Beyond his stellar basketball career, Stephen Curry’s blissful marriage to Ayesha Curry often leaves fans and colleagues envious. But how did their love story begin?
As one of the NBA’s premier players and the greatest shooter in league history, Stephen Curry has amassed numerous accolades and an illustrious career. Yet, it’s not just his on-court prowess that endears him to many; his down-to-earth lifestyle alongside Ayesha Curry paints a picture-perfect image of family bliss in the NBA. So, how did their journey together begin?
The Currys stands out as one of the most wholesome families in the NBA.
Their story began in 2002 when Stephen Curry, then 14, returned to Charlotte from Canada with his family. It was at the Central Church of God youth group where he crossed paths with Ayesha for the first time.
During their time in Canada, Stephen and Ayesha both attended the youth group at Central Church of God, where their paths intertwined. Ayesha, a Canadian-American actress, found herself smitten before realizing Stephen was also from her homeland. With a shared love for all things sweet, the connection was sweetened even further. Though their interactions were few and far between, young Ayesha knew just how to catch Stephen’s attention.
“I sent him a few signals. However, I felt very embarrassed and didn’t dare say anything. I didn’t dare give Curry candy and just asked someone else to bring it to him, then I quickly left,” Ayesha recounted the first day they met. From then on, the two began to take the first steps on their future dating journey.
Curry and Ayesha’s friendship dates back to their childhood.
Following high school graduation, Ayesha embarked on a journey to Los Angeles to pursue her acting ambitions. While attending the Arts York program in Canada, she landed guest roles on popular Disney Channel series like “Hannah Montana” and “Good Luck Charlie.” Despite their busy schedules, Curry and Ayesha found little time for texting or chatting.
Meanwhile, Curry stayed rooted in Charlotte, enrolling at Davidson University in North Carolina after high school. In 2008, his standout performances propelled Davidson to the NCAA quarterfinals, earning him a nomination for Best Breakout Athlete at the prestigious ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.
During his visit to LA for the ESPYs, Curry took the initiative to reconnect with his longtime friend Ayesha, inviting her for a stroll. Ayesha agreed to meet, driven by their shared history. As she matured, Ayesha gained deeper insights into love and set clear boundaries, including a firm rule: “No dating athletes.”
“At that time, I didn’t even know what the ESPYs were. I wasn’t fond of athletes because of their arrogance,” Ayesha revealed.
Curry couldn’t help but chuckle at her confession. Despite leading an unheralded team like Davidson to NCAA prominence, Ayesha remained oblivious to his rising fame. “She really had no clue. It brought about some mixed feelings for me,” Curry shared, a mix of laughter and incredulity in his voice.
In Ayesha’s case, the saying “Hate what God gives you” rings true, as her relationship with Curry took an unexpected turn.
Despite being a college student with limited financial means, the three-time NBA champion went above and beyond to impress his childhood friend. On their first date, Curry emptied his pockets to purchase sunglasses for Ayesha, basking in the Oakland sunshine.
Following their initial encounter, Ayesha’s preconceptions about athletes, particularly football players, began to shift. “He was so funny and sometimes a bit silly, completely different from what I imagined,” she reflected on their first date. As their relationship blossomed, Ayesha gradually found herself drawn closer to Curry.
After a prolonged period of courtship, Ayesha took the bold step of confessing her love to the Warriors’ captain, only to receive a heartbreaking rejection. “I confessed that I loved him, but Steph said he also had feelings for me but didn’t want to admit it until he was certain about everything. That night, I drove home in tears,” Ayesha recalled the painful moment of Curry’s rejection.
Despite Ayesha’s initial confession, the outcome wasn’t quite what she had hoped for. However, the two remained close friends, with their families having a long-standing connection. Curry and Ayesha continued to cross paths frequently, given their shared history and mutual circles.
Several months after Ayesha’s “missed” confession, on a magical Christmas night, Curry made a heartfelt confession of his own. “While everyone was engrossed in a movie, he leaned in close to my ear and whispered, ‘I love you.’ Our parents, siblings, everyone was there. It was nerve-wracking, but I tried to maintain composure and focus on the movie. In that moment, I knew Steph was ready,” Ayesha reminisced.
After eight years of deepening their bond through friendship and dating, they returned to Charlotte on July 30, 2011. There, at the very church where their paths first crossed, surrounded by loved ones, they exchanged vows. As Ayesha walked down the aisle, Curry stood awestruck, witnessing the culmination of their journey together.
