Okay, seriously, watching Juliann Faucette and Carli Lloyd talk about being moms and pro athletes is just…everything! They’re basically proving that moms can absolutely conquer anything. Like, they’re crushing it on the court and at home! Though, let’s be real, even they probably can’t reason with a toddler during a full-blown meltdown – that’s a battle for the ages, even for superstars!
Both Carli and Juliann worried it would be tough to return to their sport after becoming mothers—Carli shares 4-year-old Storm with her husband Riley McKibbin, also a volleyball player, and Juliann has 5-year-old Tre, plus 2-year-old twins Ramsey and Ruby—but they’ve managed it successfully.
Juliann told TopMob News in a recent interview that she feels much stronger now than she used to, and is more aware of how her body feels.
She admitted that rebuilding your strength after childbirth takes time and effort, but emphasized that you can absolutely become even stronger than before.
As long as you’re surrounded by the right squad.
Juliann struggled when she tried to return to playing after having her son, Tre. About six months after his birth, she signed a contract to play in Italy, but found it incredibly difficult to balance motherhood and her career. She explained that her team wasn’t very understanding of the challenges new mothers face after giving birth, and didn’t offer much support.
But what League One Volleyball – or LOVB, as the organization is known (and pronounced “love”) – actually looks like in practice is a lot of hard work, to put it mildly.
Juliann was initially unsure about rejoining a professional volleyball team as a mother of three. However, playing alongside her close friend and teammate Carli on LOVB Austin – a team in a women’s sports league that’s now in its second year – really helped her thrive.
Juliann loves having a regular nine-to-five workday, saying she’s home by 3 p.m. each day to get her child from school. Carli, however, appreciates the league’s flexible schedule, with games airing live on USA Network every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
If any changes to the schedule come up, they’ll be communicated ahead of time. Carli explained that the coaching staff understands family commitments and has said they won’t be upset if a player needs to miss practice due to pre-existing plans for their children.
It’s not about giving moms special favors,” Carli explained. “It’s simply recognizing everyone’s individual needs. And it’s wonderful to feel accepted as a mother, not judged for it.
She and Juliann recognize they both need to push themselves more than teammates who don’t have children, often missing out on recovery treatments like massages and ice baths.
Juliann admitted they’ve had tough moments on the road – “we’ve definitely cried on the bus,” she said, recalling particularly long trips lasting five or six days – but overall, they’re having a good experience.
She emphasized how lucky they are to have a coaching staff that really includes the kids. The kids get to attend practices and will even be on the court during games, creating a unique and irreplaceable experience.
Getting back to playing sports after having a baby can definitely be challenging for mothers.
“It was incredibly difficult,” Carli shared. “I was breastfeeding six times a day to provide enough for my daughter, and I ended up losing a lot of weight. I felt dizzy while playing—it was just a lot of unexpected challenges.”
She admitted that returning to competition after having children felt unbelievable. ‘It’s a little crazy, honestly,’ she said. ‘I took two years off, had a baby, and came back. Then I was away for three years, had twins, and came back again. It’s something most people wouldn’t think is possible, because it’s so challenging.’
But that’s what it means to be at the top of your game.
Juliann admits that reaching a high level in sports isn’t easy for everyone. She’s particularly proud of her own unique journey, and uses it as a lesson for her children. By believing in herself and showing them that, she hopes to inspire them to believe in themselves too.
Just like that, Carli wants to demonstrate to her daughter that with the right attitude, anything is possible.
She wants her young daughter to understand that effort leads to success, and to always have ambitious goals, she said.
She playfully suggests she’s not sure she wants to pursue her goals too aggressively, but ultimately she wants to demonstrate a willingness to embrace challenges. She believes that fully experiencing life means being brave enough to take risks and push through difficulties.
If Storm decides to pursue athletics, she’ll be continuing a family tradition, joining many other athletes who have followed in their parents’ successful footsteps.
For more athletes acing parenthood with their mini-mes, read on…
(TopMob and USA Network are both part of the Versant Media family.)
Many people consider him the best basketball player ever, so it’s no surprise his sons, Jeffrey and Marcus Jordan, also wanted to play the sport. After playing in high school, Jeffrey went on to compete in college at both the University of Illinois and the University of Central Florida, hoping to make a name for himself outside of his famous father’s legacy.
In 2005, Jeffrey told The Washington Post that while he didn’t consider himself one of the best players in his state, he was determined to prove he deserved to compete and wasn’t just relying on his reputation.
While studying at UCF, Marcus also played basketball, and he says his father was instrumental in helping him find his direction in life.
He shared advice whenever I needed it, but mostly he emphasized the importance of staying focused and working hard daily, believing that effort would eventually lead to success, he told The Gainesville Sun in 2011.
Bronny James (born LeBron James Jr. on October 6, 2004) played high school basketball at Sierra Canyon in the San Fernando Valley and later went on to attend the University of Southern California.
