Catching Up With the Currys

As one of the most well-known couples in the NBA, Ayesha and Steph Curry have been the blueprint for many sports couples out there. The pair married in 2011 and went on to have four kids while maintaining active and successful careers. Steph is considered the greatest shooter of all time and is still one of the best players in the league despite being in his 17th season on the Golden State Warriors, and Ayesha is a New York Times bestselling author, chef, entrepreneur, and more. The couple is so iconic that Ayesha has her own Drake lyric that praises her support of Steph throughout his career. However, their love story seemed to come into question when Ayesha was featured on a podcast where she discussed a perspective that a lot of fans gave her backlash for.

Steph and Ayesha Curry at the 2022 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards. People

What sparked the controversy?

In August of this year, Ayesha was a guest on the Call Her Daddy podcast, where she made a few remarks that resurfaced and went viral in October.

She stated things like not wanting to get married or have children when she was younger and thinking that she was going to be a "career girl". She even described motherhood as a tense subject, discussing how she felt like her goals were being ignored and how it didn't "feel right".

Her additional comments on Steph in the podcast portrayed him as unable to resonate with her when she discussed her conflicting feelings about starting a life that she didn't envision herself living when she was younger. Before Ayesha was married, she had been pursuing a career as an actress since childhood, and her career was her biggest priority for the majority of her life. Therefore, when marriage and kids came into the picture, it was hard for her to shift priorities from her career to her family.

Why did this trigger backlash?

Steph and Ayesha Curry at the 2025 U.S. Open. Lifestyle

The main reason for this backlash came from fans of Steph Curry, since they felt she disrespected him on a public platform. Some felt that these statements implied that Steph didn't understand or validate Ayesha's feelings, almost seeming like she called him out publicly. As a celebrity sports couple, everyone has their eyes on them, so this raised arguments on what marriage, ambition, and success in a relationship looks like.

However, it is important to note that these remarks were aired and then clipped out of context, so viewers judged based on parts of the conversation rather than its entirety. This discourse also touched on deeper societal expectations, especially for women married to public figures like athletes. Though some viewers were quick to label her reflections as disrespectful, they overlooked the emotional nuance of what she actually said: that she loves her husband and family, but also wrestles with maintaining her identity and achieving her goals. Despite the backlash, the Currys continued to move forward.

How the Currys responded & what's next

In the past and even now, the pair has always stood by each other's side. The Currys brushed off the backlash by continuing on with their lives as if nothing happened. Ayesha even posted pictures from Steph's new bourbon-bar venture, showing her support. Steph commented "My woman!!!" on her post, showing that despite the controversy and backlash, Steph and Ayesha don't pay any mind to the haters and keep showing up for each other.

Steph and Ayesha Curry at the Opening of Steph's Bourbon-Bar. Instagram

Ayesha also clarified later in the interview that although she had different aspirations at first, meeting Steph changed her path and she loves being a mother. Their consistent public support for each other through scrutiny and celebration has made the Currys a symbol of resilience and partnership in the spotlight.

Ultimately, this controversy says less about their marriage and more about the internet's willingness to make anything a headline. The truth is simpler: marriage evolves, people change, and when those people live under a microscope, every word is scrutinized.

Yet through it all, Steph and Ayesha Curry continue to present a relationship grounded in love, mutual respect, and community purpose. This is best reflected in Eat. Learn. Play., a foundation they founded together to give back to the Oakland community by giving children access to nutritious food, quality education, and safe places to play. They've built a life that extends beyond fame and one that's rooted in giving back.

So while the internet debates what Ayesha said, the Currys are busy doing what they've always done: uplifting each other and everyone around them.

Edited by: Isabella Messerli