Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
Branden Carlson comes from a large and supportive family that has played an important role in his journey from South Jordan, Utah, to professional basketball. The American center grew up alongside four siblings and was introduced to basketball partly through his father, Bryan Carlson, who also played the sport at the college level.
Carlson’s personal life is also more publicly documented than that of many NBA players. He married his longtime partner, Maddy Woolf, in 2020, while his parents, Bryan and Heather Carlson, supported his basketball ambitions from childhood through his successful career at the University of Utah and eventually into professional basketball.
Who Is Branden Carlson’s Wife?
Branden Carlson is married to Maddy Woolf. The couple knew each other when they were teenagers in Utah, with Carlson attending Bingham High School and Maddy attending Herriman High School.
Their relationship developed more seriously after Carlson returned from his two-year church mission in Manchester, England. Carlson has explained that the two reconnected at the homecoming of a mutual friend who had also completed a mission. They began talking and eventually started dating.
Branden and Maddy married in 2020. During Carlson’s college basketball career, Maddy was regularly mentioned as an important part of his life and one of the factors he considered when making decisions about his future.
While Carlson was completing his basketball career at Utah, Maddy studied law at the University of Utah. She gained professional experience through internships with a district attorney’s office and a private law firm while pursuing her legal education.
Carlson has publicly thanked Maddy for her sacrifices and support. When he began his professional basketball career in 2024, he specifically thanked his wife, parents and family for helping him achieve his dream.
Does Branden Carlson Have Children?
Branden Carlson has not publicly announced having any children. Reliable profiles of the basketball player identify Maddy as his wife but do not report the couple having a son or daughter.
In a 2023 interview, Carlson jokingly discussed how tall a future son might become because several generations of men in his family had progressively grown taller. At the time, the conversation clearly referred to a hypothetical future child rather than an existing son.
As of now, there are no publicly confirmed children in Branden and Maddy Carlson’s family.
Who Are Branden Carlson’s Parents?
Branden Carlson is the son of Bryan Carlson and Heather Carlson. His parents raised Branden and his four siblings in Utah and were closely involved in supporting his athletic development.
Branden Carlson’s Father: Bryan Carlson
Branden Carlson’s father is Bryan Carlson, a former college basketball player. Bryan played basketball at Chico State in California before later passing his love of the game on to his children.
Branden has credited his father with introducing him to basketball and helping him develop his skills when he was young. Bryan encouraged his son to improve but reportedly did not pressure him into pursuing basketball professionally.
Instead, both Bryan and Heather wanted Branden to make his own decisions regarding the sport. Carlson has spoken appreciatively about the amount of time his parents sacrificed travelling to tournaments and supporting his basketball career.
Bryan also contributed to the remarkable height in the Carlson family. He stands approximately 6-foot-8, while Branden eventually grew to around seven feet tall.
Branden Carlson’s Mother: Heather Carlson
Branden Carlson’s mother is Heather Carlson. Unlike her husband, Heather does not have a widely documented competitive basketball background, and she has generally remained outside the public spotlight.
Nevertheless, Branden has repeatedly included his mother when discussing the sacrifices his parents made for his career. Heather and Bryan supported their son throughout youth basketball, high school competition and his development into one of Utah’s leading college players.
Heather is also notably tall at approximately 5-foot-10, contributing to a family in which height has become an interesting talking point around Branden’s basketball career.
Who Are Branden Carlson’s Siblings?
Branden Carlson is one of five children. He has three brothers named Hayden, Ethan and Devin Carlson and a younger sister named Alexis Carlson.
Basketball has been part of the Carlson household, although not all of Branden’s siblings followed the same sporting path.
Hayden Carlson
Hayden Carlson is Branden Carlson’s fraternal twin brother. Branden was reportedly born only about four minutes before Hayden, technically making him the older twin.
Despite being twins, their physical builds developed very differently. While Branden grew to seven feet tall and became an elite basketball prospect, Hayden was reported to be approximately a foot shorter.
Hayden did not pursue basketball at the same level as his brother. Instead, he developed interests and talents of his own, including singing. Branden has humorously admitted that Hayden received the musical talent in the family, while Branden himself plays guitar.
Ethan Carlson
Ethan Carlson is one of Branden’s younger brothers. The University of Utah officially lists Ethan among Carlson’s siblings.
Unlike Branden and Devin, Ethan has maintained a relatively private profile, and there is limited reliable public information regarding his education, career or sporting activities.
Devin Carlson
Devin Carlson is another of Branden Carlson’s younger brothers and is the sibling who most clearly followed the family’s basketball tradition.
Devin has played college basketball, including time with Salt Lake Community College. His basketball career means that both he and Branden followed in the footsteps of their father, Bryan.
Although Branden reached the NBA level, Devin’s involvement in college basketball further illustrates how strongly the sport has influenced the Carlson family.
Alexis Carlson
Alexis Carlson is Branden Carlson’s younger sister and the only girl among the five Carlson siblings.
She has generally remained away from the public attention surrounding her brother’s basketball career, and very little verified information about her personal life has been published.
How Branden Carlson’s Family Influenced His Basketball Career
Family was central to Branden Carlson’s introduction to basketball. His father had previously played the sport at Chico State and began sharing his basketball knowledge with Branden when he was young.
His parents supported his development without forcing him to pursue basketball. Branden has explained that they encouraged him to make his own decision about how seriously he wanted to play while continuing to provide transportation, attend tournaments and invest their time in his ambitions.
The approach paid off. Carlson became one of Utah’s top high-school basketball prospects at Bingham High School before committing to the University of Utah.
His basketball career was temporarily interrupted when he spent two years serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Manchester, England. He later returned home, resumed basketball and developed into one of the most productive players in Utah basketball history.
His wife, Maddy, also became an important part of that journey. Carlson has publicly described his parents, family and wife as the support system that helped him reach professional basketball.
Frequently Asked Questions About Branden Carlson’s Family
Who is Branden Carlson’s wife?
Branden Carlson’s wife is Maddy Woolf. The couple knew each other during their high-school years in Utah, reconnected after Carlson returned from his church mission and married in 2020.
Does Branden Carlson have a girlfriend?
No. Carlson is married rather than publicly dating. His wife is Maddy Woolf.
Does Branden Carlson have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Branden Carlson and his wife, Maddy, have children.
Who are Branden Carlson’s parents?
Branden Carlson’s parents are Bryan Carlson and Heather Carlson.
Who is Branden Carlson’s father?
His father is Bryan Carlson, a former college basketball player who played at Chico State and helped introduce Branden to basketball.
Who is Branden Carlson’s mother?
His mother is Heather Carlson. She and Bryan supported Branden extensively throughout his youth and basketball development.
Does Branden Carlson have a twin brother?
Yes. Branden has a fraternal twin brother named Hayden Carlson. Branden is reportedly about four minutes older than Hayden.
How many siblings does Branden Carlson have?
Branden Carlson has four siblings: three brothers, Hayden, Ethan and Devin, and one sister, Alexis.
Does Branden Carlson’s brother play basketball?
Yes. His younger brother Devin Carlson has played college basketball, including for Salt Lake Community College.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
