Let’s be real for a second: growing up in the 90s, if you loved basketball, you worshipped the Houston Comets. I still remember watching Sheryl Swoopes glide down the court like she was walking on air. She was the “female Michael Jordan”—literally, the first woman to get a Nike signature shoe. But off the court? Man, her life has been a movie. High highs, rock-bottom lows, public breakups, and enough drama to fill a Netflix series.
Amidst all that noise, one name popped up a few years back and just… stuck. Chris Unclesho.
He wasn’t an NBA star. He wasn’t a rapper. He was just a guy from Houston with a trucking company. And for a legend like Swoopes, who had been through the wringer with the media, he turned out to be exactly what she needed. You’re probably here because you’re wondering: Who is this guy? How did a club consultant land one of the biggest icons in sports history? And does he have his own cash, or is he riding her coattails?
I’ve dug deep into the archives—past the headlines and into the real story—to break it down for you.
Also Read: Cate Abert and Jocelyn Leroy
Key Takeaways
- The “Friend Zone” Was Real: Chris and Sheryl knew each other for over a decade as friends before they ever went on a single date.
- Blue-Collar Success: Unclesho isn’t a celebrity; he’s an entrepreneur with a background in the nightlife industry (Club Sempers) and trucking.
- Ride-or-Die Loyalty: He stuck by Swoopes during her messy 2016 firing from Loyola Chicago, proving he wasn’t just there for the good times.
- The Long Wait: They got engaged in 2011 but didn’t actually get married until July 2017—a six-year gap that speaks volumes about their patience.
- Financial Independence: Chris brings his own money to the table, helping stabilize their life after Swoopes’ well-documented financial struggles in the mid-2000s.
Who Is Chris Unclesho, Really?
In a world where everyone is fighting for 15 minutes of fame on TikTok, Chris Unclesho is basically a ghost. And I respect that. He’s a Houston native through and through. If you know anything about H-Town, you know it’s a city built on hustle. It’s not about who you know; it’s about what you can grind out.
Chris fits that mold perfectly. He’s described as a club consultant and a trucking company owner. Now, “club consultant” might sound vague, but in the late 90s and 2000s, he was running Club Sempers, a legendary spot in Houston. If you were anybody in the sports world back then, you knew Sempers. It was the place to be.
But the trucking business? That’s where the real stability comes in. Logistics is a tough, gritty industry. You don’t survive in it unless you have a good head on your shoulders. This tells me Chris is a pragmatist. He deals in real-world problems—late shipments, fuel costs, logistics—not PR spins.
How Did They Actually Meet? (It Wasn’t Online)
Forget Tinder. Their story is old school.
Back in the Comets’ dynasty days, Sheryl and her teammates were regulars at Club Sempers. Chris was the owner. He was the guy making sure the VIPs were comfortable, shaking hands, running the show. For years, they were just cool.
Sheryl has admitted in interviews that she never looked at him like that back then. She was married to her high school sweetheart, Eric Jackson. Then she was in a high-profile relationship with Alisa Scott. Chris was just “Chris,” the homie at the club.
I think this foundation is why they work now. They didn’t meet when she was desperate, and he didn’t approach her as a fanboy. They knew each other as people long before romance ever entered the chat.
The Turning Point: A BBQ and a Bold Move
Fast forward to 2010. Sheryl had been through it. She’d come out as gay in 2005, weathered a public breakup in 2011, and was trying to figure out her next chapter. She was invited to a barbecue at Chris’s house in Houston.
This is the part I love: Sheryl Swoopes—a 3x Olympic Gold Medalist—was nervous. She said she changed her outfit four times before heading over. Four times.
When she got there, the dynamic had shifted. Maybe it was the timing, maybe it was maturity, but when Chris hugged her, she felt it. And Chris? He didn’t waste time playing games. He reportedly told her right then and there:
“I’m not going to let you get away this time.”
That’s a line, right? But it worked. She moved in with him practically the next day.
The “Not So Gay After All” Media Storm
We have to address the elephant in the room. When Sheryl and Chris announced their engagement in 2011, the internet broke.
Remember, Sheryl wasn’t just a gay athlete; she was the gay athlete. She had been a hero for the LGBTQ+ community. So when she popped up with a shiny ring from a man, people were confused. Hurt, even. The headlines were brutal. Blogs ran with titles like “Swoopes is ‘Not So Gay After All’.”
