Who is Erik Spoelstra's ex-wife, Nikki Sapp? All you need to know about the former Miami Heat dancer

Erik Spoelstra and Nikki Sapp were married for nearly seven years before their highly publicized split in 2023. Here is a bit of a deeper dive into her background.

Aside from being married to an NBA head coach, Nikki Sapp has done well for herself professional. The two crossed paths because of basketball, as she was once part of the Heat's dance team. Along with being a dancer, Sapp also had a career as a middle school teacher.

These days, Sapp has broken into the world of podcasting. In 2021, she launched her own show titled "The Know With Nikki Spo."

Nikki Sapp covers a variety of topics on the podcast, including being a mother, business and sobriety.

Nikki Sapp and Erik Spoelstra did not start dating until after her time with the Miami Heat was over. They got married in 2016, and went on to have two children together. They have two boys ages 5 and 3, and have a one year old daughter.

As for Spoelstra, he is in his 16th season as head coach in Miami. In that time, he's posted a regular season record of 732-515 and led the franchise to two championships (2012, 2013).

In early 2024, the Miami Heat and Erik Spoelstra agreed to a contract extension, solidifying one of the NBA's enduring coach-team relationships. The eight-year deal is valued at a minimum of $120 million.

---

Nikki Sapp and Erick Spoelstra settled divorce on friendly terms

In late 2023, news emerged that Nikki Sapp and Erick Spoelstra are getting a divorce. After seven years of marriage, the couple has decided to mutually go their separate ways. The separation occurred amidst reports of personal challenges, with Nikki disclosing her struggle with alcohol addiction in 2020.

In a statement given to the Miami Herald, the two made it clear that it was a join decision to split. They also stated they plan on co-parenting their three children, and want privacy while they go through this big life change.

“We have made the difficult yet amicable decision to jointly file to formally end our marriage,” the ex-couple said in a joint statement to the Miami Herald. “We are both grateful for our relationship and remain fully committed to co-parenting our children and continuing to make them our shared priority. We appreciate everyone’s support as we move to the next stage of our lives and thank you for respecting our family’s privacy.”

While navigating his divorce, Erik Spoelstra scored a life-changing deal with the Miami Heat. The $120 million contract reaffirms his commitment to the franchise and brings a new chapter to his financial landscape.

Though the specifics of the settlement are undisclosed, with many fans intrigued to see how he manages both personal and professional changes.

Despite recent personal developments, Spoelstra remains dedicated to lead the charge for the Heat as they look to get back to the finals again this year. Right now, Miami is in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 20-16.