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It was never about the money for tennis legend Serena Williams. During an interview on Bloomberg Originals’ “The Deal” podcast hosted by Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly, she recalls forgetting to pick up her award checks after winning tournaments, necessitating friendly reminders from her accountant. “When I started tennis, first of all, I’m from Compton, CA, and I remember playing on these courts, and my life was great. I never felt like I needed anything. So for me, money was never a motivation,” Williams told the hosts. “I remember when I first started, back in the day, they used to write out checks after you won your tournament. And I would always forget to get the checks. And so at the end of the year they would always have to say, ‘Serena, we have all these checks for you.’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ And at the time, I had an accountant who would be like, ‘Serena. They sent me all these checks that you would forget to get from the tournaments.'” Instead, Williams was more focused...
When taking a look at the history of tennis, it’s an unarguable fact that Venus Williams is one of the trailblazers that paved the way. In the words of her fellow legendary sister, Serena Williams: “ I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus.” "I wouldn't be Serena if there wasn't Venus." Serena Williams shows love to her sister, Venus 💗 pic.twitter.com/3exRlhMAZZ — ESPN (@espn) September 3, 2022
It’s one thing to stay in your lane, but it’s an entirely different flex to create your own. And that’s the case for decorated tennis champion Naomi Osaka, who has reportedly left IMG to launch her own sports agency — EVOLVE. EXCLUSIVE: @naomiosaka has left IMG to launch her own sports agency, Evolve, which will be stylized as EVOLVE. pic.twitter.com/HxJlbblqII — Sportico (@Sportico) May 11, 2022 “I’ve spent my career doing things my way, even when people told me that it wasn’t what was expected or traditional,” Osaka said in regards to the move, according to Bleacher Report. “Evolve is the natural next step in my journey as both an athlete and businesswoman, as well as a way to continue being myself and doing things my way.”
Arguably a match made in heaven, Sloane Stephens will be joining forces with wearable wellness brand WHOOP, making the star athlete the first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) player to partner with the company. “This partnership with WHOOP makes perfect sense for me because it’s a brand that has become absolutely integral to my training routine,” Sloane Stephens told Boardroom. “As an athlete, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from incredible trainers and doctors over the years, but never have I had access to this amount of physiological insight on my phone.” Before the partnership, the US Open champion was already an avid consumer of WHOOP, as she used their band during the 2021 season to keep a record of data and feedback to gauge her recovery, sleep, and training, according to Boardroom. Now, Sloane Stephens will have an audience as she showcases the wellness brand on social media, real-life activations, and through cross-platform content. More recently, the tennis star also...
Venus Williams has taken “better” steps to destigmatize mental health. And according to The New York Post, mental health seems to have always been a priority for the tennis great. “My parents were big proponents of mental health — not just self-care, but proactivity,” Venus Williams told the outlet. “It was about realizing that the world is a beautiful place, but it’s also a challenging place, and that you have to prepare mentally to be able to handle the pressures. I was able to succeed in places where others [didn’t] because I had that support from a young age.” Despite all of the advances made in the normalization of mental health, overall, there’s still a stigma attached to it. “While Black Americans experience a wide range of attitudes toward mental health treatment, there’s a stigma surrounding mental illness that prevents some people from getting help,” reports VeryWellMind. “It’s important to consider how the stigma—and the forces that create the stigma—may make it difficult...
Tennis superstar Venus Williams’ legacy has empowered women both on and off the court. According to a press release, Williams is teaming up with Blue Shield of California — a mission-driven nonprofit health plan — to spread awareness of healthcare bias. “For groups, including but not limited to, women, people of color, immigrants, and low-income populations, accessing and receiving the care they need and deserve can be challenging,” Jeff Robertson , senior vice president of consumer growth and chief marketing officer at Blue Shield of California, said in a press release . “We are proud to be working with tennis icon and activist Venus Williams in addressing the implicit biases and systemic inequities that persist in health care today.” Over the next year, through the collaborative campaign — “Hear Me” — Williams will speak on “her auto-immune disorder Sjogren’s Syndrome, mental health, Black maternal health, and fitness and wellness,” the press release announced. “I am deeply...
Last week, Naomi Osaka decided to put her well-being first by opting out of a press conference during the French Open before ultimately withdrawing from the tournament as a whole. Her decision to prioritize her mental health sparked conversation on the weight that lies upon the shoulders of professional athletes. Not only did fellow athletes like Venus Williams , Usain Bolt, and others rally behind Osaka’s decision, but now Meditation app Calm stands with the four-time Grand Slam champ. They also shared that they stand with other tennis players looking to do the same when it comes to protecting their peace. On Wednesday (June 2), the company announced that it had pledged $15,000 to French youth sports charity Laureus and that it will pay the fine of any Grand Slam tennis player who will decline media appearances for the sake of their mental health. Calm also will match the $15,000 with a donation to Laureus. But this is bigger than any individual player. Calm will also pay the fine...
