Dallas Mavericks Center Kai Jones’ Girlfriend, Freya Lodge Whitham, Is A Junior Student-Athlete At UNCP

Freya hails from New Zealand, where she played nationally for the U17 and the U20 teams.

April 19, 2026

This article was last updated by Manoj Gadtaula on April 18, 2026

The pair first revealed their relationship in May 2026.

Highlights

Kai Jones recently signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks after being waived by the Los Angeles Clippers on March 1, 2026.
Freya Lodge Whitham, Kai Jones’ girlfriend, is a junior student-athlete at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Both Kai Jones and Freya Lodge have maintained a supportive and affectionate relationship, frequently sharing their moments on social media.

Kai Jones, a 6-foot-11 center known for his athleticism and high-flying dunks, has recently signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

This move comes after his recent release from the Los Angeles Clippers, as reported by.

Jones is HERE 😈

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs)

The recent spotlight on Jones has piqued fans’ interest in the 25-year-old, including his dating life.

Kai Jones Has Been In A Relationship With A College Soccer Player Since 2026

Off the court, Jones is dating Freya Lodge, a junior soccer player at the University of North Carolina.

One of their first posts together dates back to May 2026, when Freya posted a picture of her kissing Kai, captioning it simply, “🩵.”

Kai her in November of that year.

Lodge, who has over 4,000 followers on her Instagram account, frequently shares moments from their relationship, including a TikTok video where she and Kai visited Disneyland with matching outfits.

Matching with my boo @Kai Jones

Originally From New Zealand, Freya Has Had An Impressive Soccer Journey

Hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, Freya Lodge Whitman was born to parents Sarah and Stuart Whitham and has a younger brother named Finn and an older sister named Holly.

Freya attended Christchurch Girls High School, where she excelled in soccer and was named captain and Most Valuable Player of the varsity team.

Her impressive high school performance earned her a spot on the New Zealand U17 National Team as a junior and the New Zealand U20 National Camp as a senior.

Freya continued her soccer journey at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP), where she is majoring in business management.

During her freshman year in 2026, she started all 21 games, played a team-high 1,930 minutes, and was named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll.

She also earned the title of Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Week on September 13, 2026.

Freya’s sophomore year in 2026 saw her start all 19 games, log 1,692 minutes, and be named to the Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team.

Now a junior, Freya’s dedication to both academics and athletics has been recognized, as she was named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team.

Her hobbies include chess, podcasts, and traveling, and she lists Manchester City defender Alex Greenwood as her idol.

Kai Jones occasionally supports her from the stands and cheers her on.

Freya, too, is often seen attending her boyfriend’s NBA games, wearing his jersey.

Kai Jones’ Recent Transitions Sets Him Up For A Promising Future With The Mavericks

Jones’ professional journey has recently seen several transitions.

After being waived by the on March 1, 2026, he quickly found a new opportunity with the Mavericks, who are dealing with injuries to multiple big men.

The Mavericks announced the signing on Monday evening, aiming to bolster their frontcourt depth.

Welcome to Dallas, Kai! //

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs)

In his debut game with the Mavericks, Jones showcased his potential by scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a loss to the Sacramento Kings.

This performance highlighted his ability to make an immediate impact and adapt to new team dynamics.

“I think I did some really good things on the offensive end, with my screening and rolling, my spacing and speeding the floor. I just want to continue doing that. I feel like I can grab some more rebounds and block some more shots, so that’s what I’m going to focus on.”

Kai…

— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil)

While Jones’s relationship with Lodge has been in the public eye, both have maintained a level of privacy regarding their personal lives.

Their social media interactions, however, reflect a supportive and affectionate partnership, with shared posts highlighting their bond.

As Jones continues his NBA journey with the Mavericks, fans and analysts alike will be watching to see how he leverages this opportunity to further his career.

His recent performances indicate a promising trajectory, and with the support of those close to him, including Lodge, he seems poised to make significant strides in the league.

In Case You Didn’t Know

Kai Jones attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns from 2019 to 2026.
He was drafted in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft with the 19th overall pick by the New York Knicks. He was traded to the Charlotte Hornets on draft night.
Jones is of Bahamian ethnicity. He was born in Nassau, Bahamas, to parents Deyvon Jones and Kasprintina Jones, and moved to the United States when he was 11 years old. He also has four younger siblings: Kaden, Liam, Luke, and Dylan.

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Manoj is passionate about both sports and technology, constantly exploring how the two fields intersect. With a strong interest in writing, he offers detailed analyses of sports events and technological innovations. As an avid user of different platforms, he tracks their development through thoughtful articles.

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