Serena Williams Becomes Part of Toronto’s WNBA Team Ownership

Renowned tennis icon Serena Williams is expanding her commitment to women's sports by acquiring an ownership stake in a Women's National Basketball Association team, as revealed by the team's announcement on Monday.

Known as the Toronto Tempo, this marks the WNBA's inaugural expansion team in Canada. It is set to debut in the 2026 season and is spearheaded by co-owner Larry Tanenbaum, the head of Kilmer Sports Ventures.

Serena expressed her enthusiasm by stating, "I've always believed women's sports hold immense investment potential. Partnering with Larry and the entirety of Canada to establish this new WNBA venture is thrilling and historic."

Details regarding the extent of Williams' ownership share have not been disclosed to the public.

In her role, Williams is expected to significantly influence the team's brand appearance, from uniform aesthetics to product partnerships.

Tempo Basketball Club’s president, Teresa Resch, lauded Serena’s involvement, stating, "Having Serena, an unparalleled athlete, joins our team, her impact will resonate deeply throughout Canada."

Final league authorization is still awaited for this collaboration.

Since stepping back from professional tennis in August 2022, Williams, a celebrated athlete with 23 Grand Slam titles, has been vigorously expanding her entrepreneurial ventures.

Additionally, she holds minority stakes in other sports enterprises like Angel City FC from the National Women's Soccer League, the NFL's Miami Dolphins, and the Los Angeles Golf Club under TGL.