The history of Natisha Hiedeman parents is far from being smooth and perfect, but that is exactly what makes this family so special. Natisha’s mother, Shelly Hiedeman, was a 19-year-old single mother with no car at all. Natisha’s father, Sandy Cohen Jr., spent some periods of her childhood behind bars but earned back into her life afterwards. That is how Natisha became a Seattle Storm player with unique two-folded heritage, with a pro-baller brother and with probably the most down-to-earth reputation in WNBA.
This page tells that family story in full, then lays out her full career stats and milestones.
The Short Answer On Natisha Hiedeman parents:
Natisha Hiedeman was born on February 10, 1997, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Shelly Hiedeman (mother) and Sandy Cohen Jr., otherwise called Sandy Cohen II (father). She was mainly raised by her mother. Through her father Natisha got Jewish heritage and also connections to Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, as well as a pro-baller half-brother, Sandy Cohen III.
| Family Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Mother | Shelly Hiedeman |
| Father | Sandy Cohen Jr. (also cited as Sandy Cohen II) |
| Half-brother | Sandy Cohen III (professional basketball player) |
| Brother | Silas Cohen |
| Siblings total | One of four siblings |
| Heritage | Jewish descent and Oneida Nation of Wisconsin roots |
| Fiancee | Jasmine Thomas (former WNBA guard) |
Shelly Hiedeman: The Teen Mom Who Built A Star:
All of the above said can be traced to Natisha’s mother. Shelly became a mother to Natisha when she was around 19 and became a single mother fighting hard with financial difficulties without even a car of her own. All she did was done just for the sake of her daughter because she wanted to make all Natisha’s dreams come true.
There were also some problems during Natisha’s early age. Immediately after her birth Natisha needed to use a full body harness due to hyperextension in her left leg, which became an obstacle for the future great athlete. Natisha always said that it was her mother’s determination that gave her such strong character on the court and that she couldn’t imagine having a child at 19 or 20 years old.
Sandy Cohen Jr.: The Father Who Earned A Second Chance:
This is one of the only true stories about her relationship with her father, Sandy Cohen Jr. The fact that her father spent time in and out of jail during her formative years has never been anything less than truthful from her point of view. She stated that she loved him with all her heart but he made plenty of mistakes in life during her upbringing. What makes the story amazing is the reconciliation process where Sandy admits he had a part to play in his absence but is happy to see his success and grateful to her for a second chance.
A second chance is finally here. In April 2025, when her jersey was retired at Green Bay Southwest High School, both her parents were present there together, appreciating their daughter who was nurtured differently.
The Village Behind Her: The Gevaert Family:
Here is the detail almost every other write-up skips. Shelly did not do it entirely alone. Her high-school friend Angie Rusk (née Gevaert) and Angie’s parents, Mike and Ann Gevaert, stepped in as an extended family. In a story that sounds almost cinematic, a teenage Angie was the one who drove Shelly to the hospital in the middle of the night when Natisha was born. That chosen family remained part of Natisha’s support system for years.
A Rare Heritage: Jewish Roots And The Oneida Nation:
The heritage that Natisha Hiedeman parents passed down is genuinely uncommon in pro sports. Through her father’s side, the family holds Jewish ancestry, and that same lineage carried Israeli citizenship for her half-brother. The family also has ties to the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, giving Natisha Native American roots as well. That blend of Jewish and Oneida heritage is a core part of how she understands her own identity, and it is a background very few WNBA players share.
Hoops Run In The Blood: Her Brothers:
There is athleticism in abundance in this family. Sandy Cohen III, Natisha’s half-brother, took an almost identical route – he became a star in Wisconsin, played for Marquette (like Natisha), finished at Green Bay, was undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, and started his professional basketball career abroad. Having obtained Israeli citizenship through the family’s Jewish background, Sandy played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bnei Herzliya, and Hapoel Afula teams. Moreover, Natisha has a younger brother, Silas Cohen, and there are four siblings altogether.
Natisha Hiedeman: Quick Bio:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Natisha Ann Ida Hiedeman |
| Date of birth | February 10, 1997 |
| Age | 29 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Nickname | T-Spoon |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (approx 1.73 m) |
| Weight | Around 132 lbs (approx 60 kg) |
| Position | Guard |
| Current team | Seattle Storm |
| College | Marquette University (2015 to 2019) |
| High school | Green Bay Southwest High School |
| WNBA draft | 18th overall, 2019 (Minnesota Lynx) |
| Fiancee | Jasmine Thomas |
From Green Bay To The WNBA: Her Career Path:
Natisha got her moniker “T-Spoon” when she was young in connection with the famous WNBA star, Teresa Weatherspoon. Natisha proved worthy of it during her career at Green Bay Southwest, as she scored 1,773 points overall and average 25.6 points per game as a senior player. She was such a star that number five of hers became the first one ever to be retired among Southwest athletes. In addition, she was a serious runner; she held the record in such events as triple jump, high jump, long jump, and 100-meter hurdles.
