Olivia Nelson-Ododa has a mission that hits close to home.
The Connecticut Sun forward has seen how reproductive health issues can impact women, and she’s making an effort to improve what she says “is not talked about enough.”
That’s why Nelson-Ododa started Kayelise, a wellness brand aimed at funding and researching women’s reproductive health issues.
In an interview with NBC for the “My New Favorite Baller” series, Nelson-Ododa shared the inspiration behind her brand, which launched in September 2024.
“Women’s reproductive health is not talked about enough,” Nelson-Ododa said. “I just have a story that was able to be told and happen to have a platform that I’m able to use. But I always think of the people that don’t necessarily have those resources, and those are the ones I’m thinking of when I founded Kayelise. I’m thinking about the next steps with the brand.
“It’s mission started from my own family, specifically in Kenya on my dad’s side. My grandmother and some of my aunts actually were affected by cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and just had a bunch of different reproductive issues. My grandmother unfortunately passed away from it, and my aunt had complications and passed away. So, it really just started kind of as an ode to them, especially to bring awareness to others suffering with these types of conditions.”
Kayelise made its Paris Fashion Week debut in March 2025 with the teal silk “Herenia Robe,” honoring Nelson-Ododa’s grandmother. The robe and brand were modeled by Seattle Storm guard Nika Mühl, who was Nelson Ododa’s college teammate at UConn, while the brand owner watched live on FaceTime from China.
“I’d never really seen a robe before (at Paris Fashion Week), so that was the biggest thing that I wanted come out with first that was different,” Nelson-Ododa said. “Finding myself in my own ways of fashion and creating a product that embodied that.
“When I was playing in China, we had gotten into the playoffs, so by that time I knew I wasn’t able to go to Paris. Seeing her be able to do that for me was just such a special moment.”
Still in its early stages after launching a year ago, Kayelise has already grown to new heights. Next up for Nelson-Ododa is to find a great partner.
“We definitely want to get a nonprofit or foundation tied to it,” Nelson-Ododa said. “But, for now, I think having proceeds go directly toward charities and research that funds awareness of reproductive health. That’s really the mission, just to get this out there — have regular conversations about periods, birth control, different types of cancer, different types of vaccines that could prevent cancer. I think it just needs to be talked about more and more, and I think it’s starting to become more normalized. But we still have a long ways to go with it, and it’s definitely underfunded in terms of the the research around it.
“… Inner beauty and outer beauty, that’s really the message that I want people to really feel when they’re wearing Kayelise. I think in this chaos, this time in our society where everything is just so hectic, I really want this to be a purposeful thing where you take the time to slow down and you take the time for yourself.”
