Women’s History Month: 3 All-Stars On & Off the Court
Venus & Serena Williams
Big Stats in Sports. Many casual and avid sports fans are familiar with Venus and Serena Williams. The sisters have revolutionized the game and inspired many more women, especially Black women, to play. Venus and Serena were coached by their parents before dominating pro tennis for decades. In 2010, they were ranked #1 in the world for doubles. The Williams sisters have teamed up to win 23 doubles tournaments, including 14 Grand Slam titles — with six wins coming at Wimbledon (2016, 12, 09, 08, 02 & 00). They’ve won 3 Olympic gold medals while playing together (2012, 08 & 00).
Individually, Serena Williams is widely regarded as the greatest women’s tennis player and one of the greatest athletes (in any sport) of all-time. She has won 73 singles titles while being ranked #1 in the world over 10 different years — including five top year-end rankings. Venus Williams is also regarded as one of the best women’s tennis players and competitors of all-time. Like Serena, she has been ranked #1 and she has won an individual Olympic gold medal (to tie with her sister for the most gold medals by any woman at four).
Big Stats Out of Sports. What is less known about Venus and Serena Williams are their accomplishments outside of tennis. The sisters are part owners of the Miami Dolphins pro football team. They have also participated in philanthropic efforts like Breaking the Mould, which allowed them to inspire and teach tennis to girls in under-resourced African communities. The Williams sisters have even used their fame and public platform to openly speak about their faith in God.
Venus and Serena have individually put up big stats outside of tennis too. Venus owns a clothing line and an interior design company. She has authored several books. Serena has started two schools for secondary students in Kenya. She owns a clothing line like her older sister. They have made numerous film and media appearances too.
Renee Montgomery
Big Stats Out of Sports. In recent days or weeks, you may have heard the name Renee Montgomery — due to her becoming a part-owner and executive of the Atlanta Dream (a pro women’s team in the WNBA). She made history as as the first former WNBA player to serve in a leadership and ownership role with a team. Before making history, Renee made headlines by sitting out the 2020 season to focus on social justice issues. She has started a foundation in the Atlanta area too. Renee accomplished all of this during a heated political season in which a former state senator and co-owner of the team (who doesn’t deserve to be mentioned here) publicly denounced the Black Lives Matter movement. The former senator and co-owner even refused to meet with Renee to discuss systemic racism and was later pressured to sell the team. Renee supported voting rights groups which helped defeat recent incumbent senate and presidential candidates.
Big Stats in Sports. People who do not follow women’s basketball may not know about Renee Montgomery’s former playing career. In 2009, she helped the University of Connecticut (UConn Huskies) women’s basketball team go undefeated in route to winning a national championship. Renee was once selected as a WNBA All-Star (2011) and WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year (2012). She is a two-time WNBA champion (2015, 2017) via the Minnesota Lynx. In 2018, Renee matched the WNBA record (eight) for most made three-pointers in a game. In 2019, she set a new Atlanta Dream’s franchise record (24) for most consecutive games with a made three-pointer. Renee Montgomery and the Williams sisters are not the only women to become All-Stars on and off the court. Let’s use Women’s History Month and those that follow to learn about and celebrate more remarkable women athletes.
— Leroy Long III, PhD
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