Back in December 2019, a 14-year-old girl from Lithuania stepped onto the hardwood in France and made history. Justė Jocytė wasn’t just any teenager—she was suiting up in the French Ligue Féminine de Basketball, facing off against seasoned pros and even WNBA veterans. No nerves, just game. That debut turned heads across Europe, and now, with the WNBA in sight, people are asking a new question: Who helped raise this rising star?
As Jocytė takes her next big leap in basketball with Golden State Valkyries, attention has turned toward her roots. Her skills are obvious, but her foundation—her family—has quietly played a major role behind the scenes.
Who is Justė Jocytė’s father, Alvydas Jocys?
Alvydas Jocys has been around the game long before his daughter made headlines. He once played college basketball at the University of Nebraska College of Law. But he didn’t stop there—he earned degrees in Business Management and International Business. That mix of hoops and hustle gave him a unique perspective that he’s passed on to his daughter.
Now, he works back home in Lithuania as a Business Insurance Expert at Lietuvos draudimas, one of Lithuania’s insurance companies. But basketball hasn’t left his life—he still works with LTU Basketball and lives in Palanga, where he helped nurture Justė’s talent from day one. He’s been that guiding voice, helping her navigate not just the game, but the business and the pressure that comes with it.
Who is Justė Jocytė’s mother, Aurelija Jocienė?
If Alvydas is the basketball brain, then Aurelija Jocienė is the heart of it all. She’s not the person the media is flocking to, but she’s been that figure in the stands alongside Alvydas, in Justė’s corner, supporting her, calming her— being her rock. And yes, she’s on Instagram too, sharing her pride and highlights, and boasting a small but devoted following.
In contrast, it is her presence offline that is most significant. Aurelija is the calm presence off the court, the emotional support, and the person behind Justė’s victories and unfortunate defeats. While her public profile remains humble, her impact on her daughter’s life is undeniable.
What is the nationality of Justė Jocytė’s parents?
Both of Justė’s parents—Alvydas and Aurelija—are Lithuanian, and that identity runs deep in her story. Although she was born in Washington, D.C., she was raised in Lithuania, where basketball isn’t just the most popular sport, but a cultural phenomenon.
Growing up in a place that lives and breathes basketball—and doing so under the close watch of parents who carry a discipline, a tradition, a heart tied to their sport—was the perfect foundation for Justė’s ascension. That Lithuanian pride and work ethic have traveled with her from the courts of Palanga right through to the international stage.
While Justė Jocytė’s name slowly becomes one echoing around WNBA circles, she didn’t get here by herself. Behind every dribble, pass, and shot lies a family that has been supporting her since she could lace up her own sneakers.
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