Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Pedro Salcas
Trey Lyles comes from an athletic family whose influence has followed him from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to Indianapolis, the University of Kentucky and professional basketball. The Minnesota Timberwolves forward was introduced to the game by his father, Thomas Lyles, a former professional basketball player in Canada, while his older sister, Tanika Lyles, competed in college track and field.
Lyles has also built a long-term relationship with professional soccer player Katie Johnson. The couple became engaged in 2023 after dating privately, although they have kept most details of their personal life away from the spotlight. As of now, there are no publicly confirmed reports that Lyles has children.
Who Is Trey Lyles’ Girlfriend or Fiancée?
Trey Lyles is publicly known to be engaged to professional soccer player Katie Johnson. Johnson referred to Lyles as her fiancé in an official National Women’s Soccer League feature, and their engagement became public in 2023.
Lyles proposed to Johnson during the summer of 2023. The engagement received attention in Sacramento, where Lyles was playing for the Kings at the time.
The couple have generally preferred privacy despite both having professional sports careers. Lyles rarely discusses his relationship in basketball interviews, while Johnson has primarily spoken publicly about her own soccer career.
There has been no reliable public announcement confirming that the couple have married. For that reason, Johnson is more accurately described as Lyles’ fiancée rather than his wife.
Who Is Katie Johnson?
Katie Johnson is a professional soccer player who has represented Mexico internationally.
Born in California, Johnson played college soccer at the University of Southern California before beginning her professional career. She has played for several National Women’s Soccer League clubs, including Seattle Reign, Sky Blue FC, Chicago Red Stars, San Diego Wave and Angel City FC.
Johnson has spoken proudly about representing Southern California during her career. In an NWSL feature about joining Angel City, she recalled being with Lyles in Beverly Hills when she received an important call connected to continuing her professional career in Los Angeles.
Her relationship with Lyles brings together two high-level professional athletes from different sports, although they have generally avoided turning their engagement into a major part of their public identities.
Does Trey Lyles Have Children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Trey Lyles has children.
Neither Lyles nor Katie Johnson has publicly announced that they have welcomed a child together, and reliable NBA, soccer and major-media profiles do not identify Lyles as a father.
As of now, Trey Lyles is not publicly known to have a son or daughter.
Who Are Trey Lyles’ Parents?
Trey Lyles’ father is Thomas Lyles. Official biographies from the University of Kentucky, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings have traditionally listed Trey as the son of Thomas and Jessie Lyles.
There is, however, an unusual discrepancy concerning his mother. A 2024 Saskatchewan telecommunications publication identified Sandra Lisi as Trey Lyles’ mother. Public sources do not clearly explain the relationship between Sandra and Jessie, so it would be inaccurate to speculate about whether one is a biological parent, stepparent or another parental figure.
What is firmly established is that Thomas played an important role in developing Trey as a basketball player and that Trey inherited his Canadian connection through his maternal side after being born in Saskatoon.
Thomas Lyles – Trey Lyles’ Father
Thomas Lyles is Trey Lyles’ father and one of the biggest basketball influences in his life.
Thomas is American and pursued basketball himself before his son was born. He played college basketball and later moved to Canada to play professionally for the Saskatchewan Storm of the World Basketball League.
His time in Saskatchewan explains why Trey was born in Saskatoon on November 5, 1995.
Thomas began working with his son on basketball fundamentals at a young age. Their training routine became particularly demanding after the family moved from Saskatchewan to Indianapolis when Trey was around six or seven years old.
One of the best-known stories about their relationship involves early-morning workouts. Thomas recalled that Trey sometimes woke him at around 5 a.m. asking whether they could go to the gym.
Although his father was tired, he continued taking Trey to train. Thomas later explained that the intensity of those workouts was designed to teach his son the meaning of a strong work ethic rather than simply improve his basketball skills.
That approach became central to Trey’s development at Arsenal Technical High School, where he emerged as one of the best high school basketball players in the United States.
Thomas Lyles’ Music Career
Trey’s father also pursued music under the name T. Lyles. His connection to the entertainment industry became another part of the family’s story.
When Trey faced criticism after changing his college commitment from Indiana to Kentucky, Thomas publicly defended his son and even wrote music connected to Kentucky’s “Big Blue Nation.”
Thomas has remained a vocal supporter of his son’s career while also emphasizing discipline and independence.
Who Is Trey Lyles’ Mother?
Public sources provide conflicting information about Trey Lyles’ mother.
The University of Kentucky’s official basketball biography names Jessie Lyles alongside Thomas as Trey’s parents. Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings media guides have repeated the same information over the years.
Those official basketball records therefore provide strong support for describing Jessie as one of the parental figures who raised Trey.
However, a 2024 publication from the SaskTel Pioneers identified Saskatoon employee Sandra Lisi specifically as the mother of Trey Lyles while discussing her son’s participation with Canada at the Paris Olympics.
The same Saskatchewan connection is significant because Trey was born in Saskatoon and has consistently been described as having an American father and Canadian mother.
Because no authoritative source has publicly explained why the official basketball biographies identify Jessie while the Saskatchewan publication identifies Sandra, the exact maternal family structure should not be presented more specifically than the available evidence allows.
Some online biography websites also use the name “Jasenka Lyles,” but that name is not consistently supported by official team or university records and should therefore be treated cautiously.
Who Are Trey Lyles’ Siblings?
Trey Lyles has one officially documented older sister named Tanika Lyles.
