Imani was born Imani TriShawn Stafford on October 11, 1994 in Los Angeles, CA. Her parents are Kevin Stafford and Pamela McGee. Imani attended Windward High, a private high school in Los Angeles before leaving California for college. Though she had many scholarship offers she ultimately chose The University of Texas at Austin for a full basketball scholarship.  She credits UT for not only saving her life but helping her find what she believes to be her purpose. In 2016 Imani was drafted 10th overall to the Chicago Sky of the WNBA. 

Imani has two younger sisters, TaKenya and Torrey Stafford; an older brother, JaVale McGee; three younger brothers, Jalon Daniels, Kevin Stafford II, and Kamari Stafford; and two step siblings, Tyla and Marlon Haggard.

She comes from a long family of athletes. Her cousin, Annette Smith-Knight, played basketball at Texas and was a member of the 1986 NCAA Championship team. Her brother, JaVale McGee, plays in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers. Her mother, Pamela McGee, played in the WNBA, won two national championships at USC, and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. Her aunt, Trisha Stafford-Odom, is the head women’s basketball coach at North Carolina Central University, she played collegiately at the University of California, and professionally in the WNBA. Her cousin, Jarron Gilbert, played in the NFL for the Bills, Bears, and Jets. Her uncle, Darren Gilbert, played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints. Both of her mother’s sisters, Paula McGee and Alayna Gilbert, played collegiately.