Nina Westbrook is a licensed marriage and family therapist, entrepreneur, mental-wellness advocate and former UCLA basketball player. Many basketball fans know her as Russell Westbrook’s wife, but her work extends well beyond their marriage.
Born Nina Ann-Marie Earl, she played four seasons for the UCLA Bruins before earning a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a specialization in marriage and family therapy. She later created businesses focused on children, relationships and emotional well-being.
More recently, Nina co-founded Nebbi, an app that uses brief check-ins and cognitive behavioral therapy-based tools to help users build emotional-wellness habits. She also speaks publicly about grief, relationships, boundaries and the pressures that athletes’ families experience.
Nina and Russell met while attending UCLA, married in 2015 and have three children together.
Nina Westbrook at a Glance
| Detail | Confirmed public information |
|---|---|
| Full birth name | Nina Ann-Marie Earl |
| Date of birth | January 16, 1989 |
| Age | 37 as of July 2026 |
| Hometown | Pomona, California |
| Education | UCLA and postgraduate clinical psychology training |
| College sport | Women’s basketball |
| Profession | Marriage and family therapist and entrepreneur |
| Current venture | Co-founder of Nebbi |
| Husband | Russell Westbrook |
| Wedding date | August 29, 2015 |
| Children | Noah, Skye and Jordyn |
| Public advocacy | Mental wellness, grief support and community programs |
The official UCLA basketball profile for Nina Earl confirms her full birth name, date of birth, hometown and college playing history. Meanwhile, TED identifies her as a marriage and family therapist, entrepreneur and mother of three.
Who Is Nina Westbrook?
Nina Westbrook has built a career at the intersection of therapy, entrepreneurship and community wellness.
Before entering that field, she competed in NCAA basketball at UCLA under her maiden name, Nina Earl. She later studied clinical psychology and trained in marriage and family therapy. Her professional projects have included a children’s boutique, a clothing brand, wellness media, conversation tools and a mental-wellness app.
Although her marriage connects her to one of basketball’s best-known players, Nina does not define her public work solely through Russell’s NBA career. Instead, she regularly discusses emotional health, family communication, grief and the challenges women face while balancing work, caregiving and personal well-being.
How Old Is Nina Westbrook?
Nina Westbrook is 37 years old as of July 2026.
UCLA records state that Nina Ann-Marie Earl was born on January 16, 1989, in Upland, California. She grew up in Pomona and attended Diamond Ranch High School before joining UCLA’s women’s basketball program.
Several celebrity profiles publish different spellings or incomplete versions of her name. However, UCLA lists her complete birth name as Nina Ann-Marie Earl.
Nina Westbrook’s Basketball Career
Nina developed a strong athletic record before beginning her wellness career.
At Diamond Ranch High School, she scored 2,291 points, collected 906 rebounds and recorded 544 steals across four seasons. She also earned multiple league and California Interscholastic Federation honors.
Her UCLA Career
Nina played forward for UCLA’s women’s basketball team. However, the coaching staff valued her versatility and noted that she could play every position on the floor.
During her college career, she appeared in 94 games and made 24 starts. She finished with 601 points, 245 rebounds, 117 steals and 95 assists. As a freshman, she earned honorable mentions on the Pac-10 All-Freshman and All-Defensive teams.
Her strongest individual college performance came against Arizona in December 2007. Nina recorded 23 points and 10 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double.
Why Did Nina Stop Playing Basketball?
Nina did not pursue a documented professional basketball career after UCLA. Instead, education and psychology became the foundation of her next professional chapter.
Her move away from competitive basketball did not remove sports from her life. She married another former UCLA player, remained closely connected to the NBA and later used lessons from athletics—such as resilience and teamwork—in her mental-wellness work.
What Did Nina Westbrook Study?
UCLA’s athletic profile lists English as Nina’s undergraduate major. Other professional profiles also connect her education with psychology coursework.
After completing her undergraduate studies, she earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a specialization in marriage and family therapy. TED’s official Nina Westbrook speaker profile confirms that postgraduate qualification and her work as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
What Does an LMFT Do?
A licensed marriage and family therapist helps individuals, couples and families address emotional, behavioral and relationship concerns.
Depending on the therapist’s training and workplace, the role may involve:
- Relationship communication.
- Family conflict.
- Grief and loss.
- Stress and anxiety.
- Parenting concerns.
- Major life transitions.
- Emotional coping skills.
Nina’s current public work focuses heavily on wellness education and entrepreneurship. However, her professional profiles continue to identify her as an LMFT.
This article provides biographical information and does not replace support from a qualified mental-health professional.
