Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams is being honored with a new Barbie doll for the second consecutive year. The latest doll, part of Mattel’s prestigious Inspiring Women series, will be released on Friday, August 15, 2025, and will retail for $38.
This edition commemorates Williams’ iconic 2007 Wimbledon win—her fifth Grand Slam title—where she became the first female champion at the tournament to receive equal prize money as her male counterpart.
The doll is imagined in her all-white Wimbledon outfit, rounded off with a green gem necklace, wristband, tennis racket, and ball. It also includes a certificate of authenticity, in line with the Barbie Signature series tradition.
The Amrican idol was previously featured in a May 2024 Barbie collection celebrating the brand’s 65th anniversary. That release highlighted nine pioneering female athletes from around the world, including Williams, Christine Sinclair (Canada), Mary Fowler (Australia), and others across gymnastics, boxing, para-athletics, and aquatics. The collection, launched in partnership with the International Olympic Committee for Paris 2024, sold out in under 48 hours in several regions.
Venus Williams’ Inspiring Comeback
The 45-year-old tennis legend recently returned to competitive play in July 2025 at a tournament in Washington, D.C.-her first match since March 2024-and is scheduled to compete in the mixed doubles draw at the US Open alongside Reilly Opelka.
Also Read: US Open Mixed Doubles: Venus Williams Partners Reilly Opelka
Off-The-Court
Williams’ advocacy for gender pay equity in sports dates back to 2005, when she penned an open letter in The Times urging Wimbledon to correct its prize money disparity. Her efforts contributed to the tournament’s historic 2007 decision to offer equal prize money-a milestone that spurred similar changes across all four Grand Slam events by the end of that year. Her victory that year was not just a triumph on the court, but a landmark moment in the fight for gender equality in professional sports.
The tennis star continues to inspire through her advocacy for wellness, chronic illness awareness (following her 2011 Sjogren’s syndrome diagnosis), and her entrepreneurial ventures, including the activewear line EleVen and nutrition brand Happy Viking.
“Being honored as a Barbie Inspiring Woman is incredibly special,” Williams shared in a statement. “I hope this doll encourages young people to dream big, know their worth, and pursue their goals with confidence and heart.”
Krista Berger, SVP of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Barbie proudly welcomes tennis legend Venus Williams to our Inspiring Women series.”
Venus Williams’ career highlights
| Category | Achievements |
|---|---|
| Grand Slam Singles Titles | 7 Titles: • Wimbledon – 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008 • US Open – 2000, 2001 |
| Grand Slam Singles Finals | 16 (7 titles, 9 runner-ups) |
| Grand Slam Doubles Titles | 14 Titles (all with Serena Williams) – Career Grand Slam in Doubles |
| Olympic Medals | 5 Total: • Gold – Singles (2000), Doubles (2000, 2008, 2012) • Silver – Mixed Doubles (2016) |
| WTA Singles Titles | 49 Titles |
| WTA Doubles Titles | 22 Titles |
| Career-High Singles Rank | No. 1 (February 25, 2002) – First African-American woman to achieve this in Open Era |
| Career-High Doubles Rank | No. 1 (June 7, 2010) |
| Turned Pro | 1994 |
| Longevity | Over 30 years on tour – still active as of 2025 |
