Even though she's retired for almost three years, tennis legend Serena Williams has continued to make her presence felt in the sports world.
In March, Williams announced that she was joining the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, the newest expansion team in the WNBA after the Golden State Valkyries. The Tempo will make their debut in 2026.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion said it's another way for her to feature "the true value and potential of female athletes." It's the latest venture to her growing sports business portfolio as she also owns stakes in the Miami Dolphins, Angel City FC and Los Angeles Golf Club.
According to a report from Time Magazine's Sean Gregory, Williams first became interested in women's basketball in the 2000 Sydney Olympics after seeing the United States win the gold medal. She's a big admirer of Lisa Leslie and Diana Taurasi.
These days, the 43-year-old Williams said she's thoroughly impressed by Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, particularly her ability to stay focused despite being constantly in the spotlight.
“I felt like she’s always herself, she stayed out of it, just muted the noise,” said the tennis icon. “She has this maturity that I didn’t have.
"I felt like she was, like me, purposely staying away (from distractions). I respect that. Kudos to her."
The 23-year-old Clark heard all sorts of negativity when she entered the WNBA. But she quickly proved naysayers wrong as she led the Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, set multiple records, and drove the league's unprecedented popularity.
Williams and Clark recently spent time together at the annual NFL owners meeting in Palm Beach, Florida as members of a panel that discussed women's sports.
With Williams' foray into the WNBA, expect her and Clark to develop an even stronger bond.
