Serena Williams won Wimbledon last week, tying Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slam wins and setting the record for being the oldest woman to ever clinch a major title — a record she herself had previously set. She’s been on the professional tour for two decades and is showing no signs of slowing down. She is probably the greatest tennis player of all time.
But Williams is also the ultimate off the court, shutting down men with bad opinions, dancing in music videos, wearing beautiful clothes, and even occasionally fighting crime.
Simply put: She reigns supreme. But in case you needed any more convincing — or are firmly on board with that statement and just want to revel in her glory — here are 19 times she made it very, very clear. Long live Queen Williams.
1. WHEN SHE WON HER 22nd GRAND SLAM TITLE, TYING STEFFI GRAF’S RECORD
AP Photo/Tim Ireland
The G.O.A.T. at Wimbledon last week, ladies and gentlemen.
2. WHEN SHE SAID THAT LEBRON AND THE CAVALIERS INSPIRED HER
AFP PHOTO / Beck Diefenbach
Game 7 and Williams’ 22nd Wimbledon win were both pretty incredible.
3. WHEN SHE PUT RAYMOND MOORE IN HIS PLACE FOR HIS DUMB, STUPID, NO GOOD, VERY BAD, SEXIST COMMENTS
Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore (right) claps for Serena Williams (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
The CEO of Indian Wells said some idiotic things about women tennis players, and Serena completely destroyed his non-logic with her response.
4. WHEN SHE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN A REPORTER
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
At a press conference she was clearly not thrilled about, she said, “It’s 11:30 … To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t want to be here. I just want to be in bed right now and I have to wake up early to practice. And I don’t want to answer any of these questions. You guys keep asking me the same questions… You’re not making it super enjoyable. Just being honest.”
5. WHEN SHE LOST THE U.S. OPEN LAST YEAR BUT MANAGED TO STAY POSITIVE
Getty Images
Technically she did lose, but to hear her tell it, she didn’t: “It wasn’t a loss for me, it was a win and a learning experience.”
6. WHEN SHE WAS LIKE, “HEY, PAY WOMEN ATHLETES THE SAME AMOUNT YOU PAY MEN.”
It’s not rocket science.
7. WHEN SHE POSED FOR THIS INCREDIBLE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVER AS SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR…
(AP)
8. …AND THEN BEYONCÉ EMULATED THE POSE IN THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR SORRY, WHICH FEATURED SERENA
Tell him boy, bye.
9. WHEN SHE SPOKE OUT ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF PHILANDO CASTILE
“When will something be done?” she asked.
10. WHEN NIKE MADE HER A SPECIAL WIMBLEDON DRESS
EPA Andy Rain
And it was the best dress in the history of tennis.
11. WHEN SHE WON HER 14TH GRAND SLAM DOUBLES TITLE WITH HER SISTER VENUS
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
What have you and your sister ever done?
12. WHEN SHE STOPPED A THIEF FROM STEALING HER PHONE
Thank god, because then she would’ve been off of Snapchat for a bit while she got a new one, and we would’ve missed her so much.
13. WHEN SHE LAUGHED AT LOSERS WHO SAY NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT HER BODY
Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage
“Too muscly and too masculine, and then a week later too racy and too sexy,” she said. “So for me it was just really a big joke.”
14. WHEN SHE WAS TOTALLY STARSTRUCK BY TOM BRADY
I mean, I’d argue that he should’ve been starstruck by her, but whatever.
15. WHEN SHE WHACKED TENNIS BALLS AT A SEXIST DUDE
AFP/Getty Images
It was cathartic to watch.
16. WHEN SHE ADMITTED SHE WAS “REALLY PISSED” AT LOSING THE FRENCH OPEN THIS YEAR
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Serena took a bucket of balls out to the court and filmed a video to tell us all how she really felt.
17. WHEN SHE WON THE FRENCH OPEN WHILE SHE HAD THE FLU
AFP/Getty Images
And then posed with the trophy many times.
18. WHEN SHE ATE DOG FOOD
Oh c’mon, like you’ve never gotten curious and tried it.
19. WHEN SHE WORE THIS DRESS
Because there’s no one else who could pull it off.
