Scoring a winning goal, stretching yourself to the limit, bonding with your teammates, and having fun — those are just some of the benefits of playing sports! Sports have been linked with lower amounts of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem and confidence, increased creativity, reduced risk of cancer and diabetes, and increased life satisfaction among other things, according to research compiled by the National Youth Sports Strategy. It’s no wonder why so many parents sign their kids up for youth sports — celebrity moms and dads included.
Many famous athletes have kids who’ve inherited their love for a good game and their athletic prowess. Some play sports with their parents, like Serena Williams and her daughter Olympia, as well as Tiger Woods and his son Charlie. Others were inspired to take up the same sport as famous parents, like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s daughter Simone. And some celebrity kids play a completely different sport from their celebrity parents, like the late Kobe Bryant’s daughter Natalia, who prefers volleyball over basketball.
It’s awesome to see celebrity parents encouraging their kids to play, watch, and enjoy a good game. From cute babies to grown-up celeb kids turned professionals, keep reading to learn more about these star athletes’ sports-loving children.
This article was originally published in August 2022.
Kate Middleton’s Daughter Princess Charlotte
Princess Charlotte is quite the budding athlete, already having expressed a love for netball, rugby, soccer, ballet, gymnastics, and tennis, among other sports. While both Kate Middleton and Prince William share a love for athletic activities of all kinds, Charlotte’s broad interest in sports is attributed to her mom.
After Kate visited the Maidenhead Rugby Club in June 2023, Nigel Gillingham, President of the Rugby Football Union, complimented the future queen’s sports skills. “She regularly plays rugby in the back garden with the children — she plays all sports with them,” he said. Gillingham added, “Apparently Charlotte is very much in her mold — very competitive as well.”
Princess Anne’s Daughter Zara Tindall
Princess Anne’s love for horseriding was so strong, she dedicated her youth and early adult years to competing — she even made it to the 1976 Olympics, becoming the first royal family member to do so. Her own daughter, Zara Tindall, inherited her love for all things equestrian as well. Zara also competed in the Olympics, earning a silver medal in 2012.
LeBron James’ Son Bronny
Like his legendary father, LeBron “Bronny” James is pursuing a career as a professional basketball player. While he currently plays collegiate ball for USC, he’s considered a first-round prospect as a future NBA player. In July 2023, Bronny went into cardiac arrest during a workout with the team.
“LeBron and Savannah wish to publicly send their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes,” a spokesperson said at the time.
LeBron James’ Son Bryce
Bronny James isn’t LeBron James’ only son with a bright future in professional basketball — his younger brother, Bryce, is also making a name for himself on the court.
In October 2023, the teen announced he received an offer to play for The Ohio State University after he graduates high school. With another school year left before he begins his college career, as well as his ranking as a four-star recruit, Bryce is sure to receive additional offers from other schools. Time will tell which one he commits to!
Brittany Mahomes’ Daughter Sterling
Sterling Mahomes is a member of the supposed “First Family of Football.” The daughter of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Current co-owner Brittany Mahomes, we have no doubt she will grow up to be a talented athlete (even if it’s just for fun).
It seems she’s just like her mama and has a major love of soccer. ICYMI: Brittany played a year of professional soccer in Iceland before moving back to the U.S. to support her Super Bowl-winning husband.
Lionel Messi’s Sons
Lionel Messi’s sons Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro — who he shares with wife Antonela Roccuzzo — all play soccer. Messi is always proud to share their successes, such as this goal Thiago scored in 2020.
The World Cup winner doesn’t go easy on his boys, though. In 2022, his wife had to remind him to “let the kids win.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Son Cristiano Jr.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s son Cristiano Jr. might have a seriously impressive soccer career ahead of him. In Jan. 2023, he was reportedly training in Saudi Arabia with kids two years older than him. Previously, he had played in the Manchester United academy while his father played for the team.
Tom Brady & Bridget Moynahan’s Son Jack
John “Jack” Edward Thomas Moynahan, whom Tom Brady shares with his ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan, definitely seems to have gotten his athletic skills from his twice-retired NFL quarterback dad. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers player shared several photos of the two playing basketball and football in April 2022, writing, “Dad still wins for now … I don’t love my chances next year though.”
Tom Brady’s Son Benjamin
Tom Brady’s middle child, Benjamin, has started playing football. And while his dad may have inspired him to play, there’s a different player he looks up to the most. Because no, he doesn’t want to be a QB. He wants to be a tight end. “‘I wanna be like Gronk!’” he told his dad, meaning Brady’s former teammate Rob Gronkowski.
Steph & Ayesha Curry’s Daughter Riley
Steph Curry told People in July 2023 that his eldest daughter Riley is showing a passion for volleyball. “Riley, she’s super into volleyball right now,” the Golden State Warriors point guard shared. “A light bulb went off, actually this year, where she’s excited to go to practice and dribbling or passing the ball around the house and all that type of stuff,” Curry explained. “So she’s found something she loves, and she’s passionate about it, and she loves to work at it.”
