WNBA star Kelsey Plum has reportedly been traded to the Phoenix Mercury by the Sparks. Amid this, let us introduce you to her ex-husband, Darren Waller, and what he said after their divorce.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleKelsey Plum had recently found herself in the middle of trade rumors. For those unaware, she was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2025. She is on an expiring contract and is due to become a free agent at the end of the 2026 WNBA season. Amid this, it was revealed that Kelsey has been traded to the Phoenix Mercury, a decision that has left many fans confused.
Now, with the spotlight on Kelsey, fans have become curious to know about her personal life. If you are one of them, here's everything we know about Kelsey’s ex-husband, Darren Waller, and their divorce.
Darren Waller is one of the most recognized faces in American football. He had a stellar college career at Georgia Tech as their leading wide receiver. After turning pro, Darren played for the Las Vegas Raiders, the Baltimore Ravens, and the New York Giants. According to reports, over the years he managed to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid right ends.
Besides his sporting career, Dareen has struggled with addiction for a long time. He reportedly began using oxycodone at the age of 15, and started drinking when he was only 16. His addiction got him in trouble after he was suspended twice when he was attending Georgia Tech. At the time, Darren was caught using marijuana.
A few years later, in 2016, Darren got a four-game ban from the NFL when he violated the league’s substance abuse policy. When he failed drug tests again the next year, he was suspended for a minimum of one year without pay. At this point, Darren had admitted that he was doing “a lot” of cocaine.
While completing his suspension, Darren went to rehab and was eventually reinstated by the NFL in 2018. Darren went viral in 2019 when his addiction and recovery journey was featured in a sports documentary series called Hard Knocks. Then-coach Jon Gruden even praised the athlete for overcoming his addiction, saying:
“So thrilled for him getting it together and being an honest, upfront guy and talking about it. Giving other young people the same enthusiasm to beat it, the same confidence that they can beat whatever addiction they might have.”
Coming to Darren Waller’s relationship with Kelsey Plum, the pair tied the knot in March 2023. After just one year of their marriage, they filed for divorce in April 2024. A musician in his spare time, Darren released a single called Who Knew (Her Perspective), which detailed the end of his relationship with his ex-wife, Kelsey.
In the climax of the music video, an actress resembling Kelsey could be seen hugging him on the beach. Soon enough, age stabs him in the back, and he falls to the ground while bleeding. He watches his lover retreat before half-closing his eyes as if he were about to die.
For those who don't know, Darren had spent three and a half days in the hospital after a life-threatening emergency in November 2023. He claimed that this made him reflect on his identity and relationship patterns. He said:
"Anytime I'm in a relationship, I feel like I got to dance or do a certain thing for to keep this person around, almost like tying myself worth to the success of a relationship, and you realize how much you lose yourself. Realizing the impact that it was having on me and as far as making decisions that were authentic for the life that I wanted, these are things that I couldn't say 100% yes to. You have certain conversations and realize there's so much life ahead."
On the other hand, Kelsey Plum admitted that the end of her marriage was a nightmare. She even said that it broke her emotionally. In her words, "Going through a very public divorce is something I was not expecting. It felt like the rug got taken out from under me. I think people may look at me like, 'Oh, she's super tough.' But this one really broke me."
What are your thoughts on Kelsey Plum’s ex-husband, Darren Waller? Let us know.
Also read: Meet Sha'Carri Richardson's Boyfriend Christian Coleman, Track And Field Star, Was Assaulted By Her