Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Wife Mariah Gets Candid About Postpartum Depression

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s wife Mariah Riddlesprigger is candidly opening up about a difficult subject.

The wife of the NBA star and mom of four, 33, shared a lengthy statement on Instagram on Sunday, Sept. 28, and revealed that she’s been struggling with postpartum depression since the birth of her fourth baby, daughter Aria, this past May.

Mariah began by sharing that since she’d been pregnant three times before, she thought she had it “all figured out.” However, she said that nothing could prepare her for becoming a mom of four and that while childbirth is the most physically painful thing she’s ever done, battling her mental health has been a whole other journey.

“The anxiety started before I even gave birth. Despite having no symptoms, my brain was somehow convinced I had a terminal illness that would prevent me from seeing my kids grow up,” Mariah wrote. “My panic attacks worsened, and my reliance on the internet as a diagnostic tool sent me into the darkest of spirals.”

The couple is also parents to sons Liam, 5, and Maverick Shai, 4, and daughter Eva Brooke, 2, all of whom they welcomed before marrying in 2024.

She went on to say that she knows she has a great village to lean on, but felt too ashamed to reach out. Mariah even described the first few weeks as “fun” until the chaos set in.

“But whether it was the blissful honeymoon stage of welcoming a new baby ending, or the immense (and quick) changes happening within my family, my mental health took a turn — and the dark thoughts started creeping back in,” she explained.

Mariah said she shut everyone out and didn’t respond to texts and calls. She isolated herself and hid what was going on.

“Like every mom, I held it together the best I could for my kids and my husband,” she said. “Looking back, leaning on my family is what truly kept me afloat. I wasn’t myself; I was showing up and caring for my family, but my mind wasn’t present.”

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She explained that she felt selfish for opening up to her friends and family, and didn’t want to add to other people’s plates. So Mariah kept her feelings to herself for months. Although she said she’s still struggling, she shared that she has faith now that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

“Sharing my experiences is one step in my healing journey. This is one of the first times I’ve even admitted to the silent battles I’ve been fighting — but this honestly feels freeing,” said Mariah. “I’m not who I used to be, but I’m on my way to becoming who I’m meant to be.”

Towards the end of her statement, Mariah shared that she’s learned to be vulnerable and that she’s not a burden for sharing how she feels. She also said she now knows she can prioritize herself and her own mental health moving forward.