During her time at Marquette, Natisha achieved legendary status, being awarded the 2019 Big East Player of the Year, getting AP Honorable Mention All-American and becoming the first Golden Eagle to reach 300 three-pointers. In 2019, she was selected 18th overall in the draft, which is the highest pick in the WNBA draft for Marquette women ever and, on the draft board, is the highest Marquette selection since Dwyane Wade.
Natisha’s path to professional success started rather bumpy. She was drafted by Minnesota, but her rights were immediately traded to Connecticut, waived from the roster, then had a brief stint with the Atlanta Dream, and finally returned to the Connecticut Sun playing for five seasons. The 2024 trade transaction sent her back home to the Midwest with the Minnesota Lynx, winning the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup and having the best year ever in 2025. In 2026, she signed a two-year contract with the Seattle Storm as a player who has a good chance of becoming a starting guard.
Career Stats At A Glance:
These are her durable, season-over-season markers rather than a single hot streak, current through the 2025 WNBA season.
| Career Milestone / Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Career scoring average | Around 7.3 points per game |
| Career assists average | Around 2.5 assists per game |
| Career rebounds average | Around 1.8 rebounds per game |
| Career three-point shooting | Roughly 38 percent from range |
| Career points | Eclipsed 1,500 WNBA points |
| Games (through 2025) | 234 games, with 80 starts |
| WNBA experience | Seven seasons entering 2026 |
| Level | Key Numbers |
|---|---|
| High school (Green Bay Southwest) | 1,773 points, 25.6 ppg as a senior |
| College (Marquette) | 1,913 points, 621 rebounds, 457 assists |
| Best WNBA season (2025, Lynx) | 9.1 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.9 rpg, career-high 49.2% FG |
Honors And Recognitions:
| Award / Honor | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2024 Commissioner’s Cup | Champion with the Minnesota Lynx |
| 2019 Big East Player of the Year | Unanimous selection at Marquette |
| AP All-American | Honorable Mention (2019) |
| Sylvia Fowles Altruism Award | 2025, for community kindness and selflessness |
| Sixth Player of the Year | Finished second in 2025 voting |
| Jersey retirement | First athlete honored by Green Bay Southwest (April 2025) |
Personal Life And Engagement:
Off the court, Natisha announced her engagement to Jasmine Thomas, a respected former WNBA guard, in 2021. The two are among the league’s better-known couples, and Natisha’s warmth off the floor is a big part of her public appeal, recognized formally in 2025 when she won an award named for kindness and community service.
Social Media And The StudBudz Phenomenon:
Natisha is not just a role player, she is a genuine internet personality. A pink-haired fan favorite, she co-hosts the live-stream channel StudBudz alongside longtime teammate Courtney Williams. Their project exploded during 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend, when the duo live-streamed for 72 straight hours and briefly took over the basketball internet, showcasing the personality-driven side of the league. That viral run turned her into one of the more recognizable off-court figures in the WNBA, well beyond her box-score numbers.
Trivia And Lesser-Known Facts: Natisha Hiedeman Parents
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| The harness | She wore a full-body harness as a baby due to a left-leg hyperextension |
| Track star | Held four Green Bay Southwest track and field school records |
| The nickname | “T-Spoon” honors WNBA great Teresa Weatherspoon |
| Coaching side | Worked at Penn State in player development and as an assistant coach |
| Chosen family | The Gevaert family helped raise her alongside her mother |
| StudBudz | Her 72-hour All-Star livestream became a viral sensation |
| Overseas hoops | She has played abroad, including a stint in China |
FAQs: Natisha Hiedeman parents
Who are Natisha Hiedeman parents?
Her mother is Shelly Hiedeman and her father is Sandy Cohen Jr. (also written Sandy Cohen II). She was raised mainly by her mother in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
What is Natisha Hiedeman’s ethnicity?
Through her father, she has Jewish ancestry and ties to the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, giving her a mixed Jewish and Native American heritage.
Does Natisha Hiedeman have siblings?
Yes. She is one of four siblings. Her half-brother Sandy Cohen III is a professional basketball player, and she also has a brother named Silas Cohen.
Who is Natisha Hiedeman engaged to?
She announced her engagement to former WNBA guard Jasmine Thomas in 2021.
What team does Natisha Hiedeman play for now?
She signed with the Seattle Storm ahead of the 2026 season after two years with the Minnesota Lynx.
What are Natisha Hiedeman’s career stats?
Through the 2025 season she has averaged roughly 7.3 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game across seven WNBA seasons, shooting about 38 percent from three.
What is the StudBudz?
It is a live-stream channel Natisha co-hosts with Courtney Williams that went viral during 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend.
Final Take
Ask who Natisha Hiedeman parents are and the honest answer is a story of hardship turned into strength: a teenage single mother who sacrificed everything, a father who came back to earn his place, a village of chosen family, and a heritage bridging Jewish and Oneida roots. That foundation produced more than a reliable WNBA guard. It produced a genuinely beloved one, an altruism-award winner and viral personality whose toughness and warmth both trace straight back to where she came from.
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