Tennis legend Serena Williams joins WNBA expansion team Toronto Tempo as part owner
CBC
Call it the first free-agent signing in Toronto Tempo history.
Serena Williams, the 23-time major champion who is considered by some the greatest tennis player of all time, is joining Tempo ownership, the WNBA team announced on Monday.
"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 are an incredible investment opportunity," Williams said in a press release.
Also part of the Tempo leadership group is president Teresa Resch, who left her previous gig with the Toronto Raptors on March 4, 2024.
Now, almost one year later, her newest co-worker is Serena Williams.
"It feels real now, doesn't it?" Resch, who was officially named president in May, told CBC Sports.
Williams joins Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures, which controls the team, as Tempo owners.
Tanenbaum was previously a 25 per cent owner of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, which owns the NHL's Maple Leafs, NBA's Raptors, CFL's Argos and MLS' Toronto FC. He has since sold some of his shares in the company but remains chairman of its board of governors for now.
"I am excited to partner with Larry and all of Canada in creating this new WNBA franchise and legacy," Williams said.
Resch said Williams "is the first of multiple owners" the Tempo will introduce in lead-up to tip-off in 2026.
Tanenbaum said the team "couldn't be more honoured" to welcome Williams.
"Serena Williams is an icon, a role model and a force for change in the world. 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," he said.
Williams "will contribute to bringing the Tempo to life visually," the team said, including input on jersey design and merchandise partnerships.
The 43-year-old made her professional tennis debut in Canada in 1995 en route to her record-setting career. She won the WTA's Canadian Open, which was previously known as the Rogers Cup, three times and appeared in two other finals.
