Getting your hands on a 22-carat championship ring, like the ones the New York Knicks won in 2026, is no easy feat. However, for women who know how to navigate the high-end dating scene, receiving an expensive engagement ring from a professional basketball star is well within reach.
Julia Benville, a 29-year-old medical student living in Manhattan, is one of these women. She is engaged to Josh Sharma, a 30-year-old, 2.13m tall professional basketball player currently competing in Greece. After finding her partner for life, Benville now coaches single women on how to successfully become a “WAG” (wife and girlfriend of famous athletes).
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Julia Benville and her fiancé Josh Sharma, a professional basketball player currently playing in Greece. Photo by Instagram/@juliabenville |
Recently, Benville posted a video titled “How to Become a WAG” for over 71,000 of her social media followers. The content quickly drew praise from many single women. This positive response suggests that Benville tapped into a desire shared by many women: finding a partner who is a professional athlete. In their eyes, becoming a WAG signifies more than just love. It also offers the prospect of financial stability, a luxurious lifestyle and access to elite social circles.
“Just figure out leagues, look up names and team roster pictures, follow [a player] on social media, send him a message and go from there,” Benville told New York Post. “Don’t wait around hoping the world is going to magically give you the man of your dreams. Go after him.”
Benville did that in September 2020 when she reached out to Sharma via Instagram. After exchanging numbers and communicating via WhatsApp video calls, she boldly suggested that Sharma take her on a vacation for their first in-person date at the end of that year.
The two met face-to-face for the first time at an airport in Charleston, South Carolina. As their romance quickly progressed, Sharma showered her with lavish gifts, including a Chanel necklace, a Chloe bag and Jimmy Choo shoes.
In summer 2026, Benville received a massive oval-cut diamond engagement ring crafted by private jeweler Calista West, and the couple plans to officially tie the knot in 2028.
Benville rejects the notion that women date athletes solely for financial gain or social status. She notes that many of her peers within the WAG world maintain successful, independent careers in fields like science, sports management, nursing, journalism and business.
Benville intends to become the breadwinner in her household as a medical professional once Sharma retires, managing the household and caring for their future children.
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Julia Benville shows off her engagement ring with Josh Sharma. Photo by Instagram/@juliabenville |
High-profile figures such as Taylor Swift, Olivia Culpo, Jordyn Woods and Ciara somewhat represent this archetype. They have partners who are sports stars and maintain their own successful careers.
However, the life of a WAG is not always glamorous.
They face various risks, from infidelity scandals and romantic scams that can lead to financial loss, to the sudden termination of an athlete’s contract by their team. In particular, the stigma of being a “gold digger” often haunts women who are in relationships with wealthy athletes.
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Calli Joy Novak is engaged to basketball player Joshua O’Garro. Photo by Instagram/@callijoynovak |
Calli Joy Novak, a 29-year-old brand marketing professional in Manhattan, is determined to shift how society perceives partners of athletes.
She met her fiancé, 25-year-old Joshua O’Garro of the London Lions basketball team, via Instagram.
Novak notes that she and O’Garro have a lot in common, from their faith and family values to a mutual love for sports. She is also the daughter of a former Jacksonville Jaguars football player.
“We’re both super driven for success, and we’re both earning a living. I have a great job in corporate America, I make my own money,” Novak told New York Post.
After facing online backlash for a recent satirical video playfully claiming she was only with O’Garro for his money, Novak insists her relationship is built on love, arguing that women who marry athletes can still launch businesses, raise families and achieve their personal dreams.
“Being a WAG is great, but there is more to this life than just marrying rich,” she added.