Toronto’s WNBA team adds tennis legend Serena Williams as an owner

The Toronto Tempo just got a big boost.

Serena Williams is now a part-owner of Canada’s first WNBA team, the club announced today. The greatest women’s tennis player ever joins the Toronto ownership group, alongside Larry Tanenbaum.

“I am thrilled to announce my ownership role in the first Canadian WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo,” Williams said in a media 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 are an incredible investment opportunity. I am excited to partner with Larry and all of Canada in creating this new WNBA franchise and legacy.”

The team said Williams will “contribute to bringing the Tempo to life visually,” including playing an active role in future jersey designs and merchandise collaborations.

“Serena is a champion,” said Tempo president Teresa Resch. “She’s the greatest athlete of all time, and her impact on this team and this country is going to be incredible. 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.”

“Serena Williams is an icon, a role model and a force for change in the world,” Tanenbaum added. “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.”

The Tempo will play their inaugural WNBA season in 2026, with home games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. The team has promised to play regular season games across Canada, though, including Vancouver and Montreal.

“We can’t wait to settle into our home at Coca-Cola Coliseum,” Toronto GM Monica Wright Rogers said recently. “But we’ll also be bringing this team to Montreal and Vancouver as part of our mission and our mandate to represent all Canadians. This is so much more than a team. It’s a movement to grow the game of women’s basketball in Canada.”

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