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Canada’s first WNBA team is getting a boost from one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Serena Williams, who won 23 Grand Slam titles in women’s tennis, is joining the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA expansion team joining the league in 2026, alongside majority owner Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Kilmer Sports Group, the team announced Monday. Her investment is still pending league approval.
The Tempo’s announcement said Williams’s role would be focused on “bringing the Tempo to life visually,” which includes helping with the team’s jersey designs and merchandise collaborations. In a statement to Front Office Sports, the team did not specify whether Williams will have a say in any of the team’s on-court decisions.
In May, the WNBA announced Toronto would receive the 14th franchise. The Tempo will enter the league next year with a still unnamed 15th team based in Portland. The Tempo will play their games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, which is about two miles west of the Scotiabank Arena where the NBA’s Raptors play.
Williams’s Growing Portfolio
Williams’s backing in Tempo adds to her growing list of investments in sports franchises. In 2022, she invested in NWSL franchise Angel FC alongside her husband, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian. The two also own the Los Angeles Golf Club, one of six inaugural teams in the TGL.
Williams earned $95 million throughout her professional career but is worth $340 million, according to Forbes, which she built through endorsement deals and investments. Aside from sports team ownership, she also has a venture capital firm called Serena Ventures.
