Jrue Holiday’s rise to become a two-time NBA champion has been nothing short of cinematic. Yet behind every buzzer-beater and lockdown performance stands a partner whose own trophy-laden résumé rivals that of her husband.
Lauren Holiday, née Cheney, isn’t merely “Mrs. Holiday.” She’s a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and a FIFA Women’s World Cup champion. Her prowess on the soccer pitch helped define a golden era for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
The Love Story of Jrue Holiday and NWSL Champion Lauren Holiday
Lauren burst onto the national stage as an elite midfielder for UCLA before earning her place among America’s soccer elite. She was instrumental in the U.S. capturing Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012.
Cheney was originally one of the alternates for the U.S. team alongside Briana Scurry, Kacey White, and Ali Krieger. However, Abby Wambach sustained a leg injury during a match in Beijing. Following this, Cheney was called to fly to Beijing and play for the team.
After winning a gold in the Olympics, she immediately returned to UCLA and led the Bruins to the College Cup semifinals. Now, she’s one of the National Soccer Hall of Fame honorees.
Moreover, Holiday’s impact on the NWSL was equally profound. In 2013, she earned the league MVP honors and the Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals. She also lifted back-to-back league championships in 2014 and 2015 with FC Kansas City.
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Now, looking back at Lauren and Holiday’s love story, it reads like a collegiate romance turned professional-sports epic. The two first crossed paths at UCLA in 2008. Holiday was a budding Bruin on the UCLA basketball team and was attending a women’s basketball game when a fan mistook him for teammate Darren Collison and asked for an autograph.
The NBA star politely told the fan that he was not Darren. At that very moment, Lauren, seated behind him, quipped, “Don’t worry, you’re cuter than Darren.”
Friendships blossomed, interests deepened, and as Holiday entered the NBA Draft in 2009 and Lauren advanced her own stellar soccer career, they started dating.
In 2013, they got married and later welcomed two children (daughter Jrue Tyler and son Hendrix) while navigating the demands of dual high-profile athletic careers.
Lauren and Jrue Holiday Face Adversity After Her Brain Tumor Diagnosis
In 2016, the couple faced one of their toughest challenges. According to TIME Magazine, when Lauren was pregnant with their first child, she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. She gave birth to Tyler in September and underwent surgery to remove the tumor in October.
During that time, Holiday (a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist) took an indefinite leave of absence from the NBA to support Lauren through surgery and recovery. The operation was a success, and Lauren’s comeback was emblematic of the strength she displayed throughout her playing career. Their handling of the ordeal only deepened the respect fans and peers held for them both.
Five months after her surgery, Lauren opened up about her cathartic journey via a poignant Instagram post. She wrote, “I have never quite known suffering like I experienced the last 6 months…. Every time I see this smile I’m reminded that joy does come in the morning. Maybe not the next day, maybe not even the next month but it comes.”
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In 2020, they launched the Jrue & Lauren Holiday (JLH) Social Justice Impact Fund, committing resources to combat systemic racism and uplift underserved communities. In May 2025, the NBA also donated $100,000 to the JLH Fund. The organization has supported over 200 businesses from minority communities and provided $5.3 million in grants to date.
Most recently, the couple expanded their sports footprint by investing in the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage, with Lauren joining the ownership group as an advisor and ambassador, continuing a journey that began on the field and now stretches far beyond it.
