Erica Brunson’s Story: From Villanova to Sports Business
Meet Jalen Brunson’s younger sister, her family background, education, early basketball experience, sports-business work, and her new role with Thirty Third Management Group.
Introduction
Erica Brunson has grown up around basketball.
But her own path looks different.
She is the younger sister of NBA star Jalen Brunson, yet she has built experience behind the scenes in sports. Her work has covered social media, athlete marketing, client services, charitable projects, and brand management.
Actually, her career started taking shape before she finished college.
She studied at Villanova University, interned with the Dallas Mavericks, joined Creative Artists Agency, and later became part of her family’s new sports and brand advisory company.
Her latest move came in September 2026.
Erica was announced as Director of Client Services at Thirty Third Management Group, a family-owned advisory firm launched by Jalen Brunson and his family.
Quick Facts About Erica Brunson
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Erica Brunson |
| Date of Birth | March 14, 2001 |
| Age | 25 years old, as of September 2026 |
| Known For | Sports business career and being Jalen Brunson’s younger sister |
| Parents | Rick Brunson and Sandra Brunson |
| Brother | Jalen Brunson |
| College | Villanova University |
| Graduation Year | 2023 |
| Degree | Communications |
| Minor | Education |
| NBA Experience | Dallas Mavericks social media intern |
| CAA Career | Client & Marketing Services |
| New Role | Director of Client Services, Thirty Third Management Group |
| Industry | Sports business and client services |
Her birth date, family connection and Villanova background have been reported by PEOPLE, while Sports Business Classroom confirms her degree, Mavericks internship and CAA work.
Who Is Erica Brunson?
Erica Brunson is an American sports-business professional.
Many basketball fans first know her because of her brother, Jalen Brunson. He became one of the most recognizable players associated with the New York Knicks.
Erica chose another side of sports.
She works around athletes, brands, marketing and client relationships rather than pursuing basketball as a professional player.
That path makes sense.
Sports were part of everyday life for the Brunson family. Their father played professional basketball. Their mother competed in college athletics. Erica herself played basketball during her school years.
So sports were always close.
The business side came later.
Erica Brunson’s Age and Birthday
Erica was born on March 14, 2001.
That makes her 25 years old as of September 2026.
She is younger than Jalen, who was born in 1996.
PEOPLE identifies Erica as Jalen’s younger and only sibling.
Erica Brunson’s Parents and Family
Her parents are Rick Brunson and Sandra Brunson.
Basketball fans probably know Rick.
He played college basketball at Temple before spending nine seasons in the NBA. He later moved into coaching.
Sandra Brunson also has an athletic background. She played volleyball while attending Temple University.
That is where Rick and Sandra met.
Villanova’s official player profile for Jalen also confirms Rick and Sandra as his parents and Erica as his sibling.
Basically, competition was normal inside this family.
But Erica did not simply copy her father or brother.
She found another lane.
Growing Up Around Basketball
Erica spent part of her early life in New Jersey.
PEOPLE reports that the family later spent time in suburban Chicago as well.
Her connection to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is especially clear.
A Villanova student profile described her as being from Cherry Hill.
She also played basketball.
Contemporary Philadelphia Inquirer reports recorded Erica playing for Cherry Hill East. In December 2018, she scored 10 points during a 31-28 win against Haddonfield.
Another game report from February 2019 credited her with 11 points as Cherry Hill East defeated Cinnaminson 35-33.
Those records give a clear picture.
She understood sports as a player first.
Then she started looking behind the curtain.
Villanova University Years
Erica attended Villanova University from 2019 to 2023.
There was already a family connection.
Jalen had attended Villanova before her and became a major part of the school’s basketball history.
Still, Erica had to make her own choice.
In a 2021 Villanova student interview, she explained that she originally knew little about the university. Visits connected to her brother later made the campus familiar, and after taking her own tour, Villanova felt comfortable.
She graduated in 2023.
Her academic focus was Communications, with a minor in Education. Sports Business Classroom later confirmed both details.
The communications degree fits her career pretty well.
Client work needs clear communication.
Marketing does too.
So does athlete representation.
Learning the Business Side of Sports
College gave Erica room to figure out what kind of sports career she wanted.
Her 2021 Villanova interview showed that she was already thinking about areas such as sports media and public relations.
That was an early sign.
She was interested in basketball.
But not only basketball games.
She wanted to learn what happens around them.
Dallas Mavericks Internship
A big early step came in 2022.
Erica worked as a social media intern for the Dallas Mavericks.
This detail comes directly from Villanova’s Communications Alumni Newsletter, which featured her in its student internship section.
She later discussed that experience with Sports Business Classroom.
The internship gave her exposure to social media work, digital strategy and fan engagement inside an NBA organization.
It was practical experience.
And it happened before graduation.
That matters because she was already building professional sports experience while completing her degree.
Sports Business Classroom Experience
After Villanova, Erica kept learning.
In July 2023, she took part in the Sports Business Classroom Business of Basketball Immersive Experience.
Her public LinkedIn record lists the credential, and she later shared details about the program.
She worked on postgame analysis content during NBA Summer League.
She also focused on media and broadcasting.
