Serena in the Spotlight—Wave after Wave

Some people are always making waves. It's easy to ask "What's new?" because there is always an answer. The old water cooler may be a thing of the past, but these are the people who, whether they intend to or not, end up in the spotlight—or at least in the lunchroom conversation. I’m not sure if it’s an art or a science, but certain people just have it. Celebrities especially embody this phenomenon. From Taylor Swift to Travis Kelce, Aaron Rodgers to LeBron James—and of course Serena Williams—many have built a reputation, sometimes even a single name, around staying in the spotlight. And my time on the water today, offered me an opportunity to ride, push and pull myself to and from the waves that Serena has put into the spotlight lately.

I question the authenticity of this message.

Although she said she was “evolving away from tennis” (Vogue), Serena Williams officially stepped away from the game at the 2022 U.S. Open. Fans hoped the 23-time Grand Slam champion might extend her legendary career by becoming the winningest player of the Open era. Instead, her final match ended in a hard-fought third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanović. Regardless of the result, all present were grateful to witness such a historic milestone in tennis and in sport.

In the three years since, Serena gave birth to her second daughter Adira River Ohanian. She founded Serena Ventures, invested in the growth of flag football in partnership with the NFL,and much more. Perhaps you caught her crip walking during the Super Bowl half time show. Far from slowing down, Serena continues to make her presence felt—and this week is no exception.

On August 24, 2025 Maria Sharapova was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Serena speaks to what every tennis fan was thinking. 

I am probably the last person you expected to see here tonight, but honestly, a few years ago, I probably would have said the same. A few months ago, Maria texted me that she needed to talk… When I called her, she asked me if I would introduce her into the Hall of Fame, and before she even finished her question, I said, ‘Yes!’ loud, immediately, with my whole chest, because, of course, it's Maria. I was honored.

I had to watch for myself to find out how this happened. Serena said

If you're an athlete, you eventually find other athletes in the room. Because you know each other and you're on the grind year after year, Maria and I found ourselves at the same tables, at the same events, and talking to each other a little bit more. With no Grand Slam match, the next day, our guards were down, and little by little, we started to see each other differently.

She explains that it just kept growing. “One year was small talk, another year was real conversation. And then one day, it just clicked this person I spent years battling across the net like we actually like each other,” she said.

I didn't expect their story to unfold in this way. These waves were progressive. They led to an unexpected shore. 

Just three days earlier, Serena appeared on the TODAY show, while her sister Venus was only a few blocks away in Manhattan preparing for her match at the 145th U.S. Open, with her fiancé Andrea Preti cheering from the stands. Together, the Williams sisters are also launching a new podcast, Stockton Street—a tribute to the street where they grew up. I, for one, can’t wait to hear what they choose to unpack and share in those conversations.

Those waves were energizing. But, they were the calm after a storm. The reason Serena was on the TODAY show was to speak about her weight loss journey, which she attributes to the usage of GLP-1, through Ro, for which she is a paid spokesperson. I encourage you to watch for yourself. I sincerely hope this is a decision that she made in consultation with her physician.  

While she plays to the heart strings of any person who carries extra weight, I do not support or affirm her decision.

I know so many women who speak to the difficulty of losing weight after giving birth—especially those who have a children in their late 30s and 40s—like Serena. You might hear more women chime in on how much more difficult it is to drop the lbs as they approach menopause. Men and women on weight loss journey feel defeated in doing so much for little to no results. GLP-1s seem to be the most viable and reliable solution. Are they? 

I am sensitive to the fact that this obesity and being overweight has a strong impact on the body—the heart, joints and bones, and this drug offers a healthier alternative. However, I still struggle with those who take the drug to tip the scale to a number of their liking. One of my students said "it's hard for me to see the picture of her holding a needle on an advertisement for the product. That contradicts what I value in her and who she is." 

Serena said "I literally tried everything." This feeling is not uncommon. She mentioned that in spite of personal measures, the scale did not budge. Make no mistake about it— it is frustrating to "lose to this opponent" as Serena said. But I have to wonder if we are looking at it all wrong. Ought we accept ourselves for who and what we are? Yes, there's an entire industry of beauty products that want us to do otherwise, but weight is a front and center among those choices. Is weight something we must "beat?" And just because one CAN take (and afford) GLP-1s, should they?

I see and read campaigns for body positivity on regular basis. I question if people truly believe in this mindset and mentality. Athletes in particular have been tasked with serving as ombudsmen for the cause and Serena was a champion among them. She has often spoken about criticism of her muscular build, reclaiming it as a source of power and redefining what strength and beauty look like in women’s sports. Now it seems that she feels that her build was the enemy and GLP-1s are the solution. 

Truth be told, they are. Millions of people are eating less and weighing less because of these drugs. But are they healthier? For many, the side effects are debilitating; for others, the cost is simply prohibitive. While she helped bring the conversation into the open—hoping to destigmatize their use—it troubles me how quickly these drugs have become normalized. I worry about a distorted perception of fitness, one that equates health with thinness. The wealthy and those with access to the drug are thin; those who cannot—or choose not to—take it are not. Maybe that doesn’t matter to you, but it does to me. The more we obsess over outward appearance, the less attention we give to what truly lies within. Why that matters is another important question.

The issue of GLP-1s ushers in one wave after another. I've written about it before. And when my favorite female athlete became a spokesperson for the product, I had to wade through the water.

Standing in the middle of a lagoon on my paddle board, I realized I found something I once practiced regularly: exercise. no sound. I wasn't listening to a podcast or any music. The only sound I could hear was the wind and the waves. Although I had to navigate the SUP, I realized that the time on water freed me to work through what I value and what I believe. 

I have written about Serena Williams time and again in the sixteen years I have had this blog. She has been a source of inspiration for me. She is unlike no other.  She is evolving; but I am not energized by this focus or these efforts. I know more waves will come....

Photo Credits
tape measure
Ro
Body Positivity
Maria and Serena