Everyone remembers the suit. It was 2018 at the French Open. Serena Williams walked onto the red clay of Roland Garros looking less like a tennis player and more like an Avenger. Black. Sleek. Form-fitting. To the casual observer, the Serena Williams catwoman outfit—or "Wakanda-inspired" catsuit as she called it—was a bold fashion statement. To the French Tennis Federation, it was a problem.
But the real story isn't about fashion. It’s about a woman trying not to die.
The Life-Saving Science Behind the Suit
Let’s get the "Catwoman" thing out of the way. Serena herself leaned into the superhero vibes, mentioning Black Panther and feeling like a warrior princess. But Nike didn't just make that suit to look cool. It was a piece of medical equipment.
After giving birth to her daughter, Olympia, in 2017, Serena nearly lost her life. She suffered a pulmonary embolism—a blood clot in her lungs—that sparked a terrifying series of complications. We’re talking a C-section wound popping open from coughing fits and a massive hematoma in her abdomen.
When she returned to Grand Slam tennis in Paris, she was still at high risk. The Serena Williams catwoman outfit was a full-body compression garment.
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- Circulation: The tight fabric kept her blood moving.
- Prevention: It was designed to stop Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) from forming in her legs.
- Recovery: It allowed her to play at an elite level while managing a body that was still healing from massive trauma.
"I’ve had a lot of problems with my blood clots," she told reporters at the time. "I don’t know how many I’ve had in the past 12 months." She wasn't being dramatic. She was being honest.
The Ban Heard Round the World
You’d think a life-saving medical garment would be a non-issue. Nope.
A few months after the tournament, French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli went on the record with Tennis Magazine. He said the outfit "would no longer be accepted." His reasoning? "One must respect the game and the place."
The backlash was instant and honestly, pretty glorious. Nike tweeted a photo of Serena in the suit with the caption: "You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers."
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The "respect the game" comment felt like a slap in the face. It ignored the medical necessity and, for many, felt like a coded way of policing a Black woman's body. Critics pointed out that while Serena was being told to cover up or "dress properly," the sport had a long history of letting other players slide with equally unconventional looks. Remember Anne White's white unitard at Wimbledon in 1985? She was told to wear something more "traditional" the next day, too. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
What People Get Wrong About the Controversy
Most people think Serena was angry. She actually wasn't. Or at least, she didn't show it.
She handled it with a level of grace that’s honestly hard to fathom. She basically said she had a great relationship with Giudicelli and that they’d find a solution. Then, she showed up to the US Open in a tutu.
That tutu was a masterclass in petty brilliance. If they didn't want the "masculine" or "aggressive" look of the catsuit, she’d give them the most hyper-feminine thing imaginable—designed by the late Virgil Abloh, no less.
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But the Serena Williams catwoman outfit did something the tutu couldn't. It forced the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) to actually look at their rulebook. Before this, the rules about leggings were murky. Usually, you had to wear a skirt or shorts over them. In December 2018, the WTA officially updated its rules. They made it crystal clear: leggings and compression shorts could be worn without a skirt.
The Lasting Legacy of the Black Catsuit
This wasn't Serena's first catsuit. She wore a shorter, "Serena-tard" version back in 2002. But the 2018 version hit differently. It became a symbol for:
- Maternal Health: Highlighting the specific risks Black women face during childbirth.
- Athlete Autonomy: The right to prioritize health over "tradition."
- Modernizing Sport: Dragging tennis, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century.
Honestly, the ban backfired. Instead of disappearing, the suit became one of the most iconic images in sports history. It’s now a shorthand for Serena’s resilience. She wasn't just playing for a trophy; she was playing for her life and for every mom who’s had a rough recovery.
Actionable Insights for Athletes and Fans
If you're following the legacy of this outfit or looking to understand its impact on your own gear, keep these points in mind:
- Medical Necessity Trumps Tradition: If you need compression gear for health reasons (like DVT or circulation issues), modern sporting associations now have much clearer pathways for medical exemptions. Don't be afraid to advocate for your health.
- The Power of Branding: Nike’s response to the ban is a textbook example of how to stand by an athlete. It turned a PR "negative" into a massive win for the brand and Serena.
- Rulebook Awareness: Always check the latest WTA or ATP rule updates. The "Serena Rule" regarding leggings is now a permanent fixture in professional tennis.
- Style as Subversion: Fashion in sports is rarely just about looking good. It's often the only tool athletes have to push back against rigid institutional structures.
The Serena Williams catwoman outfit didn't just change what women can wear on court; it changed the conversation about what an athlete's body is allowed to be. It’s not just a prop for the game. It’s a tool, a survivor, and sometimes, it needs a superhero suit.