Carolyn Moos-Hardin, the former fiancée of NBA trailblazer Jason Collins, has publicly addressed his death from brain cancer this week.
“How precious life is and how precious health is — I wish for longevity for all. I pray for peace and may the ways we leave a positive impact on people’s lives be eternal,” Moos-Hardin, 47, said in a statement to Us Weekly. “My condolences to Jason’s family and those closest to him. Embrace the present, give with our presence and realize time is our biggest gift.”
The two met as student-athletes at Stanford, dated for eight years, and were engaged before Collins came out publicly in a 2013 Sports Illustrated cover story, becoming the first openly gay NBA player.
“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” his family said in a statement. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received.”
At the time of his death, Collins was married to Brunson Green, whom he began dating shortly after coming out. The couple wed in May 2025. Moos-Hardin and her husband also married in May 2025 and welcomed their daughter, Chaysa, in December 2025.
The NBA community reacted strongly to Collins’ passing, including Commissioner Adam Silver. “Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” Silver said.
NBA legend Charles Barkley also praised Collins on ESPN’s Inside the NBA. “When he came out, man, I thought it was amazing to put himself under the microscope and the scrutiny and the hatred that was going to happen,” Barkley said. “But man, I hate the way this story ended. Because he was a shining example of, ‘Do you, man.’”