Who is Siohvaughn Funches? All About the Life of Dwyane Wade’s Ex-Wife

Siohvaughn Funches is an American lawyer, author, speaker, and nonprofit leader known for her early relationship and marriage to NBA legend Dwyane Wade. Born in Chicago, she later built a career in law, mediation, and faith-based advocacy. Today, Siohvaughn Funches runs The Mediation Matters Firm and leads A Woman’s Worth Foundation, helping women facing difficult situations. Her life story combines family, education, faith, and personal resilience.

Profile Summary: Siohvaughn Funches

Siohvaughn’s Early Life

Siohvaughn Funches was born on September 6, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents are Frank Funches and Darlene Funches. When she was very young, her parents divorced. She was only three years old at the time. Because of this, much of her childhood was shaped by living mainly with her father.

Life was not always easy for the young Siohvaughn. Her mother struggled with substance abuse during parts of her childhood. Situations like this can make growing up very difficult. Yet her father became a strong influence in her life. He helped guide and support her through those early years in Chicago.

Another painful moment in her life was the loss of her only sister, Garrica LeAnna Woods. Her sister passed away when she was still young. This loss deeply affected Siohvaughn and shaped the way she looked at family and life.

Siohvaughn’s Education and Academic Journey

Education became one of the most important parts of Siohvaughn Funches’ life. After her early years in Chicago, she focused heavily on building a strong academic background. This focus later helped her create a professional career in law and counseling.

Her first major degree was a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Phoenix. Studying psychology helped her understand how people think, feel, and respond to stress or trauma. These skills later became useful in her work helping families and children.

She continued her education with a Master’s Certification in Professional Counseling from Capella University. This training gave her deeper knowledge about emotional support, counseling methods, and family conflict resolution.

One of the biggest steps in her academic journey came in 2017. That year, Siohvaughn Funches graduated Magna Cum Laude from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School with a Juris Doctor degree. Graduating with this honor means she performed extremely well in her studies. Reports say her academic performance placed her among the top students in her class.

She did not stop there. Siohvaughn later earned a Doctorate in Theology as well. This shows how strongly her faith plays a role in her personal and professional life.

Siohvaughn’s Career

After finishing her education, Siohvaughn Funches began building a professional career that combines law, counseling, and community service. She founded The Mediation Matters Firm, a legal business that focuses on resolving disputes through mediation rather than long court battles.

At this firm, Siohvaughn works as a certified mediator and arbitrator. This means she helps people solve legal disagreements peacefully. Instead of fighting in court, many families and individuals can work through problems with her guidance.

Her work also includes serving as a Guardian ad Litem in the Georgia court system. In this role, she represents the best interests of children involved in difficult legal cases, such as abuse or family disputes. This type of work requires patience, understanding, and strong legal knowledge.

Beyond the legal field, Siohvaughn Funches has also stepped into business and publishing. She created A Wow Woman Publishing Co., which helps share faith-based messages and inspirational stories. She has also invested in real estate projects, including executive rental properties and vacation homes.

Her career also includes charity work. In 2006, she founded A Woman’s Worth Foundation. The foundation helps women who are survivors of domestic violence. One of its programs is a transitional shelter called Safe Haven of Hope, which offers housing and support to women who need a safe place to start again.

Siohvaughn Funches’s Marriage and How They Met?

The story of Siohvaughn Funches and Dwyane Wade started long before fame or professional success. The two first met when they were very young. Reports say they knew each other as children, around the time they were in elementary school.

As they grew older, their friendship turned into a relationship. They attended Harold L. Richards High School in Illinois, where they became high school sweethearts. During those years, their relationship grew stronger.

There is also an important moment many people talk about when discussing their early relationship. During his teenage years, Dwyane Wade moved into Siohvaughn’s family home. He stayed there with Siohvaughn and her mother for a period of time. Wade later said this helped him focus on school and basketball during a challenging period in his own family life.

Their bond continued into adulthood. In 2002, the couple got married. At the time, both were only 20 years old. Wade was playing college basketball at Marquette University, and his future NBA career had not yet begun.

Their marriage happened just before Wade entered the 2003 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Miami Heat. At the beginning, Siohvaughn Funches was part of his early support system as he moved from college basketball to the professional world.

Her Divorce & Legal Battles

As Dwyane Wade’s basketball career grew, the pressure on their marriage also increased. In 2007, Wade filed for divorce from Siohvaughn Funches. This began a legal conflict that lasted several years and attracted a lot of public attention.

The divorce itself was finalized in 2010, but legal issues related to finances and custody continued for years afterward. The situation became one of the most widely discussed legal battles involving a professional athlete.

In 2011, a court made a major decision about the couple’s children. The judge awarded sole physical and legal custody of their two children to Dwyane Wade. This ruling was unusual and became a major topic in sports media at the time.

The legal dispute continued until 2013, when the final financial settlement was reached. According to reports, Siohvaughn Funches received $5 million, along with their Chicago home and four vehicles. The agreement also included a non-disparagement clause, which legally prevents both sides from publicly speaking negatively about each other.