Imagine being Chris in the middle of that. You’re just a guy who loves a woman, and suddenly the entire world is debating her sexuality.
Most guys would have bolted. The drama was intense. But Chris? He stayed quiet. He didn’t do interviews defending himself. He just let Sheryl speak her truth—that love is about the soul, not the gender—and he stood by her. That level of security is rare.
Standing Tall Through the Loyola Scandal
Here’s a detail a lot of people miss. They got engaged in 2011, but they didn’t marry until 2017. In the middle of that engagement, Sheryl took a head coaching job at Loyola University Chicago.
It started great, but it ended in disaster. In 2016, she was fired after allegations of player mistreatment. It was ugly. Her reputation took a massive hit.
Chris was with her through all of that. He moved to Chicago with her, lived in the dorms (yes, they lived in a dorm apartment!), and watched her dream job crumble. When the world was calling her toxic, he was her safe space. If he was going to leave, that would have been the time. He didn’t.
The Wedding: Why Wait Six Years?
They finally tied the knot on July 21, 2017.
Why the long engagement? Honestly, look at what they survived. The media backlash, the move to Chicago, the firing, the move back to Texas. Life kept throwing haymakers. By the time they walked down the aisle, they had already proven they could survive the worst. The wedding wasn’t the start of their life together; it was a victory lap.
What Is Chris Unclesho’s Net Worth?
Okay, let’s talk numbers. People are obsessed with knowing if he’s living off her.
Here is the reality: Sheryl Swoopes filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2004. She was reportedly $700,000 in debt and had to sell her Olympic medals and Naismith trophy to pay people back. It was tragic. By the time she met Chris romantically in 2010, she was rebuilding, not rolling in millions.
Chris Unclesho’s net worth is hard to pin down because he’s a private businessman, but let’s look at the facts:
- Trucking Owner: Small fleet owners in Texas can easily net between $150,000 to $500,000+ annually depending on contracts.
- Club Consulting: This is a cash-heavy, lucrative gig in a city like Houston.
He wasn’t a billionaire, but he was stable. He brought financial sanity to her life. He wasn’t looking for a payday; he was likely the one paying the bills while she got back on her feet. Today, combined with her broadcasting gigs and his businesses, they are likely sitting very comfortably, but make no mistake—Chris made his own way.
What Is Their Life Like Now?
If you stalk Sheryl’s Instagram (we all do it), you’ll see a vibe that is refreshingly boring. Sunday dinners, hanging out with her son Jordan, and just chilling.
Chris seems to have mastered the art of being the “background husband.” He lets her shine. He lets her beef with Nancy Lieberman or Stephen A. Smith on Twitter if she wants, and he’s probably just there handing her a glass of wine when she puts the phone down.
Conclusion: The Anchor She Needed
Swoopes was the superstar. She was the one breaking records and barriers. But superstars burn out without a landing pad.
Chris Unclesho is that landing pad.
He’s a reminder that sometimes the best partner isn’t the one who can match your fame, but the one who can handle your reality. He took the heat, he waited six years for the ring, and he helped her rebuild when the world thought she was done. In my book, that makes his story just as impressive as any buzzer-beater she ever hit.
Curious about other WNBA legends? Check out this deep dive into the history of the Houston Comets.
FAQs – Chris Unclesho
Who is Chris Unclesho and what is his background?
Chris Unclesho is a Houston native entrepreneur known for being a club consultant and trucking company owner, with a background in managing Club Sempers and running a logistics business.
How did Sheryl Swoopes and Chris Unclesho meet and what was their relationship before dating?
They met through their connection to Club Sempers, where she was a regular and he was the owner; they knew each other as friends for over a decade before their relationship turned romantic.
What was the significance of the 2010 barbecue in their relationship?
The 2010 barbecue was a turning point where Sheryl became nervous about visiting Chris’s house, but after that visit, she felt a strong connection, and Chris expressed his desire not to lose her, leading to their subsequent relationship.
Why did Sheryl Swoopes and Chris Unclesho delay their wedding until 2017?
They waited six years to marry because they wanted to ensure they had successfully survived the challenges in their lives, including media backlash and career struggles, making their wedding a celebration of their resilience.
Is Chris Unclesho financially dependent on Sheryl Swoopes or does he have his own wealth?
Chris has built his own financial stability through his trucking business and club consulting, and while they likely combine their wealth now, he is an independent businessman who made his own way.
