Maryland Terrapins Star Len Bias’s Then-Girlfriend Madelyne Woods Says She Never Saw Signs Of Drug Use Before His Death
Emma Powell
Published May 15, 2026
Maryland Terrapins Star Len Bias’s Then-Girlfriend Madelyne Woods Says She Never Saw Signs Of Drug Use Before His Death
June 19, 2026 marked the 39th death anniversary of Len Bias.
July 3, 2026
This article was last updated by Manoj Gadtaula on July 2, 2026
Len Bias, an American college basketball player for the Maryland Terrapins, passed away on June 19, 1986, at the untimely age of 22 in Riverdale, Maryland, leaving his family and loved ones, including his then-girlfriend, Madelyne Woods, devastated.
The Maryland Terrapins star, Len Bias, died two days after being selected by the Boston Celtics with the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft.
He passed away from cardiac arrhythmia induced by a cocaine overdose.
In a testimony, Len Bias’s girlfriend, Madelyne Woods, then 22, stated that she was unaware that Len Bias had ever used drugs.
Madelyne ,
“I don’t think I had any vital information because that side of Lenny I never saw,”
She further added that she didn’t know about anything in his involvement with any of the people who were involved in substance abuse.
Similarly, Madelyne Woods stated that the late Len Bias wasn’t someone who would use drugs by choice, suggesting that peer pressure may have played a role.
Woods ,
“He just wasn’t like that. He just tried it once,”
It’s unclear when the late Len Bias and his then-girlfriend, Madelyne Woods, began their relationship, but they attended the same college, the University of Maryland, and graduated in the same year, 1986.
Late Len Bias’ girlfriend, Madelyne Woods, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland and began her career in the media industry.
Late Len Bias’s College Sweetheart, Madelyne Woods, Is A Renowned Cable Television Personality And Proud Mother Of Two Kids
Madelyne Woods, the college sweetheart of late basketball star Len Bias, is thriving in her career as a national radio personality and content producer.
She is a cable television personality who appeared on BET throughout the 1990s, where she anchored the BET Newsbrief, one-minute news updates that aired during program breaks.
Throughout her career at BET, also conducted several news and interview shows, including the opportunity to host Video LP as Sherry Carter transitioned into hosting Video Soul, the network’s flagship prime-time entertainment program.
After six years of working with BET Networks, Madelyne continued her anchoring career as a news and sports anchor for WJLA TV7, part of Allbritton Communications Company, in 1996.
She also served as the News Anchor of WDBO NewsTalk, part of Cox Media Group, in Greater Orlando for six years, and later worked as a consultant, publicist, and on-air correspondent for Walt Disney World for 17 years.
For nearly eight years, Madelyne Woods as an On-Air Personality and Digital Producer at Urban One, Inc. in Washington, D.C.
She earned her Master of Arts in Strategic Communications from Howard University, where she met her now husband, Michael Badger, a dentist based in Orlando, Florida.
The couple has been happily married for almost three decades and is proud parents of two children, son Bryce Badger and daughter Montana Miranda.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Len Bias was born Leonard Kevin Bias on November 18, 1963, to parents James Bias Jr. and Dr. Lonise Bias.
- On December 5, 1990, Bias’s younger brother Jay was murdered in a drive-by shooting at age 20.
- His mother is an anti-drug lecturer, and his father is an advocate for gun control. The couple established the Len and Jay Bias Foundation, which serves to encourage better examples for youth.
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Suruchi is a business management student with a strong passion for writing, particularly when it comes to sports. She loves creating articles and blogs that explore various aspects of the sports world. With a curious mind and a love for both academics and creativity, she constantly seeks to expand her knowledge and share her insights through her writing.
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