"I want my daughter to have the same role models": How Dwyane Wade's daughter led him to invest in the Chicago Sky and reimagine the future of the WNBA

Time of India

05-05-2025

Image viaDwyane Wade
spent 16 years building a Hall of Fame NBA career. But nearly a decade after hanging up his jersey, he's taken on a new role—one as personal as it is professional: part-owner of the
Chicago Sky
. His 2023 investment in the
WNBA
franchise wasn't about headlines or business strategy; it was about family. Specifically, his daughter.
The role models girls deserve: How Dwyane Wade's daughter sparked his Chicago Sky investment
In August 2024,
Dwyane Wade
sat down for an interview on CBS and pulled the curtain back on what led him to the Sky. It came down to this: his daughter, Zaya, deserved the same kind of heroes his son, Zaire, had growing up.
'The big part of that is that my son, Zaire, grew up, and he had a dream of being in the NBA. He had a dream of being like his favorite players,' Wade said. 'You understand the importance of role models, and so, I want my daughter to have that same feeling.'
That idea stuck with him.
Zaya
, a proud transgender teen and public advocate, didn't always have athletes to look up to who reflected her identity or the future she dreamed of. Wade wanted to change that, not just for Zaya, but for girls everywhere who needed to see what was possible.
Right now, few players represent that kind of possibility like rookie forward
Angel Reese
. She's brought her signature fire from LSU to the pros and is already turning heads with the Sky. To Wade, she's one of the bold new faces of the league, confident, authentic, and unshakably herself. Someone like Zaya and millions of girls could point to and say, 'That could be me.'
Beyond the sidelines: How Dwyane Wade is helping transform the WNBA
Wade's investment isn't a passive one. He's not just sitting courtside and cashing checks, he's leaning in, learning, and trying to figure out where he can make a real impact. On the 'Unapologetically Angel' podcast, he talked about the responsibility that comes with being a part-owner of a WNBA team. And it starts with listening.
DWade & Angel Talk Dealing With Haters, Sacrificing To Win + A Special Appearance From Gab Union
'I'm a fan of the game, I'm someone who knows the game of basketball,' he said. 'But I'm also someone who's willing to sit and learn and listen.'
It's about understanding what the WNBA needs: more visibility, more resources, more respect, and helping to make that happen. Wade's goal isn't to step in and save anything; it's to show up, do the work, and use his platform to push the women's game forward.
Wade's work with the Sky lines up with everything he and his family have been championing off the court. In recent years, he's become a prominent voice for
LGBTQ rights
, especially through Translatable, the project he launched with Zaya to support queer youth. His activism isn't performative, it's deeply personal. And investing in the Sky is part of the same mission: helping build a world where young people, especially girls and LGBTQ kids, feel seen and supported.
There's something powerful about the way all of this connects. Basketball brought Wade fame, wealth, and purpose. Now, he's using that platform to give others, including his daughter, a chance to dream just as big.
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Dwyane Wade's move into WNBA ownership isn't a career pivot — it's an evolution. He's still chasing wins, but now, they're measured in representation, opportunity, and impact. And this time, he's playing for something bigger than a championship: he's playing for his daughter, and for every kid who deserves to believe they belong. The Chicago Sky are part of a bigger vision: one where the next generation of athletes, no matter their gender or identity, can grow up with heroes who look like them. And that future feels a lot closer when someone like Wade is helping to build it.