“The silver lining of women’s sports being so underinvested was that they were so easy to invest in,” Alexis Ohanian once said. Living with Serena Williams, one of the greatest athletes of all time, it made perfect sense that he would go all in on women’s sports. But the real spark came in 2019, when he and Serena were watching the Women’s World Cup final. Their daughter, Olympia, ran around wearing an Alex Morgan jersey, and Ohanian casually mused, “Wouldn’t it be great if she played on a national team one day?” Serena’s reply changed everything: “Not until they pay her what she’s worth.” That challenge set him on a mission. Now, he’s proving the doubters wrong.

Ohanian placed his bet early. He became a founding investor in the NWSL’s Angel City FC, believing the team’s value would grow. And in July 2024, that gamble paid off. Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife Willow Bay, a dean at the University of Southern California, acquired a controlling stake, valuing the club at a staggering $250 million. That success fueled even more investment.

Through his venture firm Seven Seven Six, Ohanian backed The Sports Bra, a Portland-based bar dedicated to women’s sports, with plans to franchise the concept nationwide. This summer, during the Paris Olympics, he and rapper Flavor Flav stepped in to help American discus thrower Veronica Fraley by covering her rent. But, his most ambitious move came with Athlos, an exclusive track and field event for women. The first-ever Athlos NYC meet took place on September 26, 2024, at Icahn Stadium in New York, offering a massive $500,000 prize pool. Olympic champion Gabby Thomas and world record holder Faith Kipyegon headlined the event, which drew an impressive three million viewers across platforms like ESPN, DAZN, YouTube, and X.

At the Forbes 3050 event, Ohanian spoke about the skepticism he faced. “Investing in women’s sports five years ago was unthinkable… [Many people] told me I was going to lose all my money and it would never work. I’m very happy to prove them wrong.” He doubled down on social media, reposting the video with the caption, “And you know I saved ALL those tweets saying we’d fail and ‘no one watches women’s sports’ — and we’re not done yet, haters!”

Beyond investing, Ohanian is celebrating big wins for women’s sports. He recently reacted to the WTA’s groundbreaking policy change

Serena Williams’s husband Alexis Ohanian hails WTA’s new reform

On Thursday, the WTA announced that 320 players, including 25 active tennis moms, will now have access to 12 months of paid leave. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is backing the initiative, giving the WTA the financial muscle to support its players.

Just last month, Belinda Bencic won her second Abu Dhabi title after returning from maternity leave. Naomi Osaka, another high-profile mom, came back last season after giving birth to her daughter, Shai, in 2023. And then there are legends like Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki, and Victoria Azarenka, who have all balanced motherhood with elite competition.

Alexis Ohanian gave his seal of approval on X and wrote, “Smart Move @WTA.” Coincidentally, the post featured a picture of Serena Williams and Olympia—fitting, given his deep personal connection to parental leave. The 41-year-old’s perspective on the issue changed dramatically over the years. In 1983, his father took just a single vacation day after Ohanian was born. However, in 2017, when Serena Williams suffered severe complications after Olympia’s birth, Ohanian took the full 16 weeks of paid paternity leave offered at Reddit, the company he co-founded.

Now, he’s using his platform and resources to reshape women’s sports. And it’s working. So, what’s next on his playbook?