I’ve always admired how dedicated LeBron is to his family, and it really shows with Bronny. Even with his crazy NBA schedule, he always makes an effort to be there for his son’s games. I remember hearing about the time he actually chartered a private plane on a day off just to watch Bronny play against his old high school, St. Vincent-St. Mary – that’s true commitment!
LeBron said it felt incredibly surreal and special to watch his son play, especially since it was against his former college team. He described it as a ‘full-circle’ moment and unbelievable.
In June 2024, Bronny James was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, creating an unprecedented moment: he and his father, LeBron James, became the first father-son pair to play in the NBA simultaneously.
LeBron James’s son, Bryce James, began his college basketball career at the University of Arizona in 2025.
Rounding out the Sierra Canyon team of all-stars is Zaire Wade, the oldest son of former Miami Heat player, Dwyane Wade.
Zaire, who joined the team in December 2019 after transferring from Florida, explained to Yahoo! Sports that they have to get used to all the attention. He said cameras follow the team everywhere, and while he’s experienced a lot of attention throughout his life, this is unlike anything he’s ever seen – it’s on a completely different scale.
In April 2020, Zaire announced on Instagram that he was transferring to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, Florida, because he wasn’t getting enough playing time.
Zaire was selected 10th overall in the 2021 NBA G League draft by the Salt Lake City Stars. He later played for the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League and most recently signed with a team in the ASEAN Basketball League in April 2024.
Former football player Cha’iel Johnson might be surpassed by his own daughter’s athletic achievements. She’s a talented track and field athlete who won the girls’ 800-meter race at the 2017 AAU Junior Olympics when she was just 12 years old.
She competed for St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida and later joined the track and field team at the University of Kentucky.
One of the NBA Hall of Famer’s sons, who stands 6’10” tall, played college basketball at UCLA. His career was unfortunately interrupted by a heart problem that needed surgery.
He sat out the 2018-19 season after leaving his California school and then transferred to Louisiana State University. LSU proudly honors its famous alumni, including Shaquille O’Neal, with a 900-pound bronze statue outside the basketball practice facility.
After finishing his college basketball career at LSU in 2022, the player joined the NBA G League Ignite, a team designed to develop young basketball talent.
As a lifestyle expert, I was so excited to see Shaq’s daughter announce she’d be joining her brother, Shareef O’Neal, at LSU in 2020! At 6’2″, she’s clearly following in the family’s athletic footsteps and will be playing college basketball for the Tigers. It’s wonderful to see siblings supporting each other’s dreams and continuing their legacies together.
Choosing what to do after high school is a really big decision, and I’ve made mine! I’m a little nervous about the future, but I’m also ready for the challenge. I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve committed to playing a sport at LSU alongside my brother, Shareef O’Neal. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spend the next four years as a Tiger!
She joined the basketball team at Texas Southern University for the 2021-2022 season.
The oldest daughter of a two-time NBA All-Star played basketball with Izela Arenas, Gilbert Arenas’ daughter, while they both attended Sierra Canyon school.
In a December 2020 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Zach Randolph described his time playing for coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State. He said Izzo was a tough, demanding coach who pushed his male players hard. Randolph noted that female players had a different dynamic, often eliciting a more supportive and understanding response. He explained that as a coach, you naturally feel protective and encouraging towards the women on your team.
MacKenly jokingly claimed she had won against her father in one-on-one matchups three times, adding that he doesn’t bother trying to defend himself.
Terique, the 6’3″ son of an NFL Hall of Famer, initially joined Florida Atlantic University as a walk-on player in 2019. He spent most of his youth playing basketball before transitioning to football during his teenage years. He began his college football career at Contra Costa Community College and later transferred to Florida Atlantic.
After his college football career, Terique signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad.
A Sierra Canyon High School alum, he was a four-year starter and led his team to two state championships. He then played college basketball at Vanderbilt University before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022 with a two-way contract.
In 2024, Scotty Jr. signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies that allowed him to play for both the Grizzlies and their G-League team, after a short time playing for the South Bay Lakers.
Michael Jordan, the legendary Chicago Bulls player and five-time NBA champion, is also a father.
Dennis Rodman Jr., also known as DJ, was a basketball and football player at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California. After graduating, he played forward at Washington State University and later transferred to the University of Southern California in 2023.
After a game in 2017, his high school coach, Ryan Schachter, told the Orange County Register that he was a talented player who hadn’t gotten enough recognition in Southern California.
After his college career, DJ joined Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League in 2024.
While Dennis Rodman’s son followed in his footsteps playing basketball, his daughter, Trinity Rodman, chose a different sport: soccer. After her first college season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned professional in 2021, joining the Washington Spirit. In 2022, she also began playing for the United States Women’s National Soccer Team.
In 2024, Trinity won Olympic gold as part of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
It’s not surprising that Tiger Woods’ son is a talented golfer. Charlie Woods first appeared on television playing golf with his father at the 2020 PNC Championship when he was just 11 years old.
When asked about practicing before playing with his son, the golf champion said he hadn’t worked on his swing at all. He explained that his own game wasn’t a priority – he just wanted his son to have a great time and enjoy the experience.
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2026-02-04 17:34