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ALABAMA cheerleader Abbie Stockard, the girlfriend of rising NBA star Walker Kessler, has been crowned Miss America 2025.
Stockard took home the title on the same night Kessler, who plays center for the Utah Jazz, helped his team to victory against the Orlando Magic.
The power couple snagged their victories less than a mile away from each other in Orlando, Florida.
Sunday night’s wins aren’t the only coincidence for Stockard and Kessler.
The duo share a birthday on July 26.
The NBA star, 23, celebrated the joint birthday with his girlfriend, 22, in an Instagram post dedicated to her earlier this year.
“Happy birthday, Abbie!” Kessler wrote.
“While it’s a crazy coincidence we share the same day, I wouldn’t want to share my day with anyone else.”
He went on to gush about the pageant queen, calling her a “truly special girl that never fails to make me smile.”
He added that Stockard is “incredibly kind and caring.”
Stockard, a nursing student at Auburn University, also shared a post celebrating her boyfriend this summer.
“To the guy I get to share the same birthday with, happy birthday walk!” she wrote.
“You get me like no other and make me feel like the most special girl ever! I love you!”
This is Kessler’s third season as a full-time starter for the Jazz.
Kessler previously played for the Auburn Tigers during his time at the Alabama school, where Stockard currently studies and competes as a cheerleader.
It’s unclear how or when the pair started dating, but Stockard first posted about the basketball star over a year ago.
Abbie Stockard and Walker Kessler’s relationship timeline
It’s unclear how long Abbie Stockard and Walker Kessler have been dating. Below is a brief timeline outlining what we know about their relationship:
April 2021 – Kessler transfers to Auburn University, where Stockard is a nursing student
July 2022 – Kessler joins the Utah Jazz
January 3, 2024 – Stockard posts a picture with Kessler of the couple ringing in the new year in Utah
July 26, 2024 – Stockard and Kessler both share posts on Instagram wishing each other a happy birthday
January 5, 2025 – Stockard is named the winner of Miss America 2025
The Miss Alabama winner posted that she was “ringing in the new year from Utah,” in January 2024.
“Excited to start the new year with you,” Kessler commented.
Stockard beat out 51 other women for the prestigious gong on Sunday night.
She was named one of the 11 finalists for the crown on Friday before officially taking home the title on Sunday.
Along with the title of Miss America for the year, Stockard also gets $50,000 in scholarship money.
Kessler shared news of Stockard’s victory on his Instagram Story on Sunday night.
“Let’s goooo,” the NBA star celebrated.
