These athlete couples are scoring big in the relationship game.
Teammates-to-lovers, superstar pairings, under-the-radar relationships — the world of professional sports and athlete couples have all kinds of love tropes.
As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’re taking a closer look at some of the sports world’s most famous athlete couples, from tennis to basketball to fencing and more.
Here are seven pairs of athletes who are dating or are married to fellow athletes!
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf
Two sports legends falling in love with one another — it sounds like something straight out of a romance novel, but it’s real life for tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.
Agassi (who won eight Grand Slam titles in his career) and Graf (who won 22 Grand Slam titles in hers) got married in 2001 and have been together ever since. They are now parents to two kids in their twenties, and among their favorite hobbies to do as a family, unsurprisingly, is to play racket sports.
Though both athletes retired from playing professionally a long time ago, the pair still channel their competitive edge whenever they can. In fact, in an interview from 2024, the couple revealed that they won a pickleball tournament in Florida, where they defeated fellow tennis legends John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova.
As far as athlete couples go, these two are definitely among the most iconic.
Candace Parker and Anna Petrakova
If you’re a fan of the teammates-to-lovers trope, Candace Parker and Anna Petrakova’s love story check those boxes for sure.
Parker, considered one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, first met Petrakova when they played as teammates for the Russian basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg. While competing together, they became close friends before they became romantically involved — which all happened under the radar.
The basketball duo apparently got married in secret in 2019 and kept their relationship under wraps, before they finally hard-launched their marriage when they announced that they were expecting their first child in 2021.
Now, they are parents of three kids, including Parker’s first daughter whom she had with her ex-husband and former NBA player Shelden Williams.
Lee Kiefer and Gerek Meinhardt
You might remember Lee Kiefer from the 2024 Paris Olympics when the Filipino-American made headlines by becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the women’s individual foil event in fencing and making history as the second American to win an individual fencing gold.
But did you know that she is married to a fellow Olympian fencer?
Gerek Meindhardt, who also represents the United States in fencing and has won two Olympic bronze medals, started dating Kiefer in 2012, during the London Games. And while they both thought they would have hung up their blades years ago, they ended up supporting each other through multiple Olympic runs — Kiefer has competed in four and Meindhardt, five.
The pair got married in 2019 and continue to support each other in both their fencing careers and their journeys as medical students at the University of Kentucky.
Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe
Put two trailblazing female athletes together and you have Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe.
WNBA legend Sue Bird and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe met when they were both representing the United States in the 2016 Rio Olympics — a fitting place for a couple who has seven Olympic medals between the two of them.
The two star athletes got engaged in 2020, and since then, they have been spotted supporting each other in the many milestones of their careers, like in Sue Bird’s jersey retirement ceremony in 2023.
But apart from being sports legends who paved the way for female basketball and football players, they also started their own production company together called ‘A Touch More,’ dedicated to sharing the stories of individuals who, like them, inspire others.
Lauren Cheney and Jrue Holiday
There are even more basketball-and-football athlete couples: Jrue Holiday and Lauren Cheney are one of them.
NBA Champion Jrue Holiday and two-time football Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Lauren Cheney have been together since their days as college athletes. They met when they were students at UCLA in 2008 and, unsurprisingly, were top athletes at their University.
The pair started out as friends but eventually started dating until they got married in 2013 and are parents to their son, Hendrix, who turns five this year.
Ever since they began their relationship, they have supported each other through the highs and lows of their careers and personal lives. One moment that stands out was when Lauren was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was pregnant with their son in 2016. At the time, Jrue took a leave of absence from the NBA to support her completely, and thankfully, the benign tumor was removed later that year.
The couple still continue to support one another both on and off the court. Though Lauren retired from her football career, Jrue continues to chase success with the Boston Celtics.
Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield
Who could possibly keep up with Noah Lyles, a man dubbed the “fastest man in the world”? Well, it turns out, a fellow track and field star.
Noah Lyles, a six-time World Champion and an Olympic gold medalist in track and field, first met his now-fiancée, Junelle Bromfield, in 2017 through social media. Though their first date didn’t turn out too well — they stayed friends for five years before trying again — the two have been together since 2022 and are now engaged!
Junelle, a successful Jamaican track and field athlete herself, trained for the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Lyles while living together in Florida. Both quick-footed sprinters, they have expressed that they keep their careers and personal lives separate, though it does help to have someone who understands the ins and outs of being a top athlete.
Lyles proposed to Junelle in 2024 and are now planning their wedding.
Mirka Federer and Roger Federer
Being married to one of the GOATs in men’s tennis with 20 Grand Slam titles to his name, some often forget that Mirka Federer, Roger Federer’s wife, was also a professional tennis player back in the day, making them one of the most well-known athlete couples.
The Federers met a long time ago, even before Roger became the legend he is today, back in the 2000 Olympics when they were both representing Switzerland. They got married nine years later, and are now parents to two sets of twins.
Mirka unfortunately had to retire from playing professionally back in 2002 after a recurring foot injury — but that never stopped her from supporting Roger as he soared to new heights in the sport. Throughout their long relationship, Mirka has always been present at Roger’s games, up until he retired in 2022.
Roger credits a large portion of his success to the support of Mirka.
Banner images from AFP, Megan Rapinoe on Instagram, and Lee Kiefer on Instagram.