Meet Her Children

The life of Siohvaughn Funches is closely connected to her role as a mother. She shares two children with her former husband, Dwyane Wade. Their names are Zaire Wade and Zaya Wade. Both children have grown up in the public eye because of their father’s basketball career and their own personal achievements.

Let’s start with Zaire Wade. He was born in February 2002, just months before Siohvaughn Funches and Dwyane Wade got married. From a young age, Zaire showed interest in basketball, just like his father. Over the years, he worked hard to develop his own career in the sport.

Zaire has played professional basketball in several places. He has spent time with the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G-League and also played for international teams like the Cape Town Tigers in South Africa and the Macau Black Bears. As of 2026, Zaire is still working on his basketball journey and exploring chances to return to college basketball at the Division I level.

Now let’s talk about Zaya Wade. She was born in 2007. Zaya became widely known after she publicly shared her identity as a transgender girl in 2020. Since then, she has become a strong voice for transgender youth and equality.

In addition to advocacy work, Zaya has also entered the fashion world. In 2023, she made her runway debut for the famous fashion brand Miu Miu. As of 2026, she is attending college and continuing to build her voice as a young activist and model. Her story shows how the next generation of the Wade family is shaping its own path.

Who Is Dwyane Wade?

To understand the public attention around Siohvaughn Funches, it is helpful to understand who Dwyane Wade is. Wade is one of the most famous basketball players of his generation. He was born on January 17, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois.

Dwyane Wade played 16 seasons in the NBA and became a legend for the Miami Heat. Fans often called him “Flash” because of his speed and exciting playing style. During his career, he won three NBA championships in 2006, 2012, and 2013.

One of his greatest achievements came in the 2006 NBA Finals, when he was named Finals MVP after leading the Heat to their first championship. Over the years, he was selected as an NBA All-Star 13 times and finished his career with more than 23,000 points.

Wade was also part of the famous “Big Three” era in Miami. In 2010, he teamed up with LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Together they reached four straight NBA Finals and won two titles.

After retiring from basketball in 2019, Wade moved into business and media. He became a minority owner of the Utah Jazz in 2021 and later invested in the Chicago Sky of the WNBA in 2023. He also works as a commentator for NBA on Prime Video, which began broadcasting games in the 2025–2026 season.

Outside of sports, Wade is also known for his advocacy work. He has spoken publicly in support of his daughter Zaya and LGBTQ youth. His life today includes business, family, and media work.

Siohvaughn Funches’s Life After Divorce

After the difficult divorce battle ended in 2013, Siohvaughn Funches focused on rebuilding her life. Many people face setbacks in life, but the important question is always the same: what comes next? For Siohvaughn, the answer was education, faith, and service.

She completed several degrees after the divorce and focused on building a professional life in Atlanta, Georgia. Her legal practice, The Mediation Matters Firm, became an important part of that new chapter. Through this firm, she works as a mediator helping families and individuals solve conflicts peacefully.

Siohvaughn Funches also became deeply involved in helping people facing domestic violence and difficult life situations. Through her charity, A Woman’s Worth Foundation, she provides support and guidance to women who need help rebuilding their lives.

One of the programs connected to the foundation is a transitional shelter called Safe Haven of Hope. The goal is simple but powerful. It gives women a safe place to live while they rebuild their lives after escaping abuse or hardship.

Faith plays a central role in her work. Siohvaughn often speaks about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how faith helped her move forward during the hardest moments of her life. Her books, including The True Story for God’s Glory and You Gotta Let God Finish!, share lessons about perseverance, healing, and spiritual growth.

In addition to legal work and charity efforts, she has also explored business opportunities. These include real estate investments, publishing through A Wow Woman Publishing Co., and other entrepreneurial projects.

Final Thoughts

The story of Siohvaughn Funches is not simple. It includes difficult moments, public challenges, and personal change. But when you look at the whole journey, you can see a story about resilience and determination.

She started life in Chicago facing family struggles and loss. Later, she became known to the public during her marriage and divorce from a famous athlete. Many people might have allowed those moments to define their lives.

Today, as of 2026, her life continues to evolve. Her legal work, faith-based message, and nonprofit programs all show her focus on rebuilding and helping others do the same.

FAQs

Who is Siohvaughn Funches?

Siohvaughn Funches is an American lawyer, author, and nonprofit founder. She is widely known as the former wife of NBA star Dwyane Wade. After their divorce, she built a career in law, mediation, and faith-based advocacy, helping families and domestic violence survivors through her organization, A Woman’s Worth Foundation.

How old is Siohvaughn Funches?

Siohvaughn Funches was born on September 6, 1981. As of 2026, she is 44 years old.

Who are Siohvaughn Funches’ parents?

Her parents are Frank Funches and Darlene Funches. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she was mostly raised by her father in Chicago.

How many children does Siohvaughn Funches have?

Siohvaughn Funches has two children with her former husband Dwyane Wade: Zaire Wade (born 2002) and Zaya Wade (born 2007).

What is Siohvaughn Funches’ net worth?

As of recent estimates, Siohvaughn Funches’ net worth is between $5 million and $7 million. Her income comes from her legal work at The Mediation Matters Firm, book sales, real estate investments, and the financial settlement from her divorce.

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