Serena Williams Announces Co-Ownership of Toronto Tempo Ahead of WNBA Season: ‘New Court, New Game’

Serena Williams is now part owner of Canada’s first WNBA team!

“New court, new game,” the legendary tennis player, 43, wrote on Instagram on Monday, March 3 to announce the news that she’s become an owner of Toronto Tempo alongside Kilmer Sports Ventures chairman Larry Tanenbaum. “I am incredibly excited to join the @torontotempo as the team’s newest owner.” 

In May 2024, the WNBA awarded Toronto an expansion team, creating the Toronto Tempo, which is the first outside of the United States. The newly minted team will begin playing in the 2026 season, while the 2025 WNBA season officially kicks off May 16. 

The four-time Olympic gold medalist, meanwhile, is ready to bring her prowess to a new sport. “To me, being an owner is about fueling something bigger than myself,” Williams, who retired from tennis in 2022, wrote on Instagram Stories. 

“I’ve spent my whole life pushing limits on the court,” the athlete-turned-entrepreneur continued, “and now I get to do that off the court, for this incredible organization, and the incredible athletes that will be part of this team.” 

Williams’ investment in the team still needs to be approved by the league, but when it’s finalized she plans to help with jersey designs and to create merchandise collaborations with Tempo, according to a press release shared by the franchise. The athlete has become known for her style off the court. In 2018, she launched her eponymous clothing line, Serena.

Becoming a partner in a Canada-based team is a sort of homecoming for Williams, who made her debut as a tennis pro in the country in 1995, eventually winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles. 

“Canada has always been a special place for me,” Williams wrote on her Instagram Stories. “I played my first professional tennis game in Quebec City. And I love Toronto – the culture, the food, the people.” 

Williams also noted that she won her first Rogers Cup in the Queen City when she was just 19. 

The team is just as excited to have her join their ranks.

“Serena Williams is an icon, a role model and a force for change in the world” Tanenbaum said in a statement. “She’s earned every bit of her incredible success with hard work, tenacity and determination in the face of countless challenges. She exemplifies the very best of what the Tempo stand for – we couldn’t be more honoured to have Serena in our court.”

Tempo Basketball Club President Teresa Resch noted what Williams has done for women’s sports. “Serena is a champion,” she said in a statement. “She’s set the bar for women in sport, business and the world – and her commitment to using that success to create opportunities for other women is inspiring – we’re thrilled to be marking the lead-up to International Women’s Day with this announcement.”

Williams, who joined her sister to become part owner of the Miami Dolphins in 2009, is “thrilled” to highlight the power of female athletes in a new way. “This moment is not just about basketball,” Williams shared in a statement, “it is about showcasing the true value and potential of female athletes — I have always said that women’s sports are an incredible investment opportunity. I am excited to partner with Larry and all of Canada in creating this new WNBA franchise and legacy.”