What Is Rae Burrell’s Ethnicity, Religion, and Nationality? Exploring Her Family Roots and Background

Rae Burrell has quickly emerged as one of those under-the-radar players steadily climbing the WNBA ladder. In her first full season in 2023, the LA Sparks forward averaged just 3.6 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in limited minutes. Fast forward to 2025, and she has nearly doubled her production. Posting 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in her fourth season is a feat in itself.

While these stats are nothing to sing praises about, they do show her grit to get to the top. She’s like a diamond in the rough who’ll improve as the seasons go by. Through the highs and lows of her WNBA journey, one constant remains: the unwavering support of her family. That naturally leads to the question – what are Rae Burrell’s ethnic, national, and religious roots?

Where is Rae Burrell from, and what is her nationality?

Born on June 21, 2000, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Rae Marie Burrell is American by birth. Her parents, John Burrell and Ann Barry, raised her in a household where sports were second nature. Interestingly, it wasn’t her father who first put a basketball in her hands; it was her mother. That spark lit a flame that carried Rae through her prep career at Foothill High School before she transferred to Liberty High for her senior season.

She dominated at both stops, averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and nearly two assists as a junior. Then posting 14.9 points, 7.9 boards, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game as a senior. Her performances earned her back-to-back Nevada Preps All-State First Team honors in 2017 and 2018, along with a No. 119 overall national ranking in the Prospects Nation Elite 150.

What is Rae Burrell’s ethnicity?

Rae Burrell comes from a mixed ethnic background, with her father being African-American and her mother Caucasian, making her biracial. But what stands out more is how deeply her family has influenced her basketball career. She carried that drive to the University of Tennessee, where she wasted no time making an impression. Dropping 14 points and grabbing five rebounds in her collegiate debut against Presbyterian. By her sophomore year, she was a rotation regular. And as a junior, she became the only Lady Vol to start every single game. Her Junior averages were 16.8 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting over 40 percent from three.

Sep 3, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell (12) dribbles against the Atlanta Dream in the second quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

That breakout season saw her record a career-high 26 points against Alabama. She firmly established herself as one of the SEC’s top scorers. Heading into her senior year, ESPN mentioned her as the rising stars in the top 25 women’s college players in the nation, a testament to her growth and consistency.

Burrell’s family background

Athletic pedigree runs deep in the Burrell household. Her mother, Ann, was a standout rebounder at the University of Nevada, once averaging 10.6 boards in a season and famously hauling down 25 rebounds in a single game – still one of the program’s best marks. Her father, John, was equally accomplished, earning All-American honors in track and field as a long jumper at Nevada. Rae also shares this legacy with her brother, Jonas, and her cousin, Evan Roquemore, who had a prolific career at Santa Clara, scoring in double figures in 90 of his 135 games. With this lineage, Rae’s passion for basketball was almost inevitable, though she has carved out her own path as a versatile guard-forward who thrives under pressure.

Burrell’s story is still being written, but her steady climb from high school standout to Tennessee star to growing WNBA contributor shows she has the tools to keep leveling up. Backed by her unique heritage and strong family foundation, she is poised to continue shining brighter in the years ahead.

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