Kiki Rice, the UCLA Basketball player, has gained the limelight as she leads her team into the Sweet 16. Her athletic potential has garnered attention to who her parents are.
Kiki was born to her mother, Andrea, and her father, John Rice, in San Francisco, California.
Notably, Kiki acquired her parents’ athletic genes, as the traits are visible in her athletic endeavors.
Key Takeaways
- Kiki Rice’s parents were collegiate players at Yale; her father, John, was an NCAA Basketball player, while her mother, Andrea, played tennis.
- John Rice didn’t continue his athletic career; he got an MBA and has been inclined toward business and management.
- In addition, Andrea saw the end of her athletic career as a tennis player and now invests most of her time in coaching and entrepreneurship.
- Kiki’s older brother, Teo, loves basketball too and plays for Yale just like his parents.
Kiki Rice, aka Kira, is a collegiate basketball player who started playing in high school and is now playing for the UCLA Bruins of the Pac-12 Conference.
In the recent game, she scored 24 points, significantly impacting the match against Creighton, although UCLA struggled with their off-ball screens and transitions.
At a young age, she has bagged multiple awards and honors, including gold medals in the 2023 FIBA U19, 2022 FIBA Women’s U18 Americas Championship, 2021 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup, and the 2019 FIBA Women’s U16 Americas Championship.
Thus, her talent and dedication to the basketball arena are considered legendary.
Kiki Rice Parents Were Collegiate Athletes Too, Back In Their Days
Both her parents, John and Andrea, went to Yale University, and they were collegiate athletes there.
John was an NCAA basketball team member, while Andrea played tennis.
Although John’s interest is in basketball, he didn’t continue his athletic career; he pursued a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School.
Thanks to his degree, he scooped significant positions in huge multinational companies. He became a Senior Manager at The Walt Disney Company, handling all the operations in Miami and Orlando.
Additionally, as his love for basketball persisted, he worked as the Managing Director of NBA’s Latin America and Japan division for four years.
He has played significant roles in his Management venture by establishing Management Leadership for Tomorrow.
As the CEO of a non-profit organization focusing on enriching the leadership potential of underestimated minors, he dedicated two decades of his life to mentoring, skill training, and networking to raise strong leaders.
On the other hand, Andrea has established herself as a renowned figure in athletics and business.
She was an exceptionally talented tennis player at Yale and continued her legacy by securing numerous national age group singles and doubles titles.
Additionally, she received the top rank of national number one in tennis.
In addition, she contributed to Team USA’s winning gold medals at the World Tennis Championships in Germany and Portugal in two consecutive years.
As it was her time to retire, she transitioned her career from athletics to coaching and entrepreneurship.
In her entrepreneurial journey, she co-founded Career Core, which emphasizes building creative talents and recruiting solutions. She served as its president for 11 years.
Her stance in business and coaching doesn’t end here; she is also an honorable board member at Bolster, a software development company.
Furthermore, she serves as the Managing Director for Management Leadership for Tomorrow, which is the company led by John Rice.
Kiki Rice seems to have inherited her outstanding athletic potential from her impressive parents, who are examples of both caring and competitive mothers and fathers.
Kiki Rice’s Older brother Mateo Also Has An Affinity For Basketball.
Kira Rice grew up with her older brother Mateo, and they share a very close bond.
Mateo, who also plays college basketball at Yale, goes by Teo, following his parents’ footsteps.
He admires Damian Lillard, Serena Williams, and LeBron James as his forever role models.
In an interview, he opened up about his reason for choosing Yale. He stated that he was in search of a place that would challenge him.
He believed his journey at Yale would help him step out of his comfort zone by pushing through his limits in the court and the classroom, ultimately leading him to become a better version of himself.
Both Kiki and Teo are drawn to basketball and have discovered an impressive drive that keeps them together in harmony.
Additionally, Kiki’s cousin, Allan Houston, is a former NBA all-star shooting guard, showcasing the roots of athleticism in her distant family members.
It is inevitable that athletic skills and competitiveness run in their blood and will be transcended from generation to generation.
FAQ’s
When Did Kiki Rice Sign The Deal With Jordan Brand?
She became the first athlete to sign name, image, and likeliness with Jordan Brand on 31st October 2022.
For Which Team Did Kiki Play For, Before Joining UCLA Bruins?
She played at the high school level for Sidwell Friends School in her hometown. Now, at UCLA, she is playing as a Freshman.
How Did She Perform During the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship?
The Championship was in Chile, and she helped bag the gold medal by averaging 7.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
