Serena Williams is stepping into a pivotal role as part-owner of the newly established WNBA franchise, the Toronto Tempo.
In an insightful interview with Time, the iconic retired tennis champion shared her excitement about this new venture, which is set to commence play in 2026.
At 43, Williams revealed that she is actively participating in the hiring process for the team’s general manager alongside team president Teresa Resch and majority owner Larry Tanenbaum.
The star athlete also had a personal discussion with Monica Wright Rogers before the Tempo officially announced her hiring as the general manager, previously serving as the assistant GM for the Phoenix Mercury.
When Williams asked Wright Rogers about the essential elements of player experience, the focus was on critical aspects like nutrition, recovery, and analytics.
“Right answer,” Williams affirmed with enthusiasm.
In her Time interview, Williams expressed her fondness for Toronto, highlighting her connections to the city after winning three National Bank Open titles there.
“You spend so much time in these places, and you really get to know the city’s ins and outs,” she noted. “You discover the best restaurants, meet fantastic people, and enjoy various events. I even found my way to the karaoke rooms!”
After Toronto was awarded an expansion team in May 2024, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert reached out to Tanenbaum to inquire about Williams joining the ownership group.
“It took me just five seconds—maybe even less—to say yes,” Tanenbaum shared.
Williams’s official announcement as part-owner came in March.
During her conversation with Time, Williams also weighed in on the controversial three-month doping suspension of men’s tennis player Jannik Sinner, following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency.
WADA, which sought to impose a year-long ban on the three-time Grand Slam champion, contested an earlier ruling by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which deemed Sinner’s violations as accidental due to contamination from a banned anabolic steroid.
Despite her admiration for Sinner and his style of play, Williams expressed concern about the duration of his suspension.
“… If I were in that situation, I’d be facing a 20-year ban. Let’s be real. I would have had Grand Slams stripped away from me,” she stated candidly.
