The long distance has been tough for Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum and her husband Darren Waller since he was traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Giants in March, but it worked out perfectly Wednesday night as he was able to watch Plum win his second WNBA championship in New York .
The Aces beat the New York Liberty 70-69 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn to take home back-to-back championships, allowing Waller, 31, to root for his wife’s team without missing his NFL commitments.
Plum, 29, had seven points, five assists and eight rebounds in the Aces’ win while Waller sat courtside.
After the final buzzer, Plum ran over to Waller to celebrate, and the lovebirds shared a kiss as the cameras captured the sweet moment.
Kelsey Plum called out the Raiders coach after her husband Darren Waller was traded days after their wedding
Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts with husband Darren Waller after a win over the New York Liberty during Game 4 of the 2023
Sarah Stier/Getty
The Giants tight end and WNBA champion tied the knot on March 4 after reportedly dating since 2022. Plum’s Aces teammate Candace Parker and NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. were present at the intimate ceremony.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Last month, Waller spoke with PEOPLE about how the couple is navigating their new long-distance relationship.
Waller explained, “It’s not ideal not having the person you love the most with you every day, but we make it work.”
The NFL star said he and Plum “encourage each other” in their careers as well as personal challenges and health goals. The couple “got a lot better at just being there for each other” as Waller adjusted to life in New York, he said.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(687x253:689x255)/Kelsey-Plum-Darren-Waller-101923-1-71ef4153cdae4cb6b0211e2fd70a9382.jpg)
Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts with husband Darren Waller after a win over the New York Liberty during Game 4 of the 2023
Sarah Stier/Getty
Waller said the couple has found new ways to lean on each other amid the distance, especially “just listening and knowing what someone else is going through, and that’s been great,” he shared.
The athletic couple “dealt with it as best they can” and are looking forward to Pluma’s WNBA season ending so she can spend time with him during the NFL season.
The Giants star told PEOPLE, “She’ll be here in Jersey, we’ll be back living together and everything will be fine.”
Kelsey Plum on WNBA ratings, that ‘little’ All-Star MVP trophy and her new brand partnership
The now-married couple were fan favorites in Vegas before Waller’s trade, and Plum spoke to PEOPLE about how much she and the Aces love the city.
“The atmosphere in Vegas was incredible,” says Plum. “I didn’t realize the impact we would have on this community. They just appreciate winning. We are the first professional franchise to bring a championship to Las Vegas and people are really excited and proud.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education