Mariah Riddlesprigger: “I live a normal life, I take my kids to school – Giannis is my best friend at home”

She has been open about her own experience with postpartum depression, recalling that during her pregnancy she initially thought she was gravely ill and feared she wouldn’t be there for her children. She hesitated to seek help, feeling she had no right to complain because she was “grateful for this life.” But as major changes and back-to-back pregnancies took a toll, she turned to therapy and followed her therapist’s advice to focus on gratitude: “I have health, love, and I’m blessed.” Medication also helped her recovery.

“Don’t be ashamed to ask for help,” she now tells other women. “You’re not a burden — more people than you think go through the same thing. Don’t feel embarrassed.” Growing up in the U.S., especially within the African American community, she observed how postpartum depression carried stigma, leaving many women to suffer in silence.

Asked whether neglecting oneself is a typical part of motherhood, she replied simply: “Yes.”

Riddlesprigger also spoke about the pressures of being the partner of a world-famous athlete. “I try to keep as much of our life private as possible. We share only what we prioritize.” Despite the fame, “I live a relatively normal life — I wake up and take my kids to school and their activities.” She admires other women married to public figures who also focus on purpose over glamour: “We can join forces and make a difference.”

Her relationship with Giannis spans nearly a decade (“Eleven years in February!”) and, as she noted, has seen its share of challenges — including the loss of his father at just 53, a moment that deeply affected the entire family and shaped Giannis’s path. “He never stopped being there for his family, his brothers, and his mother.”

Giannis has said that what he loves most about Mariah is “how she always helps others.” What does she love most about him? “I love him for who he is — how gentle he is with his family, and how he’s like my best friend at home. He’s not perfect — no one is — but he’s a wonderful person: protective, dedicated. I let him be himself and try to make his life easier, making sure he’s well and able to fulfill his potential.”

Although Giannis grew up in a poor neighborhood in Sepolia, Athens, Mariah’s childhood was very different. Raised in a large family in California with African and Mexican roots, she says her “village” shaped who she is — and she believes everyone deserves a village. That’s what she and Giannis aim to provide through the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation, which focuses on supporting families and communities in Nigeria, Greece, and Milwaukee.

“We use sports as a vehicle to support families and communities,” she said, emphasizing that their basketball academies are not about finding “the next Antetokounmpo” but helping children build character and confidence — “not just as athletes, but as people.” The foundation also supports parents, offering training and education to help them find stable work and income. “Everything is connected.”

She shared one powerful story from Nigeria: many girls were missing school to fetch water from distant wells. The foundation helped provide clean water and assisted in building schools. “Things we take for granted — like fresh water or access to a community center — are not guaranteed for them.”