Leah Van Dale — Biography
Leah Van Dale is an American performer with a background in professional wrestling, dance, modeling, and cheerleading. Her most prominent association is with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where she was known as Carmella. During her time there, she held several championship titles, including the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship, the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, and the WWE 24/7 Championship.
Before her wrestling career, Van Dale was a cheerleader for the New England Patriots for three seasons, concluding in 2010. The following year, she was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers dance squad, performing as a Laker Girl for the 2010–2011 season.
Van Dale joined WWE in June 2013, beginning her journey in their developmental territory, NXT, located in Orlando, Florida. By October 2014, she had taken on a managerial role, aligning herself with wrestlers Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady. Her transition to the main WWE roster occurred in July 2016, debuting on SmackDown. A significant achievement came in June 2017 when she won the first-ever women's Money in the Bank ladder match. She made history in April 2018 by becoming the first woman to successfully use her Money in the Bank contract, defeating Charlotte Flair to capture the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship. In 2019, Carmella added more accolades to her name, winning the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal and the WWE 24/7 Championship. In November 2021, following a roster move to Raw, she partnered with Queen Zelina (Zelina Vega), and together they secured the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. Her nearly twelve-year tenure with WWE concluded in February 2025 when the company opted not to extend her contract.
Van Dale is married to Matthew Polinsky, a color commentator and former professional wrestler more widely recognized as Corey Graves. Her heritage includes Dutch and Italian roots.
Before her wrestling career, Van Dale was a cheerleader for the New England Patriots for three seasons, concluding in 2010. The following year, she was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers dance squad, performing as a Laker Girl for the 2010–2011 season.
Van Dale joined WWE in June 2013, beginning her journey in their developmental territory, NXT, located in Orlando, Florida. By October 2014, she had taken on a managerial role, aligning herself with wrestlers Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady. Her transition to the main WWE roster occurred in July 2016, debuting on SmackDown. A significant achievement came in June 2017 when she won the first-ever women's Money in the Bank ladder match. She made history in April 2018 by becoming the first woman to successfully use her Money in the Bank contract, defeating Charlotte Flair to capture the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship. In 2019, Carmella added more accolades to her name, winning the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal and the WWE 24/7 Championship. In November 2021, following a roster move to Raw, she partnered with Queen Zelina (Zelina Vega), and together they secured the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. Her nearly twelve-year tenure with WWE concluded in February 2025 when the company opted not to extend her contract.
Van Dale is married to Matthew Polinsky, a color commentator and former professional wrestler more widely recognized as Corey Graves. Her heritage includes Dutch and Italian roots.
