T.J. McConnell didn’t exactly walk into the NBA with a red carpet. Undrafted in 2015, most folks didn’t think he’d last a season. But he latched on with the Sixers, kept his head down, and started doing what he always does—proving people wrong without making a scene about it.

Fast forward a few years and four solid seasons in Philly later, he joined the Pacers in 2019. At first, Rick Carlisle didn’t see him as part of the core rotation. McConnell didn’t complain. He just stayed ready, kept grinding, and—surprise—forced his way into minutes. Now he’s one of the most dependable backup point guards in the league. Not flashy, not loud, just efficient. Coaches love that. So do teammates.

Off the court, he’s got someone just as reliable in his corner: his wife, Valerie Guiliani. She’s been around since before the NBA checks, through college, career moves, and everything in between. While T.J.’s been fighting for every inch on the court, Valerie’s been the steady presence off it—no drama, no spotlight chasing.

So let’s talk about her—the woman who’s been holding it down while T.J. does his thing.

Who is T.J. McConnell’s Wife?

Valerie Guiliani McConnell might be known as T.J. McConnell’s wife, but she’s been part of his story long before the NBA cameras showed up. Literally—she grew up next door. Yep, T.J. and Valerie met in kindergarten on Critchfield Drive in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, stayed friends, started dating in high school at Chartiers Valley, and just… never looked back. High school sweethearts who actually made it. Rare stuff.

They got married on September 9, 2017, in Pittsburgh. It was your classic “NBA guy marries his hometown girl” moment—Sixers teammates in the crowd, Nik Stauskas in the groomsman lineup, and Valerie telling T.J. to ditch the buzzcut for something a little more wedding-friendly. He did, and the crew cut stuck.

Now she’s a regular at Pacers games, usually with their two kids in tow—Trace, born in 2021, and their second son, who showed up in 2023. Valerie keeps her social media locked up, but people around the team know her well. She works in the dental field, has strong Italian family roots, and doesn’t make a big deal out of anything—which fits perfectly with how T.J. operates.

How many kids does T.J. McConnell have?

T.J. McConnell and his wife, Valerie, are officially running a full-time zone defense at home—because yep, they’ve got two kids now. Their first son, Trace, was born in January 2021, a few years after they got married. T.J. posted the announcement like any modern dad—on Instagram—and later admitted that becoming a father flipped the switch for him. “The moment he was born made me want to be a better player, a better person, and all of the above,” he said. Translation: diapers, less sleep, and suddenly trying harder on defense.

Fast forward to September 2023, and baby number two joined the roster. They’ve kept things low-key about their second son , but T.J.’s made it clear—family’s the main priority now. When asked if coaching was in the post-NBA plans, he joked that it’s “a question for my wife at my retirement party.”

For now, T.J. and Valerie are just handling parenting the way they’ve handled everything else—quietly, solidly, and without turning it into a social media circus. Two kids, two parents who actually like each other, and somehow, T.J. still shows up with that same energy off the bench.

What is T.J. McConnell’s relationship with his wife, Valerie Guiliani?

Basically, they’ve been a package deal since kindergarten. Yep, childhood neighbors turned high school sweethearts, then spouses, and now parents. They grew up side by side in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, stuck together through the awkward teenage years, college, and T.J.’s rocky undrafted NBA start.

They finally made it official in 2017, with a wedding near Pittsburgh that even featured some NBA faces—Nik Stauskas was a groomsman, no less. Fun fact: Valerie convinced T.J. to ditch his usual buzzcut for a crew cut that he’s kept ever since.

Fast forward to now, they’ve got two boys and a solid, low-key family life. Valerie stays mostly out of the spotlight, working in dental care and keeping her social media private. But don’t mistake quiet for boring—she’s the rock in T.J.’s life, the steady support through all the moves, the long seasons, and the endless grind of pro basketball. Together, they keep things real, grounded, and low drama—no frills, just loyalty and love.

T.J. McConnell’s journey is as much about loyalty and family as it is about basketball. With Valerie by his side and two kids at home, he’s built a steady, low-key life that keeps him grounded both on and off the court.