NFL Star Darren Waller Secretly Married WNBA’s Kelsey Plum — Then Got Traded, Divorced, and It All Happened So Fast

In a story that stunned both the NFL and WNBA communities, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller and Las Vegas Aces star guard Kelsey Plum tied the knot in a secret wedding on March 4, 2023. The announcement came as a complete shock to fans and media alike — not just because the couple kept their relationship extremely private, but because it marked the beginning of a whirlwind saga that included a trade, heartbreak, and ultimately, divorce.

Let’s break down what happened — and why this sports power couple’s brief marriage became one of the most unexpected stories in pro sports.

💍 Secret Wedding No One Saw Coming

The couple, both based in Las Vegas at the time, managed to keep their relationship out of the public eye for more than a year. According to reports, they began dating sometime in 2022, but never made any public declarations, joint appearances, or Instagram posts that hinted at a serious relationship — let alone marriage.

Then, on March 4, 2023, Kelsey Plum dropped a bomb on Instagram: photos of their private wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. Wearing a sleek, modern dress and smiling beside Waller, she simply captioned the post:

“Him 💍❤️.”

They had applied for a marriage license just six weeks earlier on January 22, 2023, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Until that post, fans had no clue they were even dating.

🔁 Raiders Trade Waller… 10 Days After the Wedding

If that weren’t enough of a surprise, things escalated quickly.

Just 10 days after the wedding, Waller was traded by the Raiders to the New York Giants — a move that many considered deeply suspicious in its timing.

Even more eyebrow-raising? Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels had accidentally spilled the news of Waller’s wedding during a press conference at the NFL Combine, despite not being invited. Some speculated the trade may have had a personal sting to it.

Plum herself chimed in with a viral tweet that read:

“Prolly cause he wasn’t invited to the wedding lol.”

While meant to be light-hearted, it didn’t help silence rumors that Waller’s abrupt exit from Vegas had more layers than just football strategy.

🏈 Waller’s Career at a Crossroads

Darren Waller had spent five seasons with the Raiders and was one of the team’s key offensive weapons when healthy. However, injuries had plagued his last two seasons:

In 2021, he appeared in only 11 games.

In 2022, he was limited to just 9 games.

In his final year with the Raiders, he posted 28 receptions for 388 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Despite the dip in numbers, Waller was still considered a top-tier tight end when available, and the trade to the Giants was expected to give him a fresh start in New York.

But that didn’t exactly go as planned…

🏀 Kelsey Plum: WNBA Champion and MVP Candidate

Kelsey Plum was — and still is — a rising WNBA star with a bright future. Drafted #1 overall in 2017, she joined the San Antonio Stars, which later became the Las Vegas Aces in 2018. Plum has grown into a face of the franchise, helping lead the team to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023.

In 2022, she averaged:

20.2 points

5.1 assists

2.7 rebounds

She also earned the WNBA All-Star Game MVP that year and became a fan-favorite for her confident play and fierce competitiveness.

She and Waller were seen as a “power couple” not only because of their athletic dominance but because they represented Las Vegas’s top professional sports teams.

💔 Divorce After One Year

But the fairytale ended faster than anyone expected.

On April 23, 2024, Waller and Plum filed for divorce jointly in Clark County, Nevada, just over a year after their wedding. The filing was sudden — much like the wedding itself — and again caught fans by surprise.

Plum later broke her silence in an emotional Instagram story, writing:

“I’m devastated. I walked through fire for that man, but now I see it’s time to go. God has me, and I’m thankful for my community. It’s time to heal. I’ll share my story when I’m ready.”

The post received an outpouring of support from fans and fellow athletes alike. It also sparked online speculation about what really happened behind the scenes.

🎙 What They Said After the Split

Following the divorce, both athletes eventually addressed the emotional toll publicly — though cautiously.

Plum admitted in a later interview:

“This offseason’s been tough. I’m super grateful… you kind of get refined by fire.”

Meanwhile, Waller also hinted at deep personal reflection, stating in a podcast:

“You gotta look at yourself in the mirror. What role am I playing in relationships that don’t work? I used to tie my self-worth to whether or not a relationship was working. And that’s dangerous.”

It’s clear both had gone through a personal transformation — privately and professionally.

🔄 Post-Divorce Life: New Teams, New Energy

Despite the emotional drama, both Waller and Plum have started new chapters.

🏀 Kelsey Plum

In 2025, Plum signed with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she continues to perform at an elite level. She remains one of the top scorers in the league and a centerpiece of her new team’s rebuilding process.

She’s also made headlines off the court — landing endorsement deals, speaking engagements, and even making a cameo in the upcoming comedy sequel Happy Gilmore 2.

🏈 Darren Waller

After a challenging 2023 season with the Giants, Waller briefly retired from football — only to un-retire in early 2024 and sign a 1-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.

In interviews, he’s talked about his renewed love for the game and his work on mental health awareness — especially after years of battling addiction, injury, and now public heartbreak.