Gabrielle Union offered a heartfelt glimpse into her home life this week while celebrating a major milestone for her husband, former NBA star Dwyane Wade. The actress marked the occasion by reflecting on their relationship and the years they have spent building a blended family together.
On January 17, Union shared a video montage on Instagram in honor of Wade’s 44th birthday. The clip featured various moments of Wade’s life, paired with audio of women saying, “I love you, Black man,” a viral trend used to celebrate and uplift Black men. Union captioned the post, “Happy Birthday Baby. 44 never looked so good ❤️ @dwyanewade.”
For the unversed, Union and Wade’s journey together began in 2007, with the pair officially starting to date in 2009 and going public with their relationship the following year. They became engaged in 2013 and married in 2014.
At the time they first met, Union had recently divorced her first husband, former NFL player Chris Howard, while Wade was still married to his then-wife, Siohvaughn Funches. Wade and Funches share two children, Zaya and Zaire, who remain an important part of the family Wade and Union have built together.
Wade is also the father of son Xavier, whom he shares with Aja Metoyer. He is the legal guardian of his nephew, Dahveon Morris. In November 2018, Union and Wade welcomed their daughter, Kaavia James, who is now 7.
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Dwyane Wade has previously opened up about the instant connection he felt with Gabrielle Union, admitting he was captivated from the very beginning. During a March 2025 appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends, the NBA legend recalled their first date and the impression Union made on him.
“My wife’s so beautiful, and so when she was talking, I wasn’t really listening,” Wade said with a laugh. “My apologies. I was just kind of looking at her eyes and her lips and all those things.”
Beyond her looks, Wade said it was Union’s intellect that truly stood out. “She was just so smart,” he shared, later adding, “I was very attracted to the intelligence of her mind, but it was unfair because I already knew her as an actress.”
Gabrielle Union Opens Up On Earning Trust Within The Wade Family
Gabrielle Union has also been candid about the hurdles she faced early on while building relationships with Dwyane Wade’s family. During an August 2025 appearance on Michelle Obama’s IMO podcast, Union revealed that Wade’s mother and older sister were initially wary of their nearly 10-year age difference.
“With his older sister Tragil, she has been the protector,” Union said. “She has been the watchdog. She has been the gatekeeper to keep Dwyane sane and to keep him doing everything he needs to do without interference from anybody.”
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According to Union, that skepticism was unmistakable in the early days of the relationship. “Before I got to the wife stage, like when we were just at the very beginning, I think Tragil and his mom were like, ‘What do you want? Who are you, you older lady? What do you want?’”
Over time, however, the dynamic evolved as mutual understanding and respect grew. “It took some years, really, to earn their trust and also for them to earn my trust so we could be comfortable equally,” Union explained. “Now, it’s easy, because we are all on the same side.”
