23 Grand Slams, 14 Grand Slam Doubles, 2 Grand Slam Mixed-Doubles, 7 Australian Open titles, 6 US Open titles, and 4 Olympic Gold Medals. 

            As a young black girl, the only reason I picked up a tennis racket was because of Serena Williams. I would go as far to say that the only reason why I knew about the sport of tennis was because of Venus and Serena Williams. I grew up going to the Home Depot Center (now StubHub Center) in Carson, CA to watch tennis matches and I would tell myself  "I want to be Serena Williams." My tennis aspirations were short lived because of my love for basketball, but my admiration of Serena Williams never left. At first, I fell in love with her talent, work ethic, and competitiveness. As I got older, I started paying attention to all the backlash she was getting, but she never backed down or let people treat her differently because she did not fit into the stereotypical tennis player mold. She is unapologetically herself. She carries herself with such fierceness and pride. Every young black girl can feel like she has a chance because of her. 

            Serena Williams released a documentary series on HBO called "Being Serena" that documented her pregnancy and the beginning of her comeback. "Produced by HBO Sports and IMG's Original Content group, Being Serena provides viewers unprecedented access to Williams during her pregnancy, new motherhood and marriage, while documenting her journey back to supremacy on the court. The intimate first-person show delves into her landmark career, family life and expanding role as a businesswoman and investor in the worlds of tech, fashion, fitness and philanthropy" (https://www.hbo.com/being-serena/about). Anybody who watches the documentary will never have to debate whether she is the G.O.A.T or not. This phenomenal woman won the Australian Open while pregnant. She almost died in the process of having the baby, but somehow still battled through adversity to get back on the tennis court. She not only got back on the court, but she has commenced her journey to be #1 again. 

Serena Williams gives hope. Hope that one day women, especially black women, will truly be seen for the amazingly powerful human-beings we are.  Without her, there may not be Noami Osaka, Coko Gauff, Simone Biles, and so many others. She has helped pave the way for so many women to come after her.  Serena's Nike commercials, her body type, her hair, her skin, her love, her attitude, her competitiveness, her style, and her voice give me hope and trumpet the fact that women can do anything and everything.  

These next statements will start a debate with so many….. 

It is sad to say that if Serena Williams was a man, she would be in the G.O.A.T talk just like Michael Jordan, Lebron James, and Kobe Bryant. But instead, everybody likes to say "she is the greatest female athlete of all time." 

Let's make it clear. 

She has been a top professional tennis player for 26 years. 

Nobody has won as much as her, been a professional as long as her, transformed their sport as much as her, had to fight for equal pay like her, or had a child and almost died in the process multiple times and still embraced adversity for a comeback like her. I just do not understand why this discussion is so hard.    

Man or woman… Serena Williams is the greatest of all time. 

My question to you--my Cal Athletics family--is what will you do because of and in response to Serena's greatness? How will you ensure that every girl and woman knows that she can be the greatest of all time?