Verna Aho is the wife of NBA star Lauri Markkanen, but she’s much more than just a basketball player’s partner. When you think of NBA players, you often think about their amazing skills on the court. But behind many successful athletes, there’s someone special supporting them. For Finnish basketball star Lauri Markkanen, that person is his wife, Verna Aho. While she may not be as famous as her husband, Verna has her own interesting story. She’s a model, a business owner, and a loving mother who keeps her life private. Let’s learn more about this remarkable woman.
Detailed Bio Table
| Full Name | Verna Aho |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 15, 1997 |
| Age | 27 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Helsinki, Finland |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Languages | Finnish (native), English (fluent) |
| Profession | Model, Entrepreneur |
| Known For | Wife of NBA player Lauri Markkanen, Founder of Vernazza |
| Husband | Lauri Markkanen (married 2017) |
| Children | Two sons (born 2018 and 2020) |
| @vernaaho (private account) | |
| Brand | Vernazza (sustainable fashion) |
Early Life: Growing Up in Finland
Verna Aho was born on April 15, 1997, in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. Helsinki is known for its beautiful design, clean environment, and focus on nature. Growing up in this city helped shape Verna’s values and personality.
From a young age, Verna showed interest in fashion and creative activities. Her Finnish upbringing taught her important values like privacy, hard work, and caring for family. These values are very strong in Finnish culture, and they continue to guide Verna’s life today.
Not much is known about Verna’s parents or her early education because she keeps her personal life very private. However, it’s clear that she grew up in a supportive and loving family that encouraged her dreams.
Meeting Lauri Markkanen
Verna’s love story with Lauri Markkanen is truly special. They didn’t meet at a fancy party or through fame. Instead, they met during their school years in Finland when they were just teenagers. Some reports say they met in middle school, and their friendship grew stronger during high school.
What makes their story beautiful is that they knew each other long before Lauri became an NBA star. Their relationship was built on real friendship, shared values, and genuine love—not fame or money.
When Lauri started his basketball career and moved to the United States to play in college, their relationship faced challenges. Being far apart is hard for any young couple. But Verna and Lauri stayed strong and supported each other through the distance.
In 2017, they decided to get married in a private ceremony with close friends and family. At that time, Lauri was just starting his NBA career. Their wedding showed their commitment to each other and their desire to keep special moments private.
Who Is Lauri Markkanen?
To understand Verna’s life better, it helps to know about her husband. Lauri Markkanen is a professional basketball player from Finland who stands 7 feet tall. He plays as a power forward and is known for his shooting skills and hard work.
Lauri was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017 as the 7th pick but was traded to the Chicago Bulls on the same day. After playing for the Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, he joined the Utah Jazz in 2022. In his first season with the Jazz, Lauri became an NBA All-Star and won the Most Improved Player award.
As Lauri’s career grew bigger, Verna stayed by his side, supporting him through wins, losses, team changes, and injuries. She’s been his biggest supporter both on and off the court.
Family Life: Being a Mother
Verna and Lauri are proud parents of two young sons. Their first son, Alvar, was born in January 2018. Their second son was born in 2020, but they have kept his name private to protect his privacy.
Being a mother is one of the most important parts of Verna’s life. She works hard to balance raising her children, supporting her husband’s career, and running her business. This isn’t easy, especially when Lauri travels a lot for basketball games and training.
Despite the challenges, Verna makes sure her children grow up in a loving and stable home. She and Lauri try to give their sons a normal childhood away from the spotlight. They value privacy and want their children to have happy, peaceful lives.
The family splits their time between the United States (where Lauri plays) and Finland (their home country). This helps their children stay connected to their Finnish roots and culture.
Living a Private Life in the Public Eye
One of the most interesting things about Verna is how she handles public attention. Even though she’s married to a famous athlete, she doesn’t seek fame for herself.
Verna has a private Instagram account (@vernaaho) with fewer than 4,000 followers. Unlike many celebrity partners who share every detail of their lives online, Verna chooses to keep her account private. Only her close friends and family can see her posts.
She rarely gives interviews, doesn’t appear on reality shows, and avoids media attention. In a world where many people try to become famous through social media, Verna’s choice to stay private is refreshing and shows her strong character.
This doesn’t mean she’s hiding—she sometimes appears at Lauri’s games to support him, and she manages her business professionally. She simply believes in keeping her personal life separate from public curiosity.
Financial Independence
While many people associate Verna with Lauri’s wealth (he signed a five-year, $238 million contract with the Utah Jazz in 2024), Verna has built her own financial independence through modeling and her business.
Reports suggest Verna’s personal net worth is around $100,000, earned through her own work. This shows she values having her own career and not depending entirely on her husband’s income.
Lauri’s estimated net worth is around $30 million, making the couple financially secure. However, Verna’s focus has never been about money—it’s about building something meaningful and maintaining her independence.
Conclusion
Verna Aho is much more than “Lauri Markkanen’s wife.” She’s a successful model, a creative entrepreneur, a caring mother, and a woman who lives according to her own values. While she could easily use her husband’s fame to become a celebrity herself, she chooses a different path—one focused on family, meaningful work, and privacy.
Her journey from a young girl in Helsinki to becoming a business owner and supportive partner to an NBA star is inspiring. She shows us that you can have your own identity while being part of a famous couple. Through her sustainable fashion brand Vernazza, she’s making a positive impact on the fashion industry and encouraging people to think about their choices.
As Lauri continues his basketball career with the Utah Jazz, Verna will undoubtedly continue to be his biggest supporter while also pursuing her own dreams. Her story reminds us that true success isn’t just about fame or money, it’s about living with purpose, staying true to your values, and building a life filled with love and meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How did Verna Aho meet Lauri Markkanen?
They met during their school years in Finland when they were teenagers, and their friendship grew into love during high school.
2. What is Vernazza?
Vernazza is Verna’s sustainable fashion brand that creates eco-friendly clothing with simple, elegant designs.
3. How many children do Verna and Lauri have?
They have two sons—Alvar (born 2018) and another son born in 2020.
4. Why is Verna Aho so private?
She values privacy because of her Finnish cultural background and wants to protect her children from media attention.
5. Does Verna Aho work?
Yes, she’s a professional model and runs her own sustainable fashion brand called Vernazza.
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