Tennis legend Serena Williams is taking her abilities into the enterprise of skilled basketball.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has formally joined the possession group of the Toronto Tempo, the first-ever WNBA franchise in Canada, the crew introduced Monday.
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The Tempo, set to start play within the 2026 WNBA season, will probably be primarily owned by Larry Tanenbaum by way of his Kilmer Sports activities Ventures firm.
Whereas particulars relating to the extent of Williams’ funding stay unclear, her presence as an proprietor marks one other high-profile athlete getting into the world of sports activities crew possession.
“I’m thrilled to announce my possession function within the first Canadian WNBA crew, the Toronto Tempo,”Williams stated in an announcement.
“This second isn’t just about basketball; it’s about showcasing the true worth and potential of feminine athletes. I’ve at all times stated that girls’s sports activities are an unbelievable funding alternative.”
Williams, considered one of many biggest athletes of all time, retired from skilled tennis in 2022 after a adorned profession that included 73 WTA singles titles and 4 Olympic gold medals.
Her transfer into WNBA possession aligns with a rising pattern of elite athletes investing in girls’s basketball, following figures like Tom Brady (Las Vegas Aces), Dwyane Wade (Chicago Sky), and Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Sparks).
The addition of Williams to the possession group provides each star energy and strategic affect to the Tempo.
As a part of her function, she is going to assist form the crew’s model, taking part in an lively function in jersey designs and future merchandise collaborations.
“Serena is a champion,” stated Tempo president Teresa Resch.
“She’s the best athlete of all time, and her impression on this crew and this nation goes to be unbelievable.”
Williams’ funding remains to be topic to league approval, however her presence within the WNBA possession circle is anticipated to bolster the game’s visibility and progress, notably in Canada.
“Serena Williams is an icon, a task mannequin, and a power for change on the earth,” Tanenbaumstated.
“She exemplifies the easiest of what the Tempo stand for-we could not be extra honored to have Serena in our court docket.”
With the Tempo and a brand new Portland franchise set to hitch the league in 2026, the WNBA will develop to 15 groups, additional capitalizing on the rising momentum surrounding girls’s sports activities.
The Toronto Tempo will play their residence video games at Coca-Cola Coliseum, marking a major milestone within the nation’s skilled basketball panorama.
