Imagine this dream team: Serena Williams, a former world No. 1 and 23-time Grand Slam champion, joined forces with WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark to promote the significance of women`s sports to the National Football League, one of the world`s most profitable sports leagues.
Recently, Clark and Williams, along with Super Bowl champion Eli Manning, participated in a panel in Palm Beach, Florida. The panel, titled `The Changing Face of Sports and Its Impact on the NFL,` featured Williams speaking directly to NFL owners. She emphasized that the talent and skill of female athletes have always been exceptional, and women`s sports are now finally receiving the recognition they deserve.
Williams stated to the NFL team owners, `We have had incredible women athletes for a long time, but it`s just that you are finally noticing.` She also mentioned that she and her sister, Venus Williams, frequently attracted larger television audiences than men`s tennis matches when they competed.
She added, `It`s just that men are now acknowledging the amazing contributions of women over the past 50 to 60 years.`
Since her retirement from tennis, Williams has focused on investments through her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures. However, her passion for sports remains strong. Since 2020, she, her husband Alexis Ohanian, and their daughter Olympia have been part of the ownership group of Angel City FC in the National Women`s Soccer League. In March, she was also announced as a new owner of the Toronto Tempo, a WNBA team set to debut in 2026.
Williams also acknowledged current athletes like Clark for further expanding the platform for women`s sports. She playfully suggested that Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, would excel in flag football, a non-contact version of football that will be featured at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell noted that flag football is generating significant interest among both women and men.
Williams concluded, `It`s about investing in us. When we see the impact of investing in women and what we can achieve, it reveals a significant opportunity for growth.`
Goodell, referring to Williams as `the GOAT,` commented that she `not only understands women`s sports but also possesses a deep understanding of business, sports, and society.`
Rupert Caldwell