Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, made a high-profile appearance at Wembley Stadium to watch Chelsea FC Women complete their domestic Treble with a resounding 3-0 victory over Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup final.
The couple’s attendance came just days after Ohanian purchased a reported 8-10% stake in the club’s women’s team for £20 million ($26.5m)-an investment Chelsea hailed as the start of a “new era” for women’s football.
Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, is now officially on the board at Chelsea Women. His backing, paired with Serena’s global sporting influence, is expected to elevate the club’s reach and profile significantly as they push for dominance not only in England but across Europe.
Speaking to BBC Sport at halftime, Ohanian proudly described the team as the “queens of global soccer”.
Chelsea complete their Treble in front of new investors
On the pitch, it was an emphatic performance from Sonia Bompastor‘s side.
Goals from Sandy Baltimore-including a composed penalty and a second in stoppage time-and a powerful header from substitute Catarina Macario sealed the win and completed a clean sweep of domestic trophies, following their WSL title and League Cup triumph earlier in the 2024-25 season.
Bompastor, who joined from Lyon last summer, has guided Chelsea through a near-perfect debut campaign, with only a Champions League semifinal defeat to Barcelona marring their season. Her team’s dominance at Wembley was clear, with Chelsea managing the game’s tempo and clinical in front of goal when it mattered.
Manchester United, last year’s FA Cup winners, started with intent but faded as Chelsea‘s experience and quality took control. United’s early pressing failed to generate significant chances, and their defensive mistakes proved costly.
A rash high-footed challenge by Celin Bizet on Erin Cuthbert led to the penalty that opened the scoring.
Despite the loss, United’s effort was visible, though they missed key moments to claw back momentum. The decision to start Ella Toone on the bench raised eyebrows, and even her second-half introduction couldn’t tilt the balance.
It was the third consecutive FA Cup final appearance for United, but once again, Chelsea proved too strong.
Williams and Ohanian usher in a new era
Williams and Ohanian were joined at Wembley by their daughter, Olympia, and shared the directors’ box with Chelsea’s leadership group including Behdad Eghbali, Todd Boehly, Paul Winstanley, and Barbara Charone.
The investment mirrors a growing trend of U.S. celebrities backing European football clubs-such as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at Wrexham and Tom Brady at Birmingham City.
Serena’s involvement signals not just star power but a deeper commitment to advancing women’s sport globally. Her presence alongside Chelsea’s players celebrates a new chapter-one driven by elite performance and visionary leadership.
With Baltimore shining, Macario delivering, and a new board presence full of ambition, Chelsea Women are positioned to dominate even more fiercely in the seasons ahead.
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