Serena Williams has officially stepped onto a new court.
According to CBS News, the tennis legend is now backing Unrivaled, a two-year-old women’s basketball league that just announced a $340 million valuation after closing its Series B funding round.
Williams made the move through Serena Ventures, her investment firm that has focused on early-stage companies since 2017. She joins a high-profile group of athletes-turned-investors, including U.S. soccer star Alex Morgan through Trybe Ventures and tennis pioneer Billie Jean King.
Venture capital heavyweight Bessemer Venture Partners led the round, alongside additional contributors across sports and finance.
The league was created with a specific purpose: keeping elite women’s basketball talent stateside during the offseason. For years, many WNBA players relied on contracts overseas to supplement their earnings. Unrivaled positioned itself as an alternative, offering 3-on-3 competition with pay that league officials say is the highest average salary in women’s sports.
Its second season is slated to begin in January 2026.
“Bringing in partners who understand both sports and business is critical to our growth,” Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell said in a statement. “With Bessemer leading this round, we’re set up to expand in ways that are rare for a league still in its early stages.”
Williams’ involvement signals how seriously she’s taking the next phase of her career. Since retiring from tennis in 2022, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has used her platform to expand into venture capital, fashion, and entertainment.
According to Forbes, she has a net worth of roughly $350 million, making her one of the wealthiest athletes of her generation.
Her decision to stake a claim in Unrivaled underscores both the financial opportunity and the cultural shift underway in women’s sports. By aligning with athletes and investors who see long-term potential, Williams is helping shape a league designed to grow well beyond its launch years.