“I love who I am, and I encourage other people to love and embrace who they are,” is what Serena Williams once said. While she was speaking on body positivity at the time, her words stand true for the inspiration she’s become in more than one field. Her journey from the tough streets of Compton to the top of the tennis world with 23 Grand Slams speaks for itself and she’s earned every bit of the praise she received! While many, like Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, looked up to Serena as tennis players, Caitlin Clark was inspired by her outside the sport as well.

Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever’s rising star and one of the most electrifying players in the WNBA, has taken the basketball world by storm. After a record-breaking college career at the University of Iowa, where she became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer with 3,951 points, Clark was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Her rookie season has been nothing short of historic, with jaw-dropping performances that include breaking assist and scoring records. But basketball isn’t the whole story—Clark’s love for sports goes far beyond the hardwood.

In a recent interview with Elle Magazine on April 13, Clark revealed her admiration for tennis legend Serena Williams. She gushed about how the WTA legend inspired her as a young girl, saying, “I loved Serena Williams. She was probably my favorite athlete of all time. I just thought she was the greatest—and as a young girl, having someone like her to look up to was incredible.”

Interestingly, Clark once dabbled in tennis herself but humorously admitted it didn’t last long. “I got kicked out of tennis class when I was, like, 10,” she laughed. “I got mad at the instructor because I thought it was too easy.”

Clark’s athletic prowess extends far beyond the hardwood. Hailing from West Des Moines, Iowa, she juggled soccer, softball, and volleyball, even starring on her high school soccer team before basketball stole her heart. Now, she’s playfully eyeing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, joking at an NFL event, ‘Maybe LA 2028, I’ll do two sports!’ while sharing a laugh with Serena Williams.

Serena, captivated by the moment, posted it on Instagram, declaring, “Yesterday was a blur and all about the future of women at the annual [NFL] Annual Meeting. I love [the] future of women, don’t you?” tagging Clark and Manning.

And get this—Clark just shattered Serena’s record for the priciest women’s sports card ever sold, a cool $366,000! Clark’s response? A simple goat emoji, a nod to tennis royalty. Talk about a full-circle moment! Even Serena’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, has publicly praised Clark’s talent and influence.

Serena’s Husband Alexis Ohanian cheers on Clark

Alexis Ohanian, a name synonymous with tech and tenacity, has emerged as a fervent champion for the WNBA, a prominent voice advocating for equity. His actions, from vocal advocacy to tangible investments—like his lead investment in the NWSL’s Angel City FC and active support of women’s college athletes—weave a narrative of unwavering support.

Ohanian has also been vocal about the surge in women’s basketball viewership, especially during March Madness. In an old X post, he credited Caitlin Clark for the huge boom in attention to the women’s games. Sharing a graph from 2022, he slammed the NCAA for shortchanging women’s basketball compared to men’s. When a fan suggested tagging Clark, Ohanian replied, “She’s a HUGE part of it, but the story was in the data years ago — free market of attention (IG) already delivered a verdict showing women crushed the men on followers.”

The connection between Ohanian and Clark got even more personal when he saw Serena Williams as her dream dinner guest. Without missing a beat, he invited Clark over, tweeting, “C’mon now @CaitlinClark22 there’s an open invitation at our home!” It’s a fun moment that shows how sports worlds collide and inspire each other beyond the court.

It’s great to see sports worlds collide like this. With Clark ruling the basketball court and Serena’s legacy inspiring beyond tennis, it’s clear sports are much more than just a game.