Siohvaughn Funches is an American lawyer, mediator, author, and nonprofit founder, widely known as the first wife of NBA legend Dwyane Wade.
Married from 2002 to 2010, their divorce became one of the most publicly contentious in sports history, involving a lengthy custody battle over their two children and allegations that took years to resolve.
In the years since, Siohvaughn has built a new career in law and advocacy, founding A Woman’s Worth Foundation to support women navigating difficult family and legal situations, work she has said is directly shaped by her own experiences.
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Siohvaughn Funches Biography
She was born on September 6, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents, Frank and Darlene Funches, divorced when she was three years old, and she was primarily raised by her mother afterward.
Siohvaughn Funches had one sibling, a sister named Garrica LeAnna, who died while she was still a teenager. Siohvaughn attended Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois, where she met Dwyane Wade.
She later attended Marquette University in Wisconsin, the same school Wade attended while playing college basketball.
She earned a degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix in 2009, pursued a counseling certification at Capella University, and attended The John Marshall Law School, completing her legal studies around 2014.
Dwayne Wade
Siohvaughn Funches and Dwyane Wade first met in the fifth grade and began dating as teenagers, becoming a couple around the age of 15.
They stayed together through high school and college, eventually moving in together while Wade attended Marquette University.
The couple welcomed their first child, son Zaire, in 2002 and married later that same year while Wade was still in college.
Wade was selected fifth overall by the Miami Heat in the 2003 NBA Draft, launching a professional career that would make him one of basketball’s biggest stars.
The couple welcomed their second child, Zaya, in 2007. That same year, Wade filed for divorce, beginning an unusually long and public legal battle that lasted six years before a final settlement was reached in 2013.
The Divorce and Custody Battle
The divorce between Siohvaughn and Dwyane Wade became highly contentious and drew significant media attention.
During the proceedings, Siohvaughn publicly alleged that Wade had been unfaithful during their marriage and that he had been physically and verbally abusive toward her. Wade denied those allegations.
Neither claim was resolved through a public criminal proceeding, and the specifics of what occurred during the marriage remain disputed between the two parties.
Siohvaughn also said publicly during the legal battle that she had been left with limited financial resources.
At one point, she protested outside a Chicago courthouse holding a sign describing her situation.
Wade’s attorneys disputed that characterization, stating that Wade had continued providing monthly financial support, along with mortgage payments, insurance, and legal fees, throughout the proceedings.
In 2011, Wade was awarded sole physical and legal custody of Zaire and Zaya. In 2013, the former couple reached a final financial settlement that included a $5 million lump sum payment to Siohvaughn, along with the marital home in Chicago, bringing the six year legal battle to an end.
In 2020, tension between Siohvaughn and Dwyane resurfaced publicly, this time over their daughter Zaya, who had come out as transgender at age 12 and was publicly supported by her father and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union.
When Zaya sought to legally change her name and gender marker, Siohvaughn filed a court petition opposing the request and raised concerns in public statements about the financial and commercial implications of the decision.
Wade responded publicly on social media, denying his ex wife’s characterization of the situation and expressing frustration that the dispute was playing out publicly.
Both parties’ legal positions and the ultimate resolution of the matter have not been comprehensively documented in public reporting, and this account reflects only what has been publicly confirmed.
Children
Today Zaire Wade, born in 2002, is now an adult in his mid twenties and has pursued a basketball career that has included time playing professionally overseas.
Zaya Wade, born in 2007, is now approaching adulthood and has built a public platform as an advocate and model, including walking the runway for Miu Miu in 2023. She is currently attending college.
Both children were raised primarily by their father following the custody ruling. Specific details about Siohvaughn’s current relationship with her now adult children have not been extensively documented in public reporting.
Career
Following the resolution of her divorce, Siohvaughn Funches rebuilt her professional life around law, mediation, and advocacy.
She founded A Woman’s Worth Foundation in 2016, an organization focused on supporting women, including survivors of domestic violence, through mentorship, legal guidance, and community resources.
She also runs The Mediation Matters Firm, applying her legal training to help families resolve disputes outside of court.
Siohvaughn has written two books, The True Story for God’s Glory: The Life of Siohvaughn Funches and You Gotta Let God Finish, both centered on her personal journey and faith.
She continues to work as a public speaker, sharing her experiences with audiences navigating similarly difficult family and legal circumstances.
