Serena Williams is a legend in women’s sports, and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is making sure her legacy extends beyond the tennis court. The 23-time Grand Slam champion changed the game, and now Ohanian is doing his part to elevate women’s sports across the board. From football to basketball to track and field, he’s making big moves. While the Reddit co-founder is usually all smiles, he recently put on his serious face to discuss his latest venture.Ohanian took center stage at the Web Summit Qatar for a session titled “Why the creator of Reddit’s next big bet is women’s sports.” Since stepping away from Reddit in 2020, he has been laser-focused on investing in and championing women’s sports. His efforts have already made a significant impact.The 41-year-old showcased a different side of himself at the event—one far removed from his usual ‘girl dad’ persona. Even he noticed the shift, sharing a snapshot of his stern look on his Instagram story with the caption, “My serious face.”In 2020, the entrepreneur made headlines by resigning from Reddit, the platform he co-founded in 2005. But he didn’t sit still for long. Instead, he turned his attention to a space he believed was undervalued: women’s sports.One of his first big moves post-Reddit was investing in Angel City Football Club (ACFC), a Los Angeles-based team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). He joined forces with Hollywood stars Natalie Portman, Kara Nortman, and Julie Uhrman to bring the team to life. Their goal? To elevate women’s soccer in the U.S. Later, he sold his shares to Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife, Willow Bay, but his commitment to women’s sports didn’t stop there.Ohanian then launched Athlos, a women-only track and field event designed to bring more visibility and funding to female athletes. The inaugural Athlos NYC meet took place on September 26, 2024, at Icahn Stadium in New York, boasting a massive $500,000 prize pool. The event featured world-class athletes like Olympic champion Gabby Thomas and world record holder Faith Kipyegon. And people tuned in—three million viewers across platforms like ESPN, DAZN, YouTube, and X watched the action unfold.None of this would have happened without Serena Williams.Alexis Ohanian credits wife Serena Williams for inspiring himAlexis Ohanian has never been shy about crediting his wife Serena Williams for his passion for women’s sports. He often talks about the influence she’s had on his life and how his perspective shifted after meeting her. Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box in July 2024, Ohanian reflected on this transformation. “The core phenomenon here probably came from a certain someone I’m married to, right? Serena Williams is the prototype for how you can show women’s sports is and can be and should be on the same level as men’s,” he said.One moment in particular stuck with him. Back in 2019, Ohanian and Williams were watching the Women’s World Cup final from their rented house in Wimbledon. Their daughter, Olympia, was running around in an Alex Morgan jersey when the tech stalwart casually said, “Wouldn’t it be great if she played on a national team one day?” Serena’s response changed everything. “Not until they pay her what she’s worth.” That was it. Ohanian took it as a challenge. “And I was like, ‘Touché, okay, challenge accepted.’ And that’s what motivated me to buy a team and help be a part of the change.”Since then, he’s been on a mission to prove that women’s sports are just as valuable—if not more—than their male counterparts. With investments, new ventures, and a whole lot of determination, he’s helping reshape the future of sports. Will Alexis Ohanian’s efforts be the game-changer women’s sports need?The post Serena Williams’ Husband Trades Smiles for a ‘Serious Face’ to Advocate for Women’s Sports appeared first on EssentiallySports.