Former WNBA forward and current Sacramento Kings TV color analyst Kayte Christensen-Hunter has long balanced a high-profile media career with a deeply personal family story
Her husband, Captain Joe (Joseph) Hunter of the Sacramento Fire Department, recently drew national attention as a contestant on CBS’s Survivor Season 48 (premiered February 26, 2025) shortly after the couple publicly shared that they had reconciled following a difficult divorce period.
Here’s the definitive, 2025-updated look at their marriage, children, careers, advocacy work, and the latest headlines surrounding the couple.
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Table of Contents
Who Is Joseph Hunter?
Joseph Hunter, Kayte Christensen’s husband, is a Sacramento City Firefighter.
Joseph has worked as a firefighter paramedic in Oak Park for 17 years.
However, he was promoted to fire captain on December 23rd, according to a Sacramento Fire Department Facebook post.
Joseph was promoted to drill master for the Sacramento City Fire Academy during his time with the Sacramento City Fire Department, a position he has held for the past seven years.
As a firefighter, he has taught ten academy courses to 230 recruits, managed 47 department employees, and served on USAR Task Force 7.
Hunter, 43, has a BA in history and English as well as a Master’s degree in education from UCLA, according to Boom Sacramento. He received a full football and track and field scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles after graduating from high school.
Biography Of Kayte Christensen
Kayte Christensen was born on November 16, 1980, in Oregon. Christensen, Kayte She was drafted in the third round of the WNBA in 2002 by the Phoenix Mercury, where she spent five seasons before signing as a free agent with the Chicago Sky.
She rose to prominence as an ESPN, ESPNU, and NBC radio sports colour commentator after retiring from professional basketball.
Also, she was a member of the same collegiate women’s basketball team as Houston Comets and Washington Mystics player Lindsay Taylor. She was named the Big West Conference’s 2002 Player of the Year while attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she was a member of the 1999 Big West Conference All-Freshman Women’s Basketball Team.
Kayte Christensen is one of the most successful celebrities who was born in the state of Oregon. She was born on November 16, 1980. She is one of the most wealthy basketball players.
Children Of Kayte Christensen
Christensen and Hunter have two children, Joseph and Jayde Joanna Hunter.
The couple is raising their children in Sacramento, California.
According to his paternal grandmother Patricia Hunter’s Facebook post, their son, Joseph Jojo Hunter, was born in April 2014. Jojo is Christensen’s stepson, but she loves him as if he were her own child.
During his kindergarten graduation, she posted several photos to her Instagram page, detailing the event and expressing her pride in her son.
Jayde Joanna was born on September 14, 2018, at 12:13 p.m. in Sacramento, California, weighing 8 pounds, 12.6 ounces.
Meanwhile, Kayte named her child after her sister-in-law, who died in 2011, and whose cause of death was suspected to be domestic violence, according to a Facebook post.
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The Couple’s Timeline: From Matchmaking to Reconciliation
2016 — A Match Made by Friends
Kayte and Joe met through mutual friends Mark and Brie Hull.
January 2018 — Proposal
Hunter proposed at Lovers Point Beach.
May 24, 2018 — Wedding & Growing Family
The couple married while Kayte was pregnant with their daughter, Jayde Joanna.
2019 — Family Tragedy Advocacy Deepens
Kayte has long honored Joe’s late sister Joanna Hunter (d. 2011, suspected domestic violence) — their daughter’s middle name, Joanna, is a tribute.
Kayte later spoke publicly as a survivor and board member of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center, voicing support during California Senate Judiciary hearings in April 2024.
2021–2022 — On-Air Promotion
Before the 2021–22 NBA season, the Kings named Kayte Christensen-Hunter their TV game analyst, replacing Doug Christie.
2023 — Negative Headline Surfaces
A 2023 report alleged that Joe Hunter tried to influence police after a 2019 incident at their home; the report became briefly viral in local media circles.1
December 2024 — “We Reconciled”
Kayte publicly revealed that after almost three years apart and a painful divorce, the two reconciled.2
February–May 2025 — Survivor 48
Kayte cheered on Joe throughout his run on Survivor 48, discussing it on radio/YouTube shows and social media. Some outlets noted he was “close to winning.”
Professional Career Of Kayte Christensen
College Stardom at UCSB
A dominant forward at UC Santa Barbara (1998–2002), Christensen was the 2002 Big West Player of the Year and still ranks highly in school records for field-goal percentage, rebounds, and blocks.
WNBA Journey (2002–2008)
Drafted 40th overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2002, Kayte also played for the Houston Comets and Chicago Sky over six seasons, totaling 463 career points and 373 rebounds.
From the Sideline to the Analyst’s Chair
Kayte first worked NBA sidelines for the Kings, briefly replaced by Jim Gray in 2010, then returned in 2013. In September 2021, she became the team’s television color analyst — a historic step for women in NBA broadcasting.
Public Diplomacy & Advocacy
In 2011, Christensen traveled to Venezuela as a SportsUnited Sports Envoy for the U.S. Department of State, conducting youth clinics with Darvin Ham.
In 2024, she advocated at the California Senate Judiciary Committee as a domestic-violence survivor and two-term board member of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center.
Quick Facts About Kayte Christensen
| Real Name | Kayte Christensen |
|---|---|
| Occupation | basketball player |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Date of Birth | 1980/11/16 |
| Birth Year | 1980 |
| Birth Month | 11 |
| Birth day | 16 |
| Age | 40 |
| First Name | NA |
| Last Name | Christensen |
| Gender | female |
| Place of Birth | Lakeview |
| Awards Receieved | — |
| Childrens | 2 |
| Sports Country | United States of America |
| Education | Modoc High School |
| Height | 191 |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) Who is Kayte Christensen’s husband?
Joseph “Joe” Hunter, a Sacramento City Fire Department Captain and 2025 Survivor 48 contestant.
2) Are Kayte and Joe still together?
Yes. In December 2024, Kayte said they reconciled after nearly three years apart and a divorce.
3) When did they get married?
May 24, 2018.
4) How many children do they have?
Two: Jojo and Jayde Joanna (born September 14, 2018).
5) What does Kayte do now?
She is the TV color analyst for the Sacramento Kings on NBC Sports California.
6) What is Joe Hunter known for outside firefighting?
His 2025 stint on Survivor 48, which brought new national attention to the couple.
7) Why is their daughter named “Joanna”?
She is named in memory of Joe’s sister, Joanna Hunter, who died in 2011; Kayte has advocated publicly on domestic-violence issues.
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