Long before the $125 million Spotify deal and the polished "Unwell" brand, Alex Cooper was a senior at Boston University navigating a very public, very chaotic romance with a New York Mets ace. It's the kind of lore that "Daddy Gang" OGs remember vividly. Noah Syndergaard was at the peak of his "Thor" era, throwing triple-digit heaters at Citi Field, while Alex was just starting to find her voice.
Their relationship wasn't just some quiet celebrity fling. It was a tabloid fixture in 2017, complete with courtside Knicks photos and plenty of "who is that girl?" headlines. But if you listen to Alex now, the reality was a lot less glamorous than the paparazzi shots suggested. Honestly, it sounds like it was a mess.
The 2017 "Slim Shady" Era
They first started popping up together in April 2017. Back then, Noah was the golden boy of New York sports. Alex has since referred to him by the pseudonym "Slim Shady" on Call Her Daddy, a name that stuck for years. They were the quintessential "it" couple of the moment: the star pitcher and the blonde rising media personality.
But the timeline was rocky. They were on and off for the better part of late 2017 through 2018. If you dig into the archives, you’ll find photos of them looking perfectly happy at Madison Square Garden, but Alex has since described that period of her life as one where she felt incredibly small. She’s been open about the power dynamic, essentially saying she felt like she was living in his world, mooching off the lifestyle while losing her own sense of self.
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Why things turned "dark"
Alex doesn't hold back when she talks about her athlete exes, and she’s dropped some pretty heavy details about why the Syndergaard chapter closed. On more than one episode, she’s touched on the "dark" energy that eventually consumed them.
"We didn't like how we felt being in a room together," she told her listeners. That’s a heavy thing to say about a former partner. It wasn't just a simple breakup; it was a realization that the relationship was making both of them worse versions of themselves.
One of the biggest gripes she’s aired recently—especially in that 2023 episode with Alix Earle—is the emotional labor of dating a pro athlete. She described sitting in silence on the couch after he’d have a bad game, acting like an unpaid therapist while he spiraled over his performance.
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- The "Eggshell" Phase: Alex mentioned having to cancel dinner plans because his mood depended entirely on his stats that night.
- The "Yes Man" Culture: She noted how athletes are often surrounded by people who never tell them "no," which makes a real partnership nearly impossible.
The 2023 Shade: "He Can't Get a Contract"
Fast forward to 2023. Alex is a mogul. Noah is struggling to stay in the Big Leagues after stints with the Dodgers and Guardians.
During a conversation with Alix Earle (who has her own history with MLB players), Alex took a massive swipe at Syndergaard’s declining career. She basically mocked his inability to land a new contract. "He can't get a f—king contract," she said, noting that people constantly send her news about his career struggles.
It was a polarizing moment. Some fans loved the pettiness; others thought it was "gross" to kick a man while he was down, especially since she’s an advocate for mental health. But that’s Alex Cooper. She’s built a kingdom on being raw, unfiltered, and occasionally a little bit mean to the guys who broke her heart.
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Real Talk: The Power Shift
What most people get wrong about this relationship is thinking it was a failure. In a weird way, it was the catalyst for the Alex Cooper we see today. That relationship taught her exactly what she didn't want. It gave her the "ick" for the athlete lifestyle and pushed her to build her own wealth so she’d never have to rely on a guy with a fast arm again.
Noah Syndergaard hasn't said much in return. He’s mostly stayed quiet, focused on trying to get his ERA back under control. But the shadow of "Slim Shady" still looms over the podcast. It’s a reminder of a time when Alex was the one waiting in the wings, rather than the one running the show.
Moving past the athlete "curse"
If you're currently in a relationship where you feel like you're playing therapist more than partner, take a page from the Cooper playbook.
- Audit the emotional labor: If your partner's bad day at work consistently ruins your life, that's a red flag.
- Maintain your identity: Alex admits she lost herself in the "WAG" lifestyle. Never let someone else's career eclipse your own goals.
- Recognize the "Dark" energy: Sometimes two good people just bring out the worst in each other. It’s okay to admit that being in the same room feels heavy and just... leave.
Alex is married now to Matt Kaplan. No more courtside drama with pitchers. No more waiting for a contract to be signed. She’s the one signing the checks now.
To really understand how Alex's dating history shaped the Call Her Daddy empire, you should go back and listen to the early 2018 episodes where she first started venting about "Slim Shady" without naming him—it's a masterclass in turning personal baggage into a billion-dollar brand.