Nelly Korda Engaged to Casey Gunderson After NHL Split

Nelly Korda, the acclaimed LPGA Tour golfer, has announced her engagement to businessman Casey Gunderson. The 27-year-old athlete shared the news on social media, showcasing professional photos of the couple together. Korda, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, recently experienced a significant career transition, having lost her No. 1 status to Jeeno Thitikul.

The engagement post quickly gained attention, amassing nearly 115,000 likes and eliciting congratulations from fellow athletes, including WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Unlike her previous relationship with NHL player Andreas Athanasiou, Korda has opted to keep details of her engagement and Gunderson’s background relatively private.

Gunderson is not from a professional sports background; he graduated from Bryant University and began his career in business. Initially starting as an associate at Bisnow, he later took on the role of Director of Business Development at Florida Engineering LLC, where he currently serves as Vice President. The company specializes in developing commercial and residential projects across Florida and other major states.

Although Gunderson did not pursue a professional athletic career, he was active in sports during high school. He played as a wide receiver for the football team at Cardinal Mooney High School and attended the prestigious IMG Academy.

Korda’s previous relationship with Athanasiou, a Canadian hockey player currently on the free agent list, began in 2019. They reportedly separated three years later, paving the way for Korda’s new chapter with Gunderson.

As she prepares for her wedding, Korda reflects on a tumultuous year. Despite her engagement, she faced challenges on the golf course, failing to secure a victory in 2025. Korda finished as runner-up twice, including a close contest at the Women’s U.S. Open. The setbacks contributed to her loss of the World No. 1 ranking, but she remains optimistic about the future.

“I feel like there were a lot of ups and downs, and it made me grow a lot mentally,” Korda stated. “I would say I’m just also very grateful for it because, you know, success is never linear.”

Clark, who has developed a friendship with Korda over the past year, praised her dedication to the sport. After teaming up with Korda at the 2025 LPGA Annika pro-am, Clark noted, “It’s been cool to watch her over the course of the last year. She put in a lot of time to create her own personal experience, unique to her and what she’s passionate about, and obviously somebody that is very, very deserving.”

As Korda embarks on this new journey in her personal life, she also looks forward to regaining her competitive edge in golf. With a supportive partner and a renewed focus, she aims to reclaim her status among the top players in the world.