’s career took off once she appeared in the 2000 film Bring It On.
Union joined Neutrogena in 2004 and now serves as a spokesperson for the firm. She also became the first creative advisor and celebrity ambassador for SensatioNail, a nail polish firm.
Also, she established Love & Blessings, a clothing brand for plus-size women, in 2010. She launched the business as a result of her full-figured sister’s inspiration.
In March 2014, she also released her first wine, Vanilla Puddin’. Aside from being an actress, she is an entrepreneur too, which makes her a versatile individual with business skills.
In 2023, Gabrielle is doing a voiceover for Talia in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, an American animated series.
Dwyane Wade’s Eldest Daughter Zaya Wade
Dwyane Wade’s older daughter is Zaya Wade (Zion Malachi Airamis Wade). Gabrielle Union is her stepmother, whereas Siohvaughn Funches is her biological mother.
Zaya publicly revealed at age 12 that she was a trans girl, something her father believes he had known since she was three years old.
In February 2020, Zaya and her family openly revealed her gender to the world to allow her to live as her natural self.
According to Dazed, Zaya appeared on the red carpet with Dwyane and Union the following month. She has since identified herself as a vital part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Early Life & Parents
Dwyane Wade and Siohvaughn Funches gave birth to Zaya Wade on May 29, 2007. After his divorce from Funches, the basketball player acquired full custody of Zaya and her elder brother, Zaire Blessing Dwyane.
Gabrielle Union is Zaya’s stepmother, who married Dwyane Wade in 2014. In 2018, Union and Dwyane had Kaavia James, Zaya’s younger sister, via surrogate. Zaya’s younger brother, Xavier Zechariah is Dwyane’s son from a previous relationship.
Dwyane is also the guardian of Zaya’s cousin, Dahveon Morris. Zaya inspired Dwyane and Union to learn more about the transgender community to be supportive.
Coming Out As A Trans
Zaya came out to her family when she was eight years old but not publicly. Her family hesitated to tell this since they feared an adverse reaction.
“It gets unpleasant when you’re in the public eye,” Dwyane said in an interview. “When my child came out, she was eight years old. She wasn’t prepared to hear what the rest of the world had to say.”
Zaya’s understanding of herself improved as she grew older, and at 12, she declared that she wanted to be known as Zaya and use her/her pronouns instead of Zion.
In December 2019, Dwyane used she/her pronouns for the first time when discussing Zaya. On February 11, 2020, he announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that Zaya was a girl who used she/her pronouns and did not rectify herself as a boy.
Union posted a video on Twitter after Dwyane’s appearance on Ellen, with the introduction, “Zaya is someone you should get to know. We are proud of her because she is caring, loving, and incredibly intelligent.”
Zaya stated her side on the video “Be true to yourself – what’s the point of being on this Earth if you’re going to try and be someone, you’re not?”
“With all of the love comes all of the hate,” Union said of the reaction to Zaya’s transgender announcement.
Life As A Public Figure
Zaya and Union attended Miami Pride in 2019. In March 2020, she participated in the Truth Awards in Los Angeles, which honors achievements in the Black LGBTQ+ community.
The 12-year-old walked the red carpet alongside Dwyane Wade and Union, wearing custom-made matching suits.
Zaya said “I believe it feels fantastic,”when asked how she felt about becoming an inspiration to others.
She further articulated how discovered she feels, and re-introduced herself as Zaya Wade. Her dad, Dwyane, posted on Instagram about the experience.
“Last night was Zaya’s first red carpet appearance, and we couldn’t be more proud of how she handled the questions.”
Zaya became an inspiration for the LGBTQ+ community and beyond after coming out.
As a Black person who has fought to change the world, she was named one of The Advocate’s Women of the Year and one of The Root’s Young Futurists in 2020.
With grace, in March 2021, Zaya interviewed former First Lady Michelle Obama about the publication of a children’s edition of Obama’s book Becoming.
Net Worth & Social Media Presence
Zaya made a name for herself as an impactful LGBTQ+ personality.
She has an estimated net worth of around $500k million as of 2024.
As a public figure, she is quite active on social media. She has about 670k followers on Instagram.
She mostly posts about the contribution of the LGBTQ+ community and her modeling projects.
While Dwyane’s youngest daughter Kaavia is too young to have a net worth and is enjoying her childhood.
Kaavia James Union Wade (Youngest Daughter)
Kaavia James Union Wade is the daughter of Dwyane Wade, a professional basketball player, and Gabrielle Union, an actress.
She has always been in the spotlight as the daughter of well-known media figures from birth. Many peoples are interested in her parents’ lives, which instantly brings attention to her.
Being in the spotlight so soon after birth may put a hard time on the kid, as they must deal with various issues, from cameras hunting for them to becoming used to criticism and differing viewpoints.
Kaavia was born in Miami, Florida, the United States, on November 7, 2018.
She celebrates her birthday with her parents and siblings every year on November 7, 2018, and is 5 years old.
Her three brothers and sister are Zaire Wade, Zaya Wade, and Xavier Wade. She is the youngest of her siblings as well.
Including a cousin, Dahveon, whose official guardian is her father, Dwyane.
Her parents recently released a book called Welcome to the Party with her picture on the back cover.
She had her verified Instagram handle at a young age, with 1.9 million followers. Her account posts are mostly about herself and her daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Zaya Dwyane Wade's biological daughter?
Dwyane and Siovaughn Funches are Zaya Wade's biological parents; they got divorced later.
What are Zaya Wade's pronouns?
In December 2019, Dwyane used she/her pronouns for the first time when discussing Zaya. On February 11, 2020, he announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that Zaya was a girl who uses she/her pronouns.
