Parker-Tyus welcomed her son Yoshua on July 1, according to the Associated Press, which first reported her remarkably fast return from pregnancy to the basketball court. Speaking to the outlet earlier this month, she explained that she researched how quickly other athletes had managed to come back after giving birth and then created her own plan. "Can it be done? I always have the mindset that I'm built differently," she said.
A veteran of 11 WNBA seasons, Parker-Tyus signed with the Aces during the offseason fully aware that she was pregnant and could miss much or all of the 2025 season. Instead, the Queens, New York native has returned more quickly than even the team anticipated.
This is not her first experience balancing basketball and motherhood. Parker-Tyus welcomed her first daughter Naomi in 2021. She admitted to the AP that she felt anxious when speaking with the Aces about joining the team, fearing they might hesitate once she revealed her pregnancy. She recalled being "sweating bullets" during the call but chose honesty, which she said the team appreciated. She worried they might tell her to wait until next year, but instead she received support and reassurance.
Aces head coach Becky Hammon remembered the conversation vividly. She shared that Parker-Tyus became emotional and broke down in tears while explaining her situation, which led everyone on the call to cry. Hammon said the team immediately assured the player that they wanted her, both in the short term and long term. "At the end of the day, bringing a baby into the world is amazing," Hammon told the AP. "We just said, we'll wait for you. We look at her as a long-term piece."
After the announcement on Monday night that she would be suiting up for the Aces, Parker-Tyus celebrated online by reposting messages from fans and friends. Posts on her Instagram Stories called her return "Big momma back" and "like she never left," highlighting just how impressive her rapid comeback has been.
