Chances are Jewell Loyd would have been a professional tennis player right now. During her childhood, she played tennis “every single day, for six hours a day,” she says and was well on her way to greatness as well but this event triggered a love for basketball and she has never looked back since.
Basketball was always present in Jewell Loyd’s life thanks to her older brother, Jarryd, who played the game seriously. One day, when she was about seven years old, everything changed. Jewell wanted to play basketball on the park court, but two older boys refused to let her join. Undeterred but frustrated, she stood her ground until Jarryd, who was around 15 at the time, stepped in after noticing the standoff.
“We’ll play you for the court,” he said. It was game on. First to 10 points wins. No backing down. The Loyd siblings teamed up and won the game against all odds. It wasn’t just a victory for the court that day; it was the moment she fell in love with the game. From that point forward, basketball was no longer just her brother’s game. It became her game too. That fierce fearlessness we see in Jewell Loyd today? It started right there—on a concrete court, in a challenge that would set the tone for everything that came next. Let’s learn more about where her story started.
Where is Jewell Loyd from, and what is her nationality?
The Las Vegas Aces star was born on October 5, 1993, in Lincolnwood, Illinois, USA. She is a proud American who has represented the United States in international competitions, including winning gold medals with Team USA in the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics. The Loyd family has a special connection to their locality in Lincolnwood, having stayed there for more than 20 years.
Loyd’s journey in basketball started from local courts, as she has mentioned in interviews. In 2019, the Proesel Park basketball courts were even named in her honor to celebrate her achievements.
“There are a lot of people I know, which makes it even more awesome to be a part of,” Loyd said from one of two benches next to the court that her family donated. “This is where I played a lot of my basketball growing up with my friends with three-on-three.”
She was a four-year starter at Niles West High School in Skokie and essentially broke every school record, averaging 24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.2 steals and 2.2 blocks for her career. While in high school, she had the opportunity to be a practice player for the Chicago Sky, which further motivated her to take up basketball as a profession. Because of her exploits in school, she was scouted by Notre Dame, where she took the next step to becoming what she is now.
What is Jewell Loyd ‘s ethnicity?
Jewell Loyd is African-American. Her family roots trace back through the African-American community in the United States, and she proudly represents that heritage both on and off the court.
Loyd was one of the most forefront players in the Seattle Storm’s fight against police brutality in 2020. Jewell Loyd even delivered moving public remarks about her father being relieved to see his kids live past 25.
“My advice is to keep talking about it,” Loyd had said,“It’s going to be uncomfortable. A lot of things are uncomfortable. We’re athletes and we put our bodies in a lot of uncomfortable situations and that’s how we become champions.”
They even received praise from then-president Joe Biden and Loyd was pictured with him. Sue Bird, Loyd and Breanna Stewart presented Biden with a souvenir Storm jersey.
August 23, 2021, Washington, District of Columbia, USA: United States President Joe Biden is given a team jersey Jewell Loyd, center and Breanna Stewart, right, of the Seattle Storm after they won the 2020 WNBA Championship at the White House in Washington, DC on Monday, August 23, 2021 Washington USA – ZUMAs152 20210823_zaa_s152_115 Copyright: xKenxCedenox-xPoolxviaxCNPx
After a solid legacy on and off the court at Storm, she has moved on to the Aces.
Is Jewell Loyd Christian?
Jewell Loyd has not publicly confirmed or discussed her religious beliefs in detail, including whether she identifies as Christian. She tends to keep her personal and spiritual life private, focusing her public presence on basketball, community work, and advocacy.
Loyd’s roots remain a defining part of who she is: grounded, resilient, and purpose-driven. Despite a somewhat rocky start to her tenure with the Las Vegas Aces, her impact is expected to be vital to the team’s championship aspirations this season. As the Aces aim to find their rhythm, Loyd’s leadership and scoring ability will be front and center. Up next, she and the team will take on the Los Angeles Sparks as they look to improve on their current 2-to-2 record.
The post What Is Jewell Loyd’s Ethnicity, Religion, and Nationality? Exploring her Family Roots and Background appeared first on EssentiallySports.