Naomi Osaka — a modern tennis great — is currently dominating the news cycle thanks to the fallout from her withdrawal from the French Open. On May 31, 2021, Osaka became a worldwide trending topic when she announced that she would be withdrawing from the competition, Though she faces expulsion for her decision, she said that she wanted the focus to be on the French Open itself and not her struggles with mental health. Boris Becker, a former tennis player, said that he fears that Osaka’s career may be “over” due to this decision. “I almost feel like her career is in danger because of mental health issues and now that we should take very seriously,” he said. Despite the criticism from the usual suspects, Naomi Osaka remains the highest-earning female athlete in the sports world today. Let’s take a look at her net worth in 2021 and beyond. Naomi Osaka Net Worth 2021: How Much Does The Tennis Star Make? Naomi Osaka has a net worth of $25 million. Between June 2019 and June 2020, Osaka...
U.S. Open winner and three-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has dominated the world of tennis over the last few years, working her way up to being Forbes’ Highest-Paid Female Athlete. Now she’s channeling her business-savvy mindset fueled by her passion for women in sports to become part-owner of a National Women’s Soccer League Team, the North Carolina Courage, according to Face2Face Africa. TMZ reports that Osaka — a well-known advocate for social justice issues — purchased ownership stake in the team after being inspired by the overwhelming amount of support she’s received from other women athletes over the course of her career. The women who have invested in me growing up made me who I am today, I don’t know where I would be without them. Throughout my career I’ve always received so much love from my fellow female athletes so that’s why I am proud to share that I am now a owner of @TheNCCourage ⚽️❤️ pic.twitter.com/Iz0YcVvOqz — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) January 28, 2021...
The year 2020 was a big year for Naomi Osaka, and the tennis superstar is keeping the momentum going in the new year for her latest luxury brand campaign. People reports that just a year after showcasing her collection with Japanese designer Hanako Maeda and her label ADEAM during NYFW, Naomi Osaka is now making her debut with luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton for her first-ever campaign with the brand. Osaka broke the news on Monday after sharing the announcement via social media saying, “Wow this is actually crazy. Honored to be @LouisVuitton newest House Ambassador.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by 大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) In a press release, the U.S. Open winner described the campaign as a “dream come true.” Over the last few years, Osaka has grown to be quite the fashion connoisseur, so this new collaboration was only fitting for what she calls a “full circle moment.” “Aside from tennis, my most treasured passion is fashion; and there is no brand more iconic than...
Women are taking over in sports and leading not only in winning titles but in earnings as well. Naomi Osaka, the 22-year-old tennis superstar, made history over the weekend as the highest-paid female athlete ever earning $37.4 million in the past year, which is $1.4 million more than Serena Williams has made, according to ELLE . Forbes reported that Osaka’s earnings came from prize money and endorsements she’s racked up over the last 12 months, setting an all-time record high for what a female athlete has earned in a single year. Her new record also surpasses that of Maria Sharapova‘s 2015 record of $29.7 million. Osaka now ranks No. 29 among the 100 highest-paid athletes while Williams is No. 33, according to Forbes . They also reported that this is the first time since 2016 that two female athletes have ranked on this list, with the full 2020 list set to release sometime this week. Osaka garnered her newfound fame from defeating Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final with her...
There were some initial hesitations around Unrivaled’s 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, but that has not stopped it from attracting notable investors. Unrivaled is a startup founded in 2023 by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart in 2025. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, its business model is unprecedented, offering the highest salaries in women’s sports and granting participating players an equity stake in the league. Its concept has proven to be a success among its players. “Everybody got equity coming into this league, that’s the most important thing…I know five years from now this thing is gonna be bigger than ever,” Angel Reese from Unrivaled’s Rose BC team shared during a virtual press conference held in January. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rose BC (@rosebc) The potential of Unrivaled was not understood by all. In fact, Collier recalls receiving various “no’s” during the league’s inception. “It was hard because you think the same thing like,...
Tru Skye Ventures, co-founded by Metta World Peace, has invested in a new sports technology company. According to its website, Tru Skye Ventures is a $100 million fund for sport-tech innovation, fan engagement, health, and wellness companies established in partnership with Stephen Stokols. On March 4, 2025, it was announced that FanUp, a fantasy sports and pop culture platform that has 2.3 million global fans, largely Gen Z (86%) and women (55%), closed a strategic financing round led by Tru Skye Ventures and 9.58 Ventures, co-founded by Fred Toney and Omar Sillah. American tennis star Frances Tiafoe and general partners—NFL safety Jalen Mills, NFL linebacker Deion Jones, and NBA assistant coach David Vanterpool—also participated in the round, according to a news release shared with AFROTECH™. “I’m thrilled to welcome powerhouse partners like Tru Skye Ventures and 9.58 Ventures to our strategic round,” FanUp Founder and CEO Tejas Bodiwala said in a news release. “Collectively, we’ll...
Serena Williams has ownership in a new sports team. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the tennis legend is an investor in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club Angel City FC, alongside her family, which includes her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian Sr., and their two daughters, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. and Adira River Ohanian. According to a press release, Williams has officially joined the ownership group of the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo, which is owned by Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports Ventures. Williams’ presence is also a full-circle moment, as she launched her career journey in Canada back in 1995. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) “I am thrilled to announce my ownership role in the first Canadian WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo,” Williams said in the press release. “This moment is not just about basketball; it is about showcasing the true value and potential of female athletes — I have always said that women’s sports...