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Eight-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard has officially filed for divorce from his wife, professional basketball player Te’a Cooper (referred to in recent legal filings as Amy Luciana Howard), after just over one year of marriage. The legal filing, submitted in Georgia, cites “irretrievable breakdown” as the cause for the split, signaling the end of one of the sports world’s most private high-profile unions.
The couple, who secretly wed in a private ceremony in late 2024, had largely kept their relationship out of the tabloid spotlight compared to Howard’s previous public associations. While fans initially celebrated the union between the three-time Defensive Player of the Year and the standout WNBA guard, rumors of a rift began to surface in early 2026 when the pair stopped appearing together at public events and deleted several photos of one another from their respective social media accounts.
According to the court documents, Howard, 40, and Cooper, 28, have been living “in a state of separation” for several months prior to the formal filing. The petition indicates that there are no minor children shared between the two, which is expected to simplify certain aspects of the legal proceedings. However, the division of assets remains a focal point, Howard, who earned over $245 million during his extensive NBA career with the Magic, Lakers, and Rockets, reportedly entered the marriage with a prenuptial agreement in place to protect his various business interests and real estate holdings.
Sources close to the center suggest that the pressures of their demanding athletic schedules played a significant role in the dissolution of the marriage. “Both Dwight and Te’a are incredibly driven individuals with massive careers,” a source told People. “Between his international commitments and her training, the distance simply became an insurmountable hurdle.”
As the news of the filing broke on Tuesday morning, neither Howard nor Cooper has issued a direct public statement. Howard’s legal team released a brief note asking for “privacy and respect for both parties during this personal transition.” The case is expected to move through the Fulton County Superior Court over the coming months. For Howard, this marks another chapter in a transitional year that has seen him move further away from his professional playing days and deeper into his role as a sports analyst and philanthropist.