Kiki Rice and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace have quietly been together for months, the couple confirmed Wednesday, as Rice heads into what could be her final college postseason. According to a video the pair released through WAG Talk, the relationship dates back to at least June 2025 — making their romance public amid Rice’s breakout senior season at UCLA and Wallace’s recent NBA title run.
Rice, a senior guard who has elevated her scoring, rebounding and efficiency this year, helped lead UCLA to its second consecutive Final Four and has emerged as a likely first-round pick in the WNBA draft. The announcement that she and Wallace have been together since last June adds a new dimension to a high-profile campaign for Rice, who will soon face decisions about turning pro. Wallace, meanwhile, arrives with championship pedigree after the Thunder’s recent triumph over the Indiana Pacers.
The pair’s connection is longstanding: they first met when Rice was in the eighth grade while taking part in a Jr. NBA program, the video says. That early acquaintance appears to have evolved into a relationship over the past year, with public outings that include attending a WNBA game together and making a joint appearance at the ESPY Awards. The social-media-savvy reveal through WAG Talk underscores how athletes now use digital platforms to control personal narratives.
For Rice, balancing the spotlight on and off the court comes at a pivotal moment. Her senior year has seen measurable improvements that have scouts and analysts projecting WNBA potential, and UCLA’s deep NCAA tournament run could further burnish her draft stock. If Rice joins the professional ranks next season, fans may soon see a unique dynamic of two high-level basketball players navigating overlapping careers — one already with an NBA ring, the other on the cusp of joining the WNBA.
Wallace’s championship with the Thunder elevates that dynamic. Having already tasted the pinnacle at the NBA level, Wallace brings experience Rice can draw on as she contemplates the transition to pro ball. The Thunder’s victory over the Pacers also places Wallace in the spotlight at a time when Rice’s collegiate achievements are receiving national attention, from March Madness coverage to awards-season speculation.
The pair’s public confirmation ends months of speculation after they were first observed together at events following June 2025. Their story — from childhood acquaintances in a youth program to partners amid professional success — highlights the increasingly interconnected world of elite basketball, where youth development programs, college stardom and professional achievement can trace a single line through athletes’ lives.
As Rice prepares for another weekend of high-stakes NCAA tournament play, the relationship announcement is likely to draw further media attention. Whether the two will appear together courtside again in the near future, or whether Rice’s next step will be to the WNBA, remains to be seen; for now, both athletes have acknowledged a personal partnership that has quietly been in place for nearly a year.