Caitlyn Ivey, a former Purdue University volleyball player and mother of three, has stepped into the public eye to address swirling rumors about her marriage to NBA player Jaden Ivey as his professional basketball career faces uncertainty following controversial social media comments.
Ivey, 26, who uses the Instagram handle @caitlyn.ivey and lists her bio as “Jesus is King | Wife | Mother | Purdue VB Alum • MPH,” posted on her Instagram Stories this week denying claims that she had stopped communicating with her husband. The comments came after Jaden Ivey, 24, was waived by the Chicago Bulls on March 31 for “conduct detrimental to the team” following Instagram Live rants criticizing the NBA’s Pride Month observances and other religious topics.
In one post, Caitlyn Ivey shared a family photo and wrote that she had “never once abandoned that man through all the trials” and remained in contact with him. She called her husband’s claim that she was not texting him “a lie” and urged followers to avoid speculation, adding, “There is obviously a lot more going on.”
She shows off the DMs she has received because of the lie.
The couple met as students at Purdue University, where Caitlyn Newton — her maiden name — played outside hitter for the Boilermakers volleyball team. Jaden Ivey starred for the men’s basketball team. They became engaged in 2022 shortly after he was selected No. 5 overall by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Draft and have been married since that year.
They share three children: son Noah James, 3; daughter Shiloh Elizabeth, 2; and son Isaiah, 13 months. The family has largely kept a low profile, with Caitlyn focusing on raising the children while Jaden pursued his NBA career.
Jaden Ivey’s time in the league has included promising early seasons with the Pistons, a serious fibula fracture in January 2025 and subsequent knee issues that limited his explosiveness and playing time this season. He was traded to the Bulls at the February deadline, appeared in just four games and was shut down for the remainder of the 2025-26 season because of left knee pain before the waiver.
The social media episodes that led to his release have raised questions about his immediate NBA future, with some analysts describing the situation as a potential turning point for the former lottery pick.
Caitlyn Ivey has not elaborated further on the couple’s private situation beyond her Instagram responses. She has also shared screenshots of threatening messages she received in the wake of the controversy. Supporters and critics alike have weighed in on social media, with some praising her loyalty and others speculating about the strain on their family.
As Jaden Ivey, who is still owed the remainder of his $10.1 million salary for the season by the Bulls, looks toward free agency or potential opportunities overseas, Caitlyn Ivey continues to present herself publicly as a supportive wife and mother navigating the personal and professional fallout.
Flip the pages for photos of Caitlyn Ivey in happier times.
