Alexis Ohanian, best known as Serena Williams’ passionate supporter and visionary entrepreneur, continues his advocacy work in women’s sports by making significant donations to his alma mater’s women’s basketball team – an act that was met with widespread appreciation by supporters across social media.
Ohanian has pledged a substantial, multi-year donation to Virginia Women’s Basketball program at age 41, reported as being second-largest financial contribution ever received by any UVA athletic squad according to press reports by UVA Basketball Team. While exact details about his gift remain undisclosed, its purpose will likely include supporting recruitment and retention of top talent with hopes that championship-level success may result.
The announcement of Ohanian’s donation was followed by a passionate tribute from the University’s Basketball team’s official Instagram account. In a heartfelt video message, a team member expressed profound gratitude towards Ohanian, praising the transformative impact of his generosity on the program. She heralded this moment as a historic leap forward for the women’s basketball team at UVA, emphasizing the broader goal of narrowing the gap between current and prospective student-athletes while celebrating Ohanian’s role as a staunch advocate for women’s sports and empowerment.
Having graduated from the UVA McIntire School of Commerce in 2005, shortly before co-founding Reddit, Ohanian has maintained a strong connection with his alma mater. His consistent support was evident recently when he attended a season-opening game for the Virginia women’s basketball team, further boosting morale by visiting the players in the locker room after their victory. During his visit, he delivered an inspiring speech, championing the era of excellence in women’s sports and setting a new standard of expectation.
Ohanian addressed his generous contribution on social media platform X, reflecting back on a prosperous year and reinforcing his long-held support of women’s basketball at UVA. Ohanian has invested beyond mere financial means – his investment extends into initiatives like ATHLOS NYC which offers female track athletes significant prize pools to highlight his dedication and boost women’s sports’ profile and prosperity.
Ohanian was also noted for his profound respect and admiration of Serena Williams as well as her influence in shaping his advocacy of women’s sports. Ohanian attributes his increased involvement and awareness for female-driven athletics to Serena’s encouragement, emphasizing her positive effect on his views and actions aimed at creating equality and recognition through sports.