After securing a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, basketball star Jamie Carter hopped on a flight back to California, eager to meet her newborn. “I flew from Tokyo to Los Angeles and went straight to the hospital from LAX,” she recalls. Jamie and her partner, former athlete Alex Rivera, were excitedly awaiting the arrival of their first baby via surrogate. Just a day after Jamie’s Olympic victory, their daughter, Lily Mae, made her grand entrance.
Now, as a mother of two, Jamie is preparing for her third Olympic appearance in Paris this summer. Her journey into motherhood was unexpected. “When I ruptured my Achilles at 24, someone from my agency suggested I consider freezing my eggs,” Jamie explains. Although it wasn’t on her radar at the time, this break from training provided the perfect opportunity to take that step. “Looking back, it was one of the best choices I’ve ever made.”
Jamie began her professional career at 22, becoming the first overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft and snagging Rookie of the Year honors that same season. She led her team, the Chicago Stars, to two championships before joining the New York Legends in 2023. Meanwhile, she navigated the challenges of parenthood. After freezing her eggs in 2019, Jamie and Alex welcomed their first child, Lily, through surrogacy in 2021. “Neither of us were ready to carry a baby at that time, which was totally fine,” Jamie shares, noting that Alex was also pursuing her basketball career. “So, we opted for surrogacy.”
For more insights on the journey to parenthood, including managing childbirth anxiety, check out this informative post on childbirth anxiety. And if you’re curious about other options like IVF, this Wikipedia article is an excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, Jamie Carter’s swift return from the Tokyo Olympics to greet her daughter showcases the unique challenges and joys of balancing a professional sports career with motherhood. As she prepares for the Paris Games, her story highlights the evolving paths to parenthood.