@samjnungesser Published April 6, 2026, 8:00 a.m. ET Where to Stream: The Real Housewives of Atlanta Powered by Reelgood More On: phaedra parks Melissa Gorga Shares Groundbreaking Update About Home Life With Joe Gorga After ‘Wife Swap: Real Housewives Edition’: “He Washes Dishes Now” Phaedra Parks, Kristin Cavallari, and Andy Cohen Among This Year’s Virtual Reali-Tea Awards Winners: See the Full List Here Peacock Announces Fully Civilian Season of ‘The Traitors’; Casting Now Open When Will ‘WWHL’ Return With New Episodes? New cast members, new alliances, and new love interests seem to be the theme in The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17, which premiered on Bravo on Sunday night (April 5). In this season alone, an unlikely friendship blossoms between Phaedra Parks and Angela Oakley, a salacious rumor accuses Kelli Ferrell of sleeping with a married man, and three new stars are introduced to the Bravo fandom, yet all eyes are still going to be on Porsha Williams, whose post-divorce journey into the lady pond will be a hot topic of conversation.
Following her divorce from Simon Guobadia, Williams shared that she was dating both a man and a woman, which would likely explain her male love interest in the RHOA Season 17 premiere. Last fall, however, the Traitors Season 4 star took to Instagram to hard-launch her girlfriend, Patrice “Sway” McKinney, who will be featured on the show this season. From what it sounds like, Williams’ castmates are in full support of her new romance.
Parks, who returned to the RHOA mix last year after a six-season hiatus, stopped by DECIDER’s studio ahead of the Season 17 premiere, where she shared her thoughts on Williams’ new relationship.
“Well, she seems very happy,” Parks said. “Porsha is a free spirit. I never figured her to go all out and get a girlfriend, but Porsha likes to try new things, so this is definitely a new page in her book. I’m excited.”
McKinney and Williams first met over Instagram years ago, before reconnecting in 2025. Per McKinney’s Instagram bio, she is a salon suite mentor, a real estate developer, an investor, and the owner of & Cheese, a gourmet grilled cheese eatery in Atlanta. According to Parks, McKinney is a perfect match for Williams.
“Sway is absolutely the sweetest, the most handsomely gorgeous woman. She’s so sweet, she’s so kind, and she adores Porsha,” Parks said. “When Porsha is happy, I’m happy. Frick and Frack is back.”
“This one is not in that pond,” Parks added, pointing to herself, “but if she wants to get in that pond, girl, have at it. I love it. Sway is the best. Chef’s kiss. [She’s] so kind, so generous. [She] just adores Porsha. [Williams] deserves love. We all want to be loved. And so wherever you find it, honey, enjoy it. Dig in. Two scoops at a time.”
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET / PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
