Serena Williams doesn't do "quiet." So, when she popped up on stage during the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans, the internet basically had a collective heart attack. It wasn't just a cameo. It was a statement.
People were expecting Kendrick Lamar to bring the heat. He’s Kendrick. But nobody—and I mean nobody—saw a 23-time Grand Slam champion coming out to "crip walk" during the world's most-watched musical performance.
Honestly? It was the ultimate "mic drop" for a woman who has spent her entire career being told how to act, how to dress, and how to celebrate.
The Serena Williams Halftime Moment That Broke the Internet
Let's set the scene at the Caesars Superdome. Kendrick is mid-set, the energy is vibrating the floorboards, and suddenly, there she is. Serena Williams.
She wasn't wearing a gown or a tracksuit. She was in a cobalt blue Nike tennis skirt and a matching cropped jacket. It was a total nod to her roots. Seeing her on that stage, dancing to "Not Like Us," felt like a fever dream for sports fans.
But why was it such a big deal?
Well, for starters, Serena and Kendrick share a hometown: Compton. That bond is deep. When Kendrick raps about "Alondra down to Central," he’s talking about the streets where Serena first picked up a racket. Having her there wasn't just about celebrity clout; it was about Compton royalty taking over the biggest stage in America.
Then there's the dance itself. The "crip walk."
If you remember the 2012 London Olympics, you know the history. Serena won gold, did that same dance on the grass at Wimbledon, and the media absolutely shredded her for it. They called it "distasteful" and "thug-like."
Fast forward to the 2025 Serena Williams halftime appearance, and she did it again. Only this time, she wasn't an active athlete worried about fines or sponsors. She was a legend reclaiming a moment of joy that people tried to take away from her thirteen years ago.
Was it Actually a Jab at Drake?
You can't talk about this performance without mentioning the elephant in the room. Or rather, the rapper in the room.
Kendrick’s "Not Like Us" is a scorched-earth diss track aimed at Drake. And as any tennis fan with a memory knows, Serena and Drake have... history. They were linked back in 2011 and 2015. Drake used to show up to her matches, looking all intense in the player box.
Later, Drake even took a swipe at Serena's husband, Alexis Ohanian, calling him a "groupie" in a song.
So, seeing Serena—the woman Drake once pined for—dancing to the song that effectively ended their beef? That’s cold.
Stephen A. Smith even joked that he’d "divorce his wife" if she trolled an ex that hard. Serena, for her part, tried to play it cool on Instagram later, saying she "died a little" from the excitement and that she wasn't being "petty."
Sure, Serena. We believe you. (We don't, but we love the chaos anyway.)
Why the "Crip Walk" Conversation Matters
The backlash to the Serena Williams halftime dance wasn't non-existent. Some critics pointed out the tragic irony of her sister, Yetunde Price, being killed by gang violence in 2003. They argued that "crip walking" on national TV ignored that pain.
But there’s another side to that coin.
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For a lot of people from Compton, that dance has evolved. It’s a cultural marker. It’s a rhythmic signature of where they come from. By doing it at the Super Bowl, Serena wasn't endorsing a gang; she was refusing to be ashamed of the culture that raised her.
Her husband, Alexis, defended her on X (formerly Twitter), basically telling people they have no idea how much she was criticized for being herself back in the day.
It’s about agency. For twenty years, Serena had to be the "perfect" athlete. Now? She’s just Serena.
What’s Next: Is a 2026 Comeback Actually Happening?
Now that the halftime dust has settled, everyone is asking the same thing. Does that level of fitness and energy mean she’s coming back to the WTA?
She’s 44. That’s ancient in tennis years.
But here’s the kicker: in late 2025, reports surfaced that Serena re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) drug-testing pool. You don’t do that just for fun. You do that because you want the option to play.
She’s been posting videos of herself hitting serves that still look like they’re moving at 120 mph. She’s looking leaner than she has in years, thanks to some very public health and wellness shifts.
Will we see her at the 2026 US Open?
She’s denied the rumors. She says she’s focused on her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, and her "WYN Beauty" line. But Serena is a competitor. If she thinks she can get that 24th Grand Slam to tie Margaret Court, she might just pull a Tom Brady.
What You Should Take Away From This
If you’re looking for a "moral" to the story of the Serena Williams halftime moment, it’s basically this: stop trying to put legends in a box.
- Own your history. Serena didn't hide from her Compton roots; she showcased them.
- Reclaim your narrative. If someone used a moment against you a decade ago, take it back on your own terms.
- Keep them guessing. Whether it's a surprise dance or a secret testing pool, the GOAT stays the GOAT by never being predictable.
Whether she ever picks up a racket for a professional match again or just continues to be the most influential person in the stands, that New Orleans performance changed how we see her retirement. It’s not an "end." It’s just a different kind of power.
To stay ahead of the curve on a potential return, keep an eye on the official ITIA testing lists and her training footage—the serve never lies.