Do we like Venus Williams?
Our score: 7 out of 10. A long record of speaking up for equal pay, no harmful words found, and only minor grumbles about a press conference no-show.
Start with the thing she'll be remembered for off the court. In 2006, as a three-time Wimbledon champion, Venus took on the All England Club over the women's prize money gap. She said it was about being created as equals, and Wimbledon replied with arguments about match length and box office appeal. That is a champion using her platform for every woman on tour, not just herself.
On the harm test, the record is clean from what we found. A viral post claimed she forfeited a match rather than face a trans woman. PolitiFact rated it Pants on Fire: it came from a satire site, and the photo was of her sister. We found no statements from her on trans issues either way, so there is no harm there and no ringing endorsement either.
The recent noise is about her wildcards. She has been handed entry to tournaments in her mid-forties while the losses stack up, and some commentators reckon those spots should go to younger players. Her defenders say a seven-time Grand Slam winner sells tickets and is entitled to play on. Where you land depends on whether you see a wildcard as a reward for a career or a place taken from a rising player.
The press conference spat is the other fresh gripe. After the US Open doubles loss in September 2026, Venus and Serena did not front the media, and the tournament told journalists they would not attend. One tennis outlet called it questionable. No reason was given, so we won't guess, but it is a bit rich to skip it when you are on a wildcard.
The darkest chapter is a 2017 car crash in Florida. A police report found her at fault, and the family of the man who died sued, alleging negligence. Her lawyer said she entered on a green light, she was not charged or cited, and she said she was heartbroken. We could not open a page confirming how the lawsuit ended, so we won't say.
Still playing at 45, she says failure is a huge part of success and that limits only exist in our minds. In June 2026 she said Wimbledon was her main goal. Whatever you make of the wildcards, that stubborn love of the game is hard not to admire.