Serena Williams is serving up something big off the tennis court, and it’s got NFL fans buzzing. The 23-time Grand Slam champ and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, have reportedly tossed their hats into the ring with a bid to snag a piece of the NFL’s upcoming professional flag football league.
Williams, already a minority owner of the Miami Dolphins since 2009, is eyeing another slice of football glory. With flag football set to hit the 2028 Olympics, this move’s got everyone talking about her next big play.
Williams isn’t new to the sports ownership game-she’s got stakes in the Dolphins, Angel City FC, and the Los Angeles Golf Club, plus a fresh investment in the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo. “I love the future of women, don’t you?” she posted on Instagram after speaking at the NFL’s Annual Meeting in Palm Beach on March 31, alongside WNBA star Caitlin Clark and Eli Manning.
That panel, all about women’s sports, seems to have lit a spark-now she’s diving into the NFL’s flag football push. “It’s clear there’s a lot of interest in a pro flag league,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the meeting, hinting at the 10 bids rolling in, including Serena’s.
Why tennis star eyes flag football glory?
Why flag football? It’s blowing up-think less pads, more speed, and a global stage with that Olympic nod. “Flag football is a high priority of ours,” NFL exec Jeff Miller told reporters last week, hyping its appeal for both men and women. Serena’s bid isn’t just cash-it’s clout.
With her 14 million Instagram followers and a net worth north of $250 million, she’s a marketing slam dunk. X fans are hyped-“Serena owning a flag team? That’s a power move,” one posted-while others see her as the face to grow the game worldwide.
Ohanian’s no slouch either: his Seven Seven Six venture firm’s in on this, and their sports portfolio’s stacked. “The NFL’s getting bids from people who want to invest big,” Goodell added, nodding to the league’s plan to let partners run the show while they cash in on media deals. Williams, who rocked the owners’ meeting in a red-hot outfit next to Clark, isn’t just bidding-she’s signaling she’s all-in on football’s future.
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