While he’s “introduced pretty much every sport” to each of his three kids — daughter Ryan and son Canon in addition to Riley, each of whom he shares with his wife Ayesha — the younger two have yet to express a solid interest in any one sport.
Kobe & Vanessa Bryant’s Daughter Natalia
Natalia Bryant, the eldest daughter of Vanessa Bryant and her late husband Kobe Bryant, inherited her dad’s love of sports, playing varsity volleyball for her high school. She told Teen Vogue that she fell in love with the sport at the 2012 London Olympics watching Misty May-Treanor.
“I was watching and [my Mom] was like, ‘Nani, you’re going to love this sport. You’re going to love volleyball. I’m calling it right now,’” Natalia told the outlet. She added, “I think [my mom] knew I wasn’t confident in my height. She’s like, ‘You’re going to play volleyball. You’re going to get confident because of this. There are all these other tall girls too, so you’re not the only one.”
Prior to her tragic passing, the couple’s second eldest daughter Gianna “Gigi” was a rising basketball star.
David & Victoria Beckham’s 4 Kids
All four of David and Victoria Beckham’s kids love playing soccer (or football as the English call it) like their famous dad, with various levels of success. Brooklyn, the couple’s eldest, was dropped from Arsenal’s youth academy when he was 16 and then decided to quit pursuing a soccer career.
Beckham told ABC Nightlineat the time, “One of my boys turned around to me the other day and said, ‘Daddy, I’m not sure I want to play football all the time.’ It broke my heart a little bit. He said, ‘Every time I step on to the field, I know people are saying, “This is David Beckham’s son,” and if I am not as good as you, then it is not good enough.'”
Romeo, the second eldest of the bunch, is a forward for Brentford F.C., per his Instagram bio. And Cruz and Harper Seven have played soccer with their family, too.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Daughter Simone
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s eldest daughter Simone, whom he shares with his ex-wife Dany Garcia, is the first fourth-generation pro wrestler in WWE. Her wrestling name is Ava Raine, and in July 2022, The Rock said, “That name, Ava Raine, can mean a lot of things, but to me and my mind, it means she’s going to lay the smackdown on candy a**es.” Just like her famous dad!
Tiger Woods’ Son Charlie
Charlie Axel Woods is his dad Tiger Woods’ mini-me on the golf course. The teenager, whom Woods shares with ex Elin Nordegren, played with his dad in the 36-hole PNC Championship in Orlando in December 2021.
“I went to golf tournaments to watch him play, and I’m looking at some of these scores he’s shooting and I said, ‘How the hell are you shooting such high scores?’ I gotta go check this out,” Woods told Golf Digest about Charlie in November 2021. “So I’d watch him play and he’s going along great, he has one bad hole, he loses his temper, his temper carries him over to another shot and another shot and it compounds itself.”
Serena Williams’ Daughter Alexis Olympia
Serena Williams, who has a stunning 23 Grand Slam wins under her belt, passed down a love of sports to her daughter Alexis Olympia, whom she shares with husband Alexis Ohanian.
They’ve posted several tennis videos together, including a cute one in April 2022 in which Olympia beat her mom on the court. Williams captioned the clip, “Sometimes it be ya own mini!” In Sept. 2023, Olympia revealed that she even has her own personal ballboy — doting dad Alexis Ohanian!
Dwyane Wade’s Son Zaire
Zaire Wade currently plays basketball for the Capetown Tigers, part of the Basketball Africa League. His famous dad, Dwyane Wade, was a member of the Miami Heat, where he won three NBA championships. He is now a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Zaire shared a picture on Instagram in which Wade sweetly held up his jersey to support him.
Shawn Johnson & Andrew East’s Kids Drew and Jett
Drew and Jett may be toddlers, but they are already taking after their athletic parents Shawn Johnson and Andrew East. Drew loves doing gymnastics like her Olympic gold-medalist mom, and in July 2022, she spent the day at Johnson’s former gym playing on the trampoline, walking on the balance beam, and having a blast.
And as for Jett, Johnson shared in August 2022 that his “new favorite toy” is a football — just like his former NFL long snapper dad.
Candice Cameron Bure’s Sons Lev and Maxim
Candice Cameron Bure’s sons Lev and Maxim both play hockey like their dad Valeri Bure. Lev played in the 2018-2019 season for the Odessa Jackalopes, part of the North American Hockey League, and Maksim played for the 2021-2022 season for Liberty University, part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association II. Valeri is a retired National Hockey League player, who last played for the Dallas Stars in the 2003-2004 season.
Bure told SheKnows in June 2016, “Our kids have always been into sports. I was a sports mom. My sons are hockey players — they grew up playing tennis, golf just like their dad. We’ve always been involved in sports and we love it.”
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