Following a court battle between Dwyane Wade and his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, their transgender daughter Zaya has been granted a legal name and gender change.
A Los Angeles County judge signed off on the new identity for Dwyane’s 15-year-old child in documents obtained by TMZ.
The 40-year-old former professional basketball player’s daughter – who came out as trans back in 2020 – is now legally named Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.
The judge also granted her official gender change from male to female. The petition for the name and gender was filed last August.
Last November, Zaya’s mother contested the petition made by Wade, claiming that their child was being pressured financially to make the decision.
The latest: Dwyane Wade transgender daughter Zaya, 15, has been granted a legal name and gender change, following a legal battle with his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade; Dwyane and Zaya pictured 2022
Wade (left) previously asked the Los Angeles County Superior Court to throw out his ex-wife’s petition against their transgender daughter’s name change request. Siohvaughn Funches-Wade (right) claimed her ex is pressuring a name change for financial gains
The retired NBA star argued in court that he had the ‘full authority’ to ‘make decisions on behalf’ of Zaya when he was awarded custody of his two children in 2011 against Siohvaughn, RadarOnline reported last month.
Funches-Wade filed an objection to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in November over Zaya’s name change, accusing Wade of exploiting their daughter for financial gain.
In his latest filing, Wade said the allegations were ‘unsubstantiated.’ He also claimed that his ex failed to prove why the name change wouldn’t be in Zaya’s best interest.
Wade also said that Funches-Wade’s opposition to a court petition to allow Zaya the legal changes was ‘libelous’ and ‘nonsensical,’ TMZ reported at the time.
Funches-Wade told the court in November that the NBA alum was looking to finically exploit Zaya’s story amid business opportunities with companies including Disney.
Wade, who played for the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls during his career, told the court that it was in the ‘best interest’ of Zaya to approve the petition.
He said that ‘a court order affirming her identity will allow Zaya to live more comfortably and honestly in all aspects of her life – from simple introductions and food orders, to applying for a driver’s license and filling out college applications.’
Wade said the ‘petition is about allowing Zaya to take on the milestones of being a young adult with confidence and joy.’
Changes: The former professional basketball player’s child – who came out as trans back in 2020 – is now legally named Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade; Pictured 2022
Gender change: The judge also granted her official gender change from male to female. The petition for the name and gender was filed last August; Pictured with Dwyane and wife Gabrielle Union in 2021
Wade’s lawyers added, ‘Siohvaughn’s allegations are libelous at their core, and are, at best, nonsensical. Dwyane filed this Petition because Zaya asked him to.’
In August, Wade filed a petition to allow Zaya to legally change her gender, and name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. Zaya has been going by the name of Zaya for two years.
Funches-Wade previously said in court docs that she believed Wade ‘may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies.’
In her filed opposition, she said she wants Zaya to wait until she’s 18 before changing her name and alleging that Wade was pushing for the name change for business.
‘I have concerns that (Dwyane) may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies,’ she said in her legal filing.
She also cited a conversation in April during which she claims Dwyane told her ‘that a lot of money had been already made and that additional money will be made in relation to our child’s name and gender issue.’
‘(Dwyane) told me that he intended to make our child very famous due to the name and gender issue and also informed me that there would be endorsements/contracts associated therewith,’ she claims.
Funches-Wade and Wade were married between 2002 and 2010. They also share older son Zaire, 20.
Wade filed for divorce in 2007, the same year he met Gabrielle Union, who he went on to marry in 2014.
