Women's National Handball Team captain Nurceren Akgün Göktepe and her husband, national handball player Coşkun Göktepe, discussed their careers and their relationship in an interview with Anadolu Agency. The couple's story began in 2011 at a national team camp held at Hacettepe University. Coşkun Göktepe, then a member of the Men's National Team squad, and Nurceren Akgün, who was playing for the Junior National Team at the time, developed a friendship that eventually turned into marriage. The pair married in 2017.

Nurceren Akgün Göktepe said she took up handball at the age of 11 in primary school in Antalya, describing the sport's place in her life: "Handball is not just a sport for me, it's a way of life. From my character to my outlook on life, handball has had a hand in everything that makes me who I am." The experienced player said reaching the national team captaincy was an indescribable source of happiness for her, and emphasized that her goalkeeper husband contributes greatly to her defensive and shooting analysis. Nurceren said that after losing matches, she spends days replaying positions in her head, constantly consulting Coşkun about missed shots and defensive moments.

Coşkun Göktepe, who has played handball for 21 years, said he was introduced to the sport in high school on the advice of his physical education teacher, and briefly played as a football goalkeeper before turning to handball. He said the biggest advantage of sharing the same sport is that they understand each other extremely well, noting that they watch match footage together and jointly assess the weaknesses of opposing goalkeepers. He said he analyzes matches from a goalkeeper's perspective, while Nurceren, playing as a centre back, evaluates the game from her own point of view as a playmaker.

Coşkun Göktepe said he hoped their nearly 15-year relationship would continue for many more years, adding, "If I went back to the start, I would marry Nurceren all over again." Nurceren Akgün Göktepe said the two are very similar in character and that they balance each other out. Asked to define handball in a single word, Coşkun answered "passion," while Nurceren said "addiction." The couple noted that trophies, national team jerseys and handball memories occupy an important place in their home, and added that during the demanding season they prefer to spend their free time outdoors, away from Ankara.