Zaya Wade has been legally recognized as Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade for over a year now and continues to live her life authentically with the support of her father and stepmother.
13-time NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade is a former professional basketball player, widely regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards.
Born on January 17, 1982, he played the majority of his 16-year career with the Miami Heat.
He retired in 2019, and since then, he has remained active in sports and business.
Despite being a well-known player, he was involved in multiple legal battles with his ex-wife, regarding divorce and their daughter Zaya’s gender identity.
Dwyane Wade And His Ex-Wife, Siohvaughn Funches, Divorced After Five Years Of Marriage!
Dwyane Wade’s ex-wife is Siohvaughn Funches, a lawyer, author, and entrepreneur. They were high school sweethearts and got married in 2002.
However, their marriage began to deteriorate due to allegations of infidelity, verbal and physical abuse, and the pressures of Wade’s rising fame in the NBA.
Funches accused Wade of being a serial cheater, and their relationship became increasingly strained.
The divorce proceedings, which started in 2007, lasted several years and involved multiple legal disputes, including a custody battle over their children.
Wade ultimately won full custody in 2011, and Funches later reached a financial settlement with him.
The divorce was described as “ugly and nasty“, with Wade stating that Funches had 13 different lawyers, which prolonged the process.
Both of them have moved on since their divorce. Dwyane Wade is married to Gabrielle Union, an actress and activist.
They tied the knot in 2014 and have a daughter together, Kaavia James.
Wade has been focusing on his family and business ventures in recent days.
Recently, he has shared a fun father-daughter outing with his youngest child, Kaavia, where they went to McDonald’s in their pajamas.
Clad in PJs, Dwyane Wade and daughter Kaavia pick Sausage and Egg McMuffin as their favorite Mcdonald's order! pic.twitter.com/Pd0eluJWKq
— Top NBA Fan (@TopNBAFanToday) May 10, 2025
On the other hand, Funches has largely stayed out of the public eye regarding her personal relationships.
Also, some reports suggest that Funches once claimed that she was homeless during a public protest outside a Chicago courthouse.
However, Wade responded by stating that he was paying her $25,000 per month and had provided her with a $5 million settlement, a Chicago mansion, four cars, and financial support for her expenses.
Funches Involved In Legal Disputes With Wade Regarding Their Daughter Zaya’s Gender Identity!
The legal dispute between Dwyane Wade and his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches, regarding their daughter Zaya Wade‘s gender identity and name change has been resolved.
Zaya Wade, whose previous name was Zion Malachi Airamis Wade and was assigned male at birth, wanted to change her gender and name.
Born on May 29, 2007, she came out as transgender in 2019 at the age of 12, and since then, she has identified as Zaya.
In August 2022, her father, Dwyane Wade, filed a petition to legally change her name and gender, stating that it was in her best interest and aligned with her identity.
However, Zaya’s mother, Funches, had filed an objection, arguing that Zaya should wait until adulthood before making permanent changes and alleging that Wade was pushing for the change for financial gain.
Wade responded by calling the allegations “libelous” and “nonsensical.” Further, he emphasized that the name change would help Zaya navigate everyday situations more easily.
Ultimately, the court ruled in favor of Wade, granting Zaya’s legal name change in February 2023.
Wade and his current wife, Gabrielle Union, have been vocal supporters of Zaya, advocating for her right to live authentically.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Wade remains active in sports ownership, co-owning the Utah Jazz and the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.
- He also owned an online community supporting transgender youth, Translatable, particularly supporting his transgender daughter, Zaya.
