Seattle Storm’s Point Guard Erica Wheeler’s Journey Was Shaped By The Loss Of Her Mother, Melissa, And The Redemption Of Her Father, Eric Wheeler
Emily Ross
Published May 15, 2026
Seattle Storm’s Point Guard Erica Wheeler’s Journey Was Shaped By The Loss Of Her Mother, Melissa, And The Redemption Of Her Father, Eric Wheeler
During the 2026 WNBA season, Erica served as the primary backup to rookie Caitlin Clark.
June 7, 2026
This article was last updated by Manoj Gadtaula on June 4, 2026
Seattle Storm point guard Erica Wheeler’s mother, Melissa Cooper, died of cancer in 2012.
Recently, on Tuesday, June 3, 2026, Erica helped the Seattle Storm to grab an 83-77 victory over the Dallas Wings.
She with 2:47 left in the third quarter during a 16-2 run to give Seattle its first lead, 50-49, since it was 25-24 midway through the second quarter.
Altogether, Erica played 24 minutes, scoring 11 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists.
Wheeler signed with the Seattle Storm on February 12, 2026. Before that, she signed as a free agent with the Indiana Fever in 2026.
During the 2026 WNBA season, she served as the primary backup to rookie Caitlin Clark.
She was initially named as a contestant in the Skills Challenge at the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend.
Still, she was unable to attend due to global computer outages that delayed her travel.
Erica Wheeler Lived With Her Father After The Death Of Her Mother
Born on May 2, 1991, Erica was raised by her father, Eric Wheeler, and her mother, Melissa Cooper.
Erica shared a close bond with her mother, Melissa. Sadly, Melissa passed away on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Miami Hospital.
Wheeler got multiple of her mother. A picture of her mother covers her right shoulder with the words “My Motivation.”
She got the tattoos three days after her mother’s death.
Following the tragic incident, Erica lived with her father, Eric Wheeler. During much of her childhood, her father, Eric, was .
Eric became a more stable presence after being released from prison when Erica was in high school. Eric supported Erica in achieving her professional basketball career.
In May 2026, Erica presented her father with her jersey after the match. The Indiana Fever took to their official handle and wrote,
@eweezy_3 presented her dad with her jersey after last night’s game 💕
Point Guard Erica Wheeler Was Raised Alongside Her Two Sisters, Erin And Ebony Wheeler
According to Erin’s handle, she attended Dolphin Park High School and later graduated from Broward College.
She served as a customer service representative at Comcast Business from March 2026 to July 2026.
From December 2026 to July 2026, Erin served as the full-time emergency dispatcher at Marriott Hotels.
Since January 2026, she has served as the Human Resources Payroll Administrator at Emory Healthcare.
On the other hand, Erica’s sister, , graduated from Miami Norland Senior High School in 2011. She has avoided the media spotlight, so little is known about her personal life.
In addition, Erica’s cousin, Anotnio Hikings Herrera, works at the Miami Marlins and Hard Rock Stadium.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- In February 2026, Erica Wheeler joined the WNBA Changemakers Collective and their collaboration with VOICEINSPORT (VIS) as a mentor, “aimed at keeping girls in sport.”
- Wheeler earned a try-out in 2015 for the Atlanta Dream after not being selected in the WNBA Draft. She appeared in 17 games for the Dream in 2015, alongside Angel McCoughtry and Tiffany Hayes, but was eventually cut.
- In 2016, Wheeler was signed after training camp by the Indiana Fever and started in 25 games alongside Tamika Catchings.
- Wheeler grew up in the Miami neighborhood of Liberty City, one of the worst, most crime-ridden inner cities in America.
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Rohit Maharjan is a skilled content writer and editor, known for his expertise in crafting engaging and informative written pieces. Beyond his professional work, Rohit is also a passionate musician, dedicating his free time to playing the guitar and creating melodious tunes.
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