Jalen Brunson Wife: Who Is Ali Brunson? Wedding & Baby
Jalen Brunson's wife is Ali Brunson (née Marks), his high school sweetheart of more than a decade — a licensed physical therapist with a doctorate from Northwestern, whom the New York Knicks captain married in a lavish Chicago wedding in July 2023 and with whom he welcomed daughter Jordyn in July 2024. Their story is one of the NBA's most relatable romances: two kids from Lincolnshire, Illinois, who grew up together and built a family while Brunson became one of basketball's biggest stars.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ali Brunson (née Marks) |
| Born/Age | Not publicly disclosed (late 20s) |
| Birthplace | Illinois, United States |
| Profession | Physical therapist (DPT, Northwestern) |
| Net Worth | Has not been publicly disclosed |
| Spouse | Jalen Brunson (m. July 29, 2023) |
| Children | 1 — Jordyn James Brunson (b. July 31, 2024) |
| Education | University of Illinois (BS, 2017); Northwestern (DPT, 2021) |
| Known For | Wife of Knicks star Jalen Brunson |
Who Is Ali Brunson?
Ali Brunson is a licensed physical therapist who has built a serious healthcare career entirely separate from her husband's fame. She earned her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and exercise science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2017, then went on to Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, where she received her Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2021.
Her professional path took her from a rehabilitation aide role at Athletico in Chicago to the W.B. Carrell Memorial Clinic in Dallas — where Brunson was playing for the Mavericks at the time — and eventually to ATI Physical Therapy in New York after Brunson signed with the Knicks. While attending Northwestern, she also worked as a reading and literature tutor, helping children ages 4 to 8 in the Chicago Youth Programs achieve academic success.
A High School Love Story
Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks met as teenagers at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and began dating in October 2013. They went long-distance through their respective college journeys — Brunson to Villanova, where he won two national championships (2016, 2018), and Ali to Illinois and then Northwestern — but the relationship endured.
In September 2022, Brunson brought the story full circle: he proposed on the basketball court at their shared alma mater, Stevenson High School, under a flower arch, captioning his Instagram post simply "forever." Ali's post featured the caption "you are a lifetime."
The Wedding: July 29, 2023
On July 29, 2023, Jalen and Ali tied the knot in a luxurious celebration at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago — a party, by their own description, designed to feel like "a big big party: celebratory and joyful, with lights, lasers, a fun DJ, good food, good drinks," rather than a traditional wedding. Longtime friend and former teammate Ryan Arcidiacono officiated the ceremony, with many of Brunson's Knicks teammates and members of his Villanova championship teams in attendance.
In one of the night's most memorable moments, Ali surprised guests by changing into the same dress she had worn to her high school prom with Brunson years earlier — a nod to how far the two had come since Lincolnshire. For the ceremony, she wore a custom off-white Eva Lendel gown; Brunson wore a custom black tux with velvet loafers. "She's always been by my side and I'm lucky to have her," Brunson said of Ali around the wedding.
The guest list told the story of Brunson's basketball journey: members of his Villanova national championship teams from 2016 and 2018, former Dallas Mavericks teammates, and his New York Knicks family all gathered in the city that means the most to both of them. "We wanted to bring all of our closest friends and family together in a city that means so much to both of us," Brunson explained — Chicago being home turf for the Lincolnshire-raised couple.
Daughter Jordyn
The Brunson family grew from two to three on July 31, 2024, when Ali and Jalen welcomed their first child, daughter Jordyn James Brunson. The couple had kept the pregnancy entirely private, announcing the birth on Instagram on August 20, 2024, with a black-and-white photo of the newborn holding Brunson's finger.
Since Jordyn's arrival, the now-toddler has made frequent appearances in her mother's Instagram posts — watching waves at the beach, wearing a toddler-sized version of her dad's jersey, and, as Ali puts it, growing up at Madison Square Garden. In a February 2026 interview with People, Ali shared how they keep their family life separate from the game: "He comes home, and he is my husband, or the father to my child… Good game, bad game, he leaves it at the arena when he comes home."
Courtside for a Championship
Ali has been Brunson's No. 1 supporter through the defining chapter of his career. She was by his side when he received his Knicks jersey in July 2022, and she cheered him on through the Knicks' historic 2026 playoff run — their first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years — culminating in the franchise's first championship since 1973 with a Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Brunson, the team captain, was nominated for three ESPY Awards in July 2026, including Best Championship Performance, with Ali stunning beside him on the red carpet in color-coordinated looks.
Brunson (born August 31, 1996 — age 30) was named the NBA Clutch Player of the Year in April 2025 and has become the face of the Knicks' renaissance. Through it all, Ali has remained the grounded center of the family — the physical therapist from Lincolnshire who happened to marry a basketball star, not the other way around.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jalen Brunson's wife?
Jalen Brunson's wife is Ali Brunson (née Marks), his high school sweetheart. They began dating in October 2013 at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and married on July 29, 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.
What does Ali Brunson do for a living?
Ali Brunson is a licensed physical therapist. She earned her BS in kinesiology from the University of Illinois in 2017 and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in 2021. She has worked at Athletico, the W.B. Carrell Memorial Clinic in Dallas, and ATI Physical Therapy in New York.
Do Jalen and Ali Brunson have children?
Yes. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Jordyn James Brunson, on July 31, 2024. They had kept the pregnancy private before announcing the birth on Instagram.
When did Jalen Brunson get married?
Jalen Brunson married Ali Marks on July 29, 2023, in a lavish ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago, officiated by his longtime friend and former teammate Ryan Arcidiacono. He had proposed in September 2022 on the basketball court of their high school alma mater.
How long have Jalen Brunson and Ali been together?
They began dating in October 2013 as high school students — more than a decade before their 2023 wedding — going long-distance through college (Brunson at Villanova, Ali at Illinois and Northwestern) before reuniting in the pros.