One exercise involved a mock NBA trade deadline.
It was hands-on work.
Not theory alone.
The program also connected her with other people trying to build careers around professional basketball.
Joining Creative Artists Agency
Then came a major professional step.
Erica secured a full-time role at Creative Artists Agency, better known as CAA, in June 2024.
Sports Business Classroom identified her work as Client & Marketing Services.
CAA operates across sports and entertainment representation.
For Erica, the job moved her closer to athlete services, marketing and brand work.
Her LinkedIn profile also lists Creative Artists Agency as part of her professional experience in New York.
The role helped move her from internships and classroom programs into full-time sports business.
Pretty big jump.
And it happened quickly.
Erica Brunson and The Roommates Show
Her professional work has also crossed into projects connected with The Roommates Show.
The show is associated with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
Erica publicly shared her excitement about working on a Roommates Show project at Villanova, describing the return to her former university as especially meaningful.
It connected several parts of her life.
Family.
Villanova.
Sports media.
Client work.
All in one project.
Second Round Foundation Work
Erica is also involved with the Second Round Foundation, the charitable organization connected with her family.
Sports Business Classroom specifically discussed her involvement with the foundation in its 2024 interview with her.
She has also publicly shared updates about the foundation’s Charity Golf Classic & Dinner Reception.
This side of her work goes beyond commercial sports.
It adds community projects and charitable work to her professional experience.
Thirty Third Management Group
September 2026 brought Erica’s biggest publicly announced career update so far.
On September 16, 2026, Jalen Brunson and his family announced Thirty Third Management Group.
The New York-based family business was created to handle Jalen’s off-court business while also working with other clients across sports, business and philanthropy.
Sandra Brunson was named President.
Erica was named Director of Client Services.
Connor Cashaw was announced as Director of Business Development.
This puts Erica inside the leadership structure of the new company.
And she has a defined area to build.
Focus on Women’s Professional Sports
Thirty Third Management Group also announced plans to make women’s professional sports a priority.
Erica will lead that effort.
That makes her new position broader than standard client support.
The company plans to work with athletes, NIL talent, entrepreneurs, executives and charitable foundations.
Its services include brand development, partnership strategy, business development and philanthropy.
For Erica, the role brings together experience she had already been building.
Sports.
Marketing.
Clients.
Brands.
Community work.
Now those skills sit inside a family-run company.
Why Is It Called Thirty Third Management Group?
The number has a direct connection to Jalen.
He was selected with the 33rd pick of the 2018 NBA Draft.
The company’s name uses that number as part of its identity.
The idea is personal.
But the business plans reach beyond one athlete.
Thirty Third says it is evaluating relationships with other clients and brand partners as well.
Erica Brunson and Jalen Brunson
Jalen and Erica have a close sibling relationship that has been visible publicly for years.
PEOPLE reports that Jalen has previously referred to Erica as his best friend.
She regularly supports him.
But her career should not be reduced to being an NBA player’s sister.
Her record now includes a Villanova degree, NBA internship experience, a sports-business training program, agency work, foundation projects and a leadership position within Thirty Third Management Group.
That is a real career track.
And it is still early.
What Does Erica Brunson Do Now?
As of September 2026, her newest publicly announced position is Director of Client Services at Thirty Third Management Group.
The firm’s announcement also says she will lead its work focused on women’s professional sports.
Before the launch, Erica was publicly identified as working in Client & Marketing Services at CAA.
The Thirty Third launch announcement does not spell out every detail concerning the status of her separate CAA relationship, so it is better not to make assumptions beyond the roles confirmed publicly.
Final Thought
Erica Brunson grew up with basketball everywhere.
She found her own place inside it.
Her path moved from playing school basketball to studying communications, working with an NBA team’s social media department, gaining agency experience and taking on client-service responsibilities.
Now comes another chapter.
Her role at Thirty Third Management Group gives her a direct position in a family business working across sports, brands and philanthropy.
She is still early in her career.
But the direction is clear.
She is building her name on the business side of sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Erica Brunson?
Erica Brunson is a sports-business professional and the younger sister of NBA player Jalen Brunson. She was named Director of Client Services at Thirty Third Management Group in September 2026.
How old is Erica Brunson?
She was born on March 14, 2001, making her 25 years old as of September 2026.
Who are Erica Brunson’s parents?
Her parents are Rick Brunson and Sandra Brunson. Rick played nine seasons in the NBA, while Sandra played college volleyball at Temple.
Is Erica Brunson Jalen Brunson’s sister?
Yes. Erica is Jalen Brunson’s younger and only sibling.
Where did Erica Brunson go to college?
She attended Villanova University and graduated in 2023 with a degree in Communications and a minor in Education.
Did Erica Brunson work for the Dallas Mavericks?
Yes. Villanova confirms that she worked as a Dallas Mavericks social media intern in 2022.
Did Erica Brunson work at CAA?
Yes. She secured a full-time Client & Marketing Services role at Creative Artists Agency in June 2024.
What is Erica Brunson’s new job?
In September 2026, Thirty Third Management Group announced her as its Director of Client Services. She will also lead the firm’s focus on women’s professional sports.