Both the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets media guides identify Tanika as Trey’s older sister. She also had her own successful athletic and academic career before her younger brother reached the NBA.
Tanika Lyles – Trey Lyles’ Older Sister
Tanika Lyles is Trey Lyles’ older sister.
Like her younger brother, Tanika was an athlete. She competed in women’s track and field at Indiana State University, where she was listed on the Sycamores’ roster during her college years.
Tanika also distinguished herself academically. Indiana State selected her as one of the student speakers for its spring 2014 commencement ceremony.
The honor came shortly before Trey began his college basketball career at Kentucky, meaning both siblings were experiencing important educational and athletic milestones around the same period.
When Trey entered the NBA with the Utah Jazz, Tanika also helped him adjust to life as a professional. Contemporary reporting from Utah noted that his sister lived with him during his rookie season.
She has subsequently maintained a much lower public profile, while Trey’s basketball career has kept him in the international spotlight.
Trey Lyles’ Canadian and American Family Background
Trey Lyles has strong connections to both Canada and the United States.
He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, while his father Thomas is American. Reliable Canadian reporting has consistently described Trey as the son of an American father and a Canadian mother.
The family moved from Saskatchewan to Indiana when Trey was approximately six or seven years old. He therefore spent most of his childhood in the United States but maintained an attachment to Canada.
That connection ultimately influenced his international basketball career.
Lyles represented Canada at youth level and later joined the country’s senior national team. He was part of Canada’s roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics, bringing his basketball journey back to the country of his birth on the international stage.
How Did Trey Lyles’ Father Influence His Basketball Career?
Thomas Lyles had an enormous influence on his son’s basketball development.
Having played professionally himself, Thomas understood both the technical demands of basketball and the discipline necessary for an athlete trying to reach the highest level.
Instead of waiting until Trey was an elite high school prospect, he began teaching those habits during childhood.
Their early-morning training sessions became part of family life. Thomas wanted Trey to understand that natural talent would mean little without consistent preparation.
By the time Trey reached Arsenal Tech, the work was producing results. He developed into a McDonald’s All-American, Indiana Mr. Basketball and one of the highest-ranked players in the 2014 recruiting class.
Lyles then spent one season at the University of Kentucky, playing alongside a highly talented group that included Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker and Willie Cauley-Stein.
Kentucky reached the Final Four after beginning the season with 38 consecutive victories.
The Utah Jazz selected Lyles with the 12th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, completing the journey from the early-morning workouts with his father to the NBA.
Trey Lyles’ Basketball Journey and Family Support
Family members were present when Lyles officially began his NBA career. Reporting from Utah following the 2015 draft noted that his parents, other relatives and his girlfriend at the time attended his introduction to the Jazz.
His sister Tanika subsequently lived with him in Utah, providing additional family support as the 19-year-old adjusted to professional basketball.
Lyles went on to play for the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings during his first decade in the NBA.
He then spent the 2025-26 season with Real Madrid in Spain, where he became one of the club’s important scorers during its EuroLeague campaign.
In 2026, Lyles returned to the NBA and joined the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Throughout that journey, his father’s basketball background, his family’s Canadian roots and the support of his sister have remained important parts of his personal story.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trey Lyles’ Family
Who is Trey Lyles’ girlfriend?
Trey Lyles’ longtime partner is professional soccer player Katie Johnson. The couple became engaged in 2023, making Johnson his fiancée rather than simply his girlfriend.
Is Trey Lyles married?
No reliable public announcement has confirmed that Trey Lyles and Katie Johnson have married. As of now, their last clearly documented relationship status is engaged.
Who is Trey Lyles’ fiancée?
Trey Lyles’ fiancée is Katie Johnson, a professional soccer player who has competed in the NWSL and represented Mexico internationally.
Does Trey Lyles have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Trey Lyles has children.
Who is Trey Lyles’ father?
Trey Lyles’ father is Thomas Lyles, a former basketball player who played professionally in Canada for the Saskatchewan Storm and played a major role in training Trey during childhood.
Who is Trey Lyles’ mother?
The public record is inconsistent. Official Kentucky and NBA team biographies list Jessie Lyles as one of Trey’s parents, while a 2024 SaskTel Pioneers publication identifies Sandra Lisi as Trey’s mother. No authoritative source has publicly explained the discrepancy.
Is Jasenka Lyles Trey Lyles’ mother?
Some secondary websites use the name Jasenka, but official Kentucky, Utah, Denver and Sacramento biographies instead name Jessie Lyles. Because public sources conflict, “Jasenka” should not be presented as definitively established without additional confirmation.
How many siblings does Trey Lyles have?
Official NBA biographies identify one older sibling, his sister Tanika Lyles.
Who is Trey Lyles’ sister?
Trey Lyles’ older sister is Tanika Lyles. She competed in track and field at Indiana State University and was selected to speak at the university’s 2014 spring commencement.
Did Trey Lyles’ father play basketball?
Yes. Thomas Lyles played basketball before pursuing a professional career in Canada with the Saskatchewan Storm.
Is Trey Lyles Canadian?
Yes. Trey Lyles was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and has represented Canada internationally, including at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Pedro Salcas is a dedicated sports journalist and NBA specialist focused on team strategy, player performance, and league news. Tracking action across the Eastern and Western Conferences, he breaks down complex game tape, roster moves, and statistics into clear, engaging analysis. From preseason storylines to deep playoff runs, Pedro brings a sharp analytical perspective and passion for basketball to keep readers informed on everything happening in the NBA.