How Did Nina and Russell Westbrook Meet?
Nina and Russell Westbrook met at UCLA, where both played college basketball.
Russell represented the men’s team during the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons. Nina joined the women’s program in 2007 and continued playing through her senior season. Their time as UCLA athletes gave them a shared understanding of training, academics and competitive sports.
The couple began dating during their college years. Even after Russell entered the NBA in 2008, Nina continued her education and developed her own career plans.
When Did Nina and Russell Westbrook Get Married?
Nina Earl and Russell Westbrook married on August 29, 2015.
Nina confirmed the date through her official Westbrook wedding post, which she published the following day. The couple held the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel after becoming engaged in 2014.
As of July 2026, Nina and Russell remain publicly married. Nina continued referring to Russell as her husband in recent social-media posts, while the couple also celebrated ten years of marriage in 2025.
How Many Children Do Nina and Russell Westbrook Have?
Nina and Russell have three children:
- Noah Russell Westbrook, their son.
- Skye Westbrook, one of their twin daughters.
- Jordyn Westbrook, Skye’s twin sister.
TED’s speaker biography confirms the children’s names and identifies Nina as a mother of three.
The couple welcomed Noah in May 2017. Then, Skye and Jordyn arrived on November 17, 2018. Russell announced the twins’ birth by sharing their names and birth date publicly.
Nina and Russell occasionally share family photographs. Nevertheless, they generally avoid publishing school information, daily schedules or other details that could intrude on their children’s privacy.
What Does Nina Westbrook Do for a Living?
Nina works as a therapist, entrepreneur, speaker and mental-wellness advocate.
Over the years, she has launched several businesses and initiatives. Although some projects began while Russell played in Oklahoma City, her more recent work focuses on accessible emotional-wellness resources and digital tools.
The Little Ark
Nina founded The Little Ark, a family-oriented lifestyle boutique in Oklahoma City.
The business offered children’s products alongside classes and events for babies, children and parents. Rather than operating as only a retail store, The Little Ark aimed to create a community space where families could learn and connect.
The shop represented Nina’s first major step into entrepreneurship. It also influenced her later work in children’s clothing and family-focused products.
Minibrook Children’s Clothing
Nina later created Minibrook, a children’s apparel brand.
The line emphasized adaptable, durable clothing that families could keep or pass down. TED described Minibrook as a brand designed to elevate children’s clothing through quality and practicality.
Nina drew inspiration from her experiences as a parent and business owner. In particular, she saw a need for modern children’s pieces that did not rely heavily on traditional gender divisions.
Bene by Nina
Bene by Nina became Nina’s broader mental-health and wellness platform.
The project publishes discussions about relationships, boundaries, emotional well-being, personal growth and family communication. Nina has also used the platform to create podcasts, events and the Do Tell! conversation card game.
The card game encourages couples, friends and families to discuss topics that they might otherwise avoid. Meanwhile, Nina’s podcast work brings therapists, authors and other specialists into conversations about relationships and wellness.
What Is the Nebbi App?
Nebbi is Nina Westbrook’s latest major business project.
Nina co-founded the emotional-wellness app, which launched in 2025. According to the official Nebbi mental-wellness app, the platform uses cognitive behavioral therapy-based tools, brief daily check-ins and guided exercises to help users recognize stress and develop healthier emotional habits.
The app does not ask users to complete long sessions each day. Instead, it emphasizes short check-ins designed to fit into busy schedules.
Nina created the platform partly for people who appear successful or capable from the outside but still carry significant emotional pressure. The app’s public materials focus especially on burnout, invisible workloads and the daily demands many women manage.
Nina Westbrook’s TED Talk
In June 2021, TED published Nina’s talk, “How to support yourself (and others) through grief.”
During the seven-minute presentation, she discussed grief as a natural response to different types of loss. She also explained that people can experience grief after changes in relationships, identity, health, employment or expectations—not only after a death.
Readers can view Nina Westbrook’s TED talk about grief through TED’s official YouTube channel.
Her message encourages people to acknowledge difficult emotions rather than rush themselves or others toward recovery. However, she does not present one fixed timetable because grief affects each person differently.
Nina Westbrook’s Community and Charity Work
Nina also supports education and community wellness through Russell Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation.
TED identifies her as a foundation board member. In addition, the organization has partnered with Nina’s wellness projects on events and programs for women, young people and underserved communities.
Westbrook Academy
Nina joined Russell and business partner Donnell Beverly in supporting Westbrook Academy in South Los Angeles.
The school partnership aims to provide middle- and high-school students with academics, leadership development and athletic opportunities. The foundation celebrated an expanded campus in 2024 that could serve more than 400 students.
