Life doesn’t always trip you on the climb—it can blindside at the summit with the very thing you thought would carry you higher. One day it’s your anchor, the next, your storm. Ask Dwyane Wade. “Our relationship was rocky,” Dwyane Wade said in Life Unexpected. It was 2007 when Wade filed for divorce from his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches. The two were high school sweethearts. Love—a force so fierce it builds worlds, yet so fragile it can unravel them overnight. Reason? Soon after the birth of their second child, Zaya, they decided to go separate ways. Their publicized divorce ended with Wade gaining custody of both of his children. However, that was not where it all ended. After an incident in 2012, the mother of two made a controversial claim about her financial situation. So what is she doing now? Years later, Wade’s son Zaire spoke about his mother.

The last time Funches made headlines was when she and Wade got into a legal battle over their daughter, Zaya. The 12-year-old came out as transgender in 2020. And in November 2022, her mother, Funches, submitted a legal filing opposing Zaya’s name and gender change. She alleged that the 3x NBA champ had not consulted her before filing the petition. There were more claims. However, the father of four strongly opposed all the claims made by his ex-wife.

“This isn’t a game for my family and definitely not for Zaya. This is her life … Siohvaughn has decided to pretty much be an absent parent to Zaya ALL ON HER OWN. … I will not sit on my hands this time and allow her to make a mockery of my dedication to my family,” Wade said. 

Seemingly hinting at Funches’ career, he further added, “The high road has run out of real estate. My lawyer will be in contact, and best of luck to the 14th lawyer as they try to unravel this book of lies that’s been sold to them.” The court officially granted Zaya a name and gender change on February 24, 2023, bringing their legal fight to an end.

Two years later, Zaire mentioned his mother in a recent interview with 1st Round Potential, stating that she is still involved in real estate. “My mom is big. She down in Atlanta. She’s big with real estate, so trying to put my coins in the right basket down there,” Zaire said. As per her LinkedIn profile, she also owns a real estate investment firm. Funches earned her law degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Now, she has her own company, The Mediation Matters Firm. She is also the founder and president of A Woman’s Worth Foundation. Since 2022, Funches have remained out of the spotlight for years. 

Back to son, just a few months ago, Zaire also joined his mother for her birthday. She shared a photo on her Instagram handle. As Zaya was not present, Funches gave a special nod to her second child in the caption and wrote, “Lil Z, I love you baby, and I know if you could, you would be right here with us.”

The legal fight over Zaya’s name change was years after Dwyane Wade and Funches’ long divorce battle. What happened to Funches, and why was the divorce drama dragged on for years?

What happened in 2012 when Siohvaughn Funches claimed to be ‘homeless’?

“We had been together since we were 16 years old, so we had a lot of differences and we didn’t know how to handle those,” Wade said about his divorce. During the 2012 incident, Authorities reportedly arrested Funches on charges of attempting to kidnap the children after she failed to return them following a scheduled visitation. However, the court later dropped the charges.

The divorce settlement between Dwyane Wade and Siohvaughn Funches was finalized in 2013, marking the legal end of a long and emotionally charged chapter. But the story didn’t close quietly. In a moment that drew national attention, Funches was seen outside Chicago’s Daley Plaza holding a sign that read, “NBA Miami Heat Star Mother of His Children in the Streets.” She claimed that Wade had stopped depositing funds into their joint account, a move she said violated a 2008 agreement (Michigan Chronicle).

Yet, according to the same report, the truth may have been more complicated. Documents suggested that Wade had continued making payments and had fulfilled his financial obligations, including a reported $5 million settlement along with additional property. While headlines once blared with tension and public outcry, that chapter has since faded into the rearview mirror.

Today, the saga stands as a reminder that even behind the polished surface of fame, the personal battles are real, raw, and rarely resolved cleanly. Love may turn sour, disputes may go public, but time has a way of softening even the harshest echoes, leaving behind lessons louder than the noise.