He’s got the faith, the Bible verses, and even wears #3 for the Holy Trinity—but somehow, Dwyane Wade still didn’t make the family group chat. Yep, the man talks to God daily but can’t get looped into a text thread. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Union’s in there catching all the drama (and maybe wishing she weren’t). As it turns out that even the holy get left on read.
And to be fair, Gabrielle’s been doing the in-law thing like a pro—posting Mother’s Day shout-outs like she’s emceeing a family reunion: “Mother-in-law! Sisters-in-law!” She’s been all love, all-in. And still… the family chat launched without her say-so. Classic in-laws, right? Smile in the group pic, then start a whole thread on the side. No public shade from Gab, of course—just that polite sigh and probably a quiet “this family…” as she scrolls.
Naturally, when she was asked by Marie Claire how she survives the group chats she never signed up for, she didn’t hold back: “Well, first of all, a lot of the group chats I’m in, I did not ask to join—like my in-laws’ morning religious texts. I love Jesus, I do, I love God, I love Jesus, but somehow my husband isn’t in this chat, and I am in it. And I find that to be unfair—if anyone needs the word of the Lord, it’s him, not me.” Can you blame her? She’s catching daily devotionals while the guy in the #3 jersey is out here dodging the notifications. A holy injustice, honestly.
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 12: Dahveon Morris, Jolinda Wade, Zaya Wade, 2023 inductee Dwyane Wade, Kaavia James Wade, Gabrielle Union and Zaire Wade attend the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2023 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
But if we’re talking family dynamics, let’s rewind. Jolinda Wade has always been fiercely protective of her son. After Dwyane retired in 2019, she even fell into a little bit of a funk—wondering if she loved basketball, or just loved watching her son shine. So when he came to her all starry-eyed, saying, “Ma, I want you to meet my soulmate,” her response was peak mom: “Yo what? Boy you don’t even know what a soulmate is… You just need to calm down.”
Still, it didn’t take long for Jolinda to warm up to Gabrielle. The moment they met, she was all in—calling Gab “just a star,” and admitting she didn’t even know she was an actress at first. That’s the thing about this family: lots of opinions, lots of group chats, and maybe a few missed invites—but in the end, love shows up where it matters.
For the Wades, family comes first
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union aren’t just a power couple—they’re full-time CEOs of their families, and business is booming. Gabrielle once said, “I have a massive village,” and she wasn’t kidding. They moved both their moms out to L.A. so their daughter could be surrounded by love (and, let’s be honest, babysitters). Her younger sister? She doesn’t just visit—she lives with them to help out with the kids. Meanwhile, Wade explained the California move by saying it wasn’t just sunshine chasing: “There are a lot of reasons we decided California was best for our family, and finding a community for Zaya was a big part of that.”
And when it comes to extended family, these two don’t just talk the talk. Gabrielle made sure her dad’s 80th birthday felt like a warm Hawaiian breeze—even if he still thinks Dwyane plays for the Miami Heat. “My Dad has dementia,” she shared. “He definitely thinks @DwyaneWade is still playing for the Heat but otherwise remembers quite a bit.” That didn’t stop them from throwing a heartfelt celebration packed with island vibes and family warmth. And Wade? He was busy dancing with Gab’s mom on her 77th birthday like it was prom night—then posting, “Happy Birthday to my Mother-In-Law” like the family MVP he is. Just last week, Gab hit the LA beaches with her mom and sister while Wade took his own mom to a Chicago Sky game, repping Crown Royal and family pride like a champ.
When it comes to parenting, Wade doesn’t just show up—he studies fatherhood like it’s a championship game. From his 2012 memoir A Father First to his podcast The Why with Dwyane Wade, he’s been open about what it takes to raise thoughtful, self-aware kids. “You should be tying your own shoes,” he said recently, making a case against over-parenting while championing independence. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago without much parental support, he recalls, “When I was making my name… my parents were nowhere in sight. It was just me. I’m out here, I got to get it done.” Now, he’s rewriting that story for his four kids—Kaavia, Xavier, Zaya, and Zaire—by showing up, every single day.
And right alongside him is Gabrielle, who brings both grace and grit to her role as a stepmom. In a 2019 interview with Romper, Gabrielle said, “You can try to create them in your image, even if you are their stepmom… All you can be is a great example.” And that’s what she has been doing. Zaya, now 17, credits her stepmom with helping her fully embrace her identity. “My stepmom has just instilled such a confidence in my femininity,” Zaya shared. “She was so adamant about telling me that I don’t have to look or act a certain way—I can just be me. And, oh my god, I thank her every day for it.”
Together, Dwyane and Gabrielle have created a home where love leads, honesty wins, and every child feels seen and safe. Group chats, dance floors, beach days—it’s all family first, and that’s what matters most.
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