Women’s Mental-Wellness Events
Bene by Nina and the Why Not? Foundation have also organized wellness events for women and families.
In 2026, the organizations presented their fourth annual Women’s Wellness Brunch. The event included conversations about leadership, community support and emotional health.
Nina Westbrook and Online Harassment
Nina has spoken publicly about the abuse that professional athletes’ families can receive from angry fans.
In February 2026, she shared a threatening email that arrived after one of Russell’s games. Nina said messages of that kind had become disturbingly common and connected the hostility with the emotional effects of sports-betting culture.
She had raised similar concerns in 2022 after receiving harassment and threats connected with criticism of Russell’s performance. Russell later emphasized that basketball did not justify attacks against his family.
Nina’s comments did not suggest that every sports bettor or fan behaves abusively. Instead, she argued that losing money or feeling frustrated about a game never excuses threats against athletes or their relatives.
Is Nina Westbrook Still Married to Russell Westbrook?
Yes. Current public information continues to identify Nina and Russell Westbrook as married.
They celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in 2025, and Nina continued sharing family posts that referred to Russell as her husband in 2026. Neither has announced a separation or divorce.
The couple still appears together at public events. However, they do not discuss every private aspect of their marriage, so responsible coverage should avoid turning normal periods without joint photographs into breakup speculation.
What Is Nina Westbrook’s Net Worth?
No reliable public financial record confirms Nina Westbrook’s individual net worth.
Websites that publish exact figures generally lack access to her:
- Business accounts.
- Private investments.
- Therapy income.
- App ownership terms.
- Property records.
- Debts and expenses.
Russell Westbrook’s NBA earnings also do not reveal how the couple divides or owns its assets. Therefore, any precise estimate of Nina’s personal wealth remains speculative.
Nina Westbrook’s Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Nina Ann-Marie Earl was born in California |
| 2007 | She began playing basketball at UCLA |
| 2008 | She earned Pac-10 freshman and defensive recognition |
| 2011 | She completed her UCLA basketball career |
| 2015 | Nina married Russell Westbrook |
| 2017 | The couple welcomed son Noah |
| 2018 | Twin daughters Skye and Jordyn were born |
| 2018 | Nina launched The Little Ark in Oklahoma City |
| 2020 | She expanded into children’s clothing with Minibrook |
| 2021 | TED published her talk about grief |
| 2022 | Nina expanded Bene by Nina and relationship-focused content |
| 2025 | She co-launched the Nebbi emotional-wellness app |
| 2026 | Bene by Nina and the Why Not? Foundation held their fourth wellness brunch |
The timeline combines UCLA records, official business information, family announcements and TED’s professional biography.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nina Westbrook?
Nina Westbrook is a licensed marriage and family therapist, entrepreneur, former UCLA basketball player and mental-wellness advocate. She is also married to NBA player Russell Westbrook.
What is Nina Westbrook’s maiden name?
Her maiden name is Nina Earl. UCLA lists her full birth name as Nina Ann-Marie Earl.
How old is Nina Westbrook?
Nina was born on January 16, 1989, which makes her 37 years old as of July 2026.
Did Nina Westbrook play basketball?
Yes. She played forward for UCLA’s women’s basketball team and appeared in 94 college games.
Is Nina Westbrook a licensed therapist?
TED and her current professional profiles identify her as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a marriage and family therapy specialization.
How did Nina meet Russell Westbrook?
They met at UCLA while both played college basketball.
How long have Nina and Russell Westbrook been married?
They married on August 29, 2015, and celebrated ten years of marriage in 2025.
How many children does Nina Westbrook have?
Nina and Russell have three children: son Noah and twin daughters Skye and Jordyn.
What is Nebbi?
Nebbi is an emotional-wellness app co-founded by Nina. It offers CBT-based tools, brief mood check-ins and guided exercises designed to support daily emotional awareness.
What was Nina Westbrook’s TED talk about?
Her TED talk explains how people can support themselves and others through grief. It also recognizes that grief can follow many forms of change and loss.
Conclusion
Nina Westbrook has created a professional identity that combines athletics, psychology, entrepreneurship and public service.
She first gained recognition as Nina Earl, a versatile UCLA basketball player. After college, she trained in marriage and family therapy and developed businesses serving children, parents and people seeking emotional-wellness resources.
Today, Nina leads projects such as Bene by Nina and Nebbi while supporting community programs through the Why Not? Foundation. Her marriage to Russell Westbrook remains an important part of her story, but her qualifications, businesses and advocacy establish a career that stands on its own.
