Serena Williams Talks Gender Equality and Representation in Sports

The retired tennis champ stars in Michelob Ultra’s 2023 Super Bowl commercial.

Serena Williams.Kimberly White/Getty Images

Serena Williams will be front and center during Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII broadcast, headlining Michelob Ultra’s star-packed commercial. The ad also features USWNT soccer stalwart Alex Morgan, WNBA forward Nneka Ogwumike, NBA forward Jimmy Butler and retired NFL quarterback Tony Romo (now a CBS color commentator).

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champ recently chatted with Ebony about the ad, and stated that the beer brand prioritizes highlighting both male and female athletes in its marketing.   

“Michelob is really passionate about gender equality. And that means a lot to me,” she stated. “Last year’s spot, they had equal representation of female and male athletes, which is a massive deal. That’s something I’m super proud to be a part of and we’re doing that again this year.”  

Williams noted that she enjoys working with companies that “champion” equal representation of both men’s and women’s sports.

“It’s so cool to let that message be heard and let that message be known. It’s so important to champion and put your money behind what people are actually saying and what people actually mean,” she shared. “Instead of just saying, ‘Oh, we want to see change’ and ‘we support change.’”

Williams, who played her final professional match at the 2022 U.S. Open last September, has long been vocal about gender equality in sports. In the Vogue cover story in which she announced that she was stepping away from the court last August, she noted the double standards of being a female athlete.

“Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair,” she wrote. “If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family. Maybe I’d be more of a Tom Brady if I had that opportunity.”

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