Since making her Grand Slam debut at the age of 17, Coco Gauff has cemented her name in tennis history, one bat swing at a time. In 2021, Gauff broke a 15-year record to become the youngest woman to reach a grand slam quarterfinal at the 2021 French Open.
She also became the youngest American woman to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal since Venus Williams did it at the age of 17 at the 1997 U.S. Open. Gauff won her maiden WTA Tour singles championship at the 2019 Linz Open at the age of 15, becoming the Tour’s youngest singles champion since 2004. She rose to attention after defeating Williams in the first round of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
Gauff was born on March 13, 2004, and had, therefore, not even been brought into the world when Williams, who would be her idol, reached her four of nine Wimbledon finals. But the African-American tennis prodigy rose in her field, winning several junior titles before making it to Wimbledon.
Her success on and off the tennis court has made her one of the most marketable sports stars coming of age and already earning millions. In 2023, she had partnerships with accounting firm Baker Tilly, Bose, and UPS.
Fast forward to 2025, the tennis star is making big moves outside the court. She has joined Unrivaled for the inaugural season of the new women’s basketball league. As per TalkSport, she has invested in the professional 3-on-3 women’s basketball league which has garnered substantial backing.
It has raised $35 million in total funding, with notable investors including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Phelps, and Ashton Kutcher.
The league was founded by U.S. Olympians Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart and will begin on Friday, January 17, featuring top WNBA stars like Angel Reese and Sabrina Ionescu. It was founded to enable WNBA players to play in the U.S. during the offseason and features smaller courts with four seven-minute quarters.
Gauff’s investment aligns with her longstanding love for basketball and her commitment to promoting women’s sports. Meanwhile, she continues to excel in tennis, recently leading Team USA at the United Cup while preparing for the 2025 Australian Open.
Per the format of the league, it will accommodate six teams.
“My dad always wanted me to follow in his footsteps and play basketball. Haha sorry dad but this is as close as it will get,” Gauff posted on X after joining Unrivaled.
“In all seriousness, I’m incredibly my grateful to get the opportunity to uplift women’s sports and I am super excited to join the @Unrivaledwbb family! I can’t wait to watch.”
