Just three months after giving birth to her son, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is set to make her WNBA Finals debut — a moment that even she describes as surreal.
On Friday night, the Las Vegas Aces forward will step onto the court for Game 1 of the Finals against the Phoenix Mercury, marking an extraordinary return to professional basketball only nine weeks postpartum. The 33-year-old mother of two has quickly become a source of inspiration within the Aces’ locker room, earning the nickname “Superwoman” from teammates stunned by her resilience and determination.
“It still feels unreal to be playing again,” Parker-Tyus tells PEOPLE as the Finals approach. “I’ve just been in this blissful state.”
Her comeback has added yet another spark to an already dominant Aces team. Led by stars Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and four-time MVP A’ja Wilson — who finished the season leading the league in scoring and blocks — Las Vegas enters the championship series as the clear favorite after closing the regular season with 16 straight wins.
Parker-Tyus’ own return on Sept. 9 against the Chicago Sky was a joyful milestone for both the team and the veteran forward, who says she’s felt more support than at any point in her 11-year career. Even though she’s currently averaging about seven minutes a game, her presence has energized the roster.
Her teammates’ reactions — from excited shouts in the gym to affectionate “Superwoman” nicknames — often make her bashful. “I’ve never felt this much love in my entire career,” she admits. “This group is so special, and I’m excited to make history with them.”
The path back, however, has been emotional. Parker-Tyus recalls watching games from home during her pregnancy and feeling a deep longing to be on the court. That feeling fueled her commitment to stay active throughout her pregnancy, often training at night with the help of her husband, Keevin Tyus, while their young daughter Naomi played nearby.
Since Yoshua’s arrival, Keevin has taken on the bulk of family responsibilities while she returns to the WNBA grind. “I’m super proud of him,” she says. “We’re navigating this together and learning a lot as a family.”
Even with her inspiring comeback, Parker-Tyus recognizes that her body is still adjusting. She says she’s working toward regaining her explosiveness and has learned to give herself grace during the process. During her return game, she had to spend halftime pumping breastmilk — something she continues to do every two hours to manage discomfort and feed her newborn. The experience has added new layers of preparation, from managing tight muscles to staying properly hydrated.
Despite the challenges, her determination to return this season was rooted in something deeper: proving to herself — and to those who doubted her — that she could. More importantly, she hopes her journey will serve as a lasting lesson for her children.
“I want them to understand what resilience, strength and faith can do,” she says. “Even when others can’t see your vision, believing in yourself is enough to keep going.”
Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury tips off Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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