Coco Gauff, the dynamic American tennis star and World No. 4, has long been a devoted Miami Heat fan. Her passion for the team even fueled her during her victorious 2023 French Open run, drawing inspiration from the Heat's own playoff journey.
Recently, Gauff had a lively encounter with Jimmy Butler, who, after a well-publicized departure from Miami in early 2025, now plays for the Golden State Warriors. Butler, never one to shy away from a little friendly persuasion, seized the moment to pitch Gauff on a new allegiance.
“Switch alliances,” Butler suggested, highlighting the allure of playing alongside Stephen Curry. “Steph’s on my team now, and everybody loves Steph,” he added with a grin. Gauff, maintaining her loyalty, acknowledged Butler's rocky exit from Miami, expressing her sympathy for how things unfolded.
Despite Butler's playful insistence, Gauff stood firm. “No, I can’t do that, though. I do love Steph,” she admitted, echoing a sentiment shared by basketball fans everywhere.
Butler, ever the showman, turned the moment into a playful proclamation. “Coco is a Warriors fan!” he declared to the cameras, urging the gathered media to spread the word.
Yet, Gauff’s commitment to the Heat remains unwavering. Following her 2023 French Open triumph, she had drawn parallels between her resilience on the court and Butler’s tenacity during the Heat's playoff battles, particularly his calm demeanor when the Celtics pushed the series to a nail-biting Game 7.
Though she felt a pang of sadness as a fan when Butler left Miami, Gauff remains supportive of his career, rooting for his continued success even from afar. Her steadfast loyalty to the Heat is as much a part of her story as her powerful forehand and relentless spirit on the tennis court.
“By the way, your team hurt me [Jimmy Butler], by the way. The Heat hurt me. Yeah, the Heat hurt me. Switch alliances. And remember, Steph [Curry] is on my team now so like, everybody love Steph.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 9, 2026
Jimmy Butler to Coco Gauff 😅
(via @BNPPARIBASOPEN)
pic.twitter.com/dW1QmQSom9