The GOAT’s next match is herself.
Serena Williams defined a generation of athletic dominance. Her 23 Grand Slams made her the undisputed GOAT, but walking away from the tennis court has forced the global icon to face a challenge greater than any opponent: finding her identity in retirement. The transition, she recently confessed in PORTER, has been less about basking in her legendary status and more about the deeply human process of “discovering herself again” after dedicating her life to the relentless, singular grind of elite tennis. For the Black woman who has defined supremacy, the pivot is powerful, complex, and deeply relatable to anyone transitioning into a new stage of life.
For more than two decades, Serena’s purpose was absolute: to achieve excellence on the court. That unwavering focus meant every moment—from diet to training to travel—was dictated by the schedule of a champion. That kind of commitment leaves little room for personal exploration. Now, the 44-year-old mogul and mother is confronting the profound void left by the absence of high-stakes competition. She noted the difficulty of adjusting to life outside the professional bubble, a sentiment many elite athletes face, regardless of sport. But for a Black woman who has historically carried the weight of expectation and representation, this period is also a vital reclaiming of personal space, shifting from being an athletic warrior to simply being Serena, the individual.
This era of self-definition naturally includes re-establishing control over her physical form. The champion recently revealed she lost over 30 pounds, citing the use of a weight-loss drug as part of her journey. While her focus remains centered on overall health and well-being, this decision underscores the intense scrutiny constantly placed on the female body, even that of a global icon whose career was built on power and strength. For Serena, maintaining her physical health is a key part of controlling her narrative in a world that has always wanted to define her. She is not just shedding weight; she is actively shedding the physical requirements of a competitive sport and establishing a new physical normal entirely on her own terms, free from the expectations of the grand slam schedule.
The next chapter of the Williams saga is far from quiet, proving that the drive that fueled her career is entirely transferable. Between raising her two young daughters and actively running her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, and her “S by Serena” fashion line, she is leveraging her GOAT mentality directly into the business world.
This entrepreneurial pivot is a powerful lesson in transferable skills: the strategic planning, the discipline, and the sheer refusal to lose that won her 23 majors are now fueling her empire. Serena’s retirement is not an ending; it is a profound expansion of her legacy, proving that her power is not confined to the baseline, but extends to every space she chooses to conquer.
Serena Williams’ journey is a powerful reminder that true excellence is a continuous evolution. As she navigates this new world of self-discovery, she reinforces a universal truth for the culture: you can be a GOAT, a mother, and a mogul all at once, constantly defining and redefining what Black power and personal fulfillment look like in the next stage of life.