Tennis legend Serena Williams is used to shocking the world on the court. However, one of her most iconic moments came not from a blistering serve or cross-court winner but from a daring fashion choice. In a recent episode of Bloomberg Originals, Williams joined former MLB star Alex Rodriguez and host Jason Kelly to revisit her infamous 2002 US Open catsuit.

“That’s how I got famous!” Williams jokes, referencing the meme that went viral with her in that suit. In the candid discussion, Williams revealed she almost didn’t wear the legendary Puma design. “I put it on and was like, ‘I’m not doing this.’”

The conversation highlighted the cultural impact of Serena Williams’ bold outfit choice. “You looked amazing,” A-Rod confessed. “I remember… it was no Instagram, but you broke the internet… a lot of my teammates and buddies were sending me the picture saying, ‘Look how fly she looks!’”

Both athletes agreed that when they looked good, they naturally played with more confidence. It’s a philosophy echoed across the sports world—something that Rodriguez believes in like a mantra: “You look good, you feel good, you play good.” But, as Kelly pointed out, Williams’ catsuit moment also carried a broader message. The tennis superstar blazed a trail for body positivity in a sport often dominated by a single body type.

“I was basically a lone soldier,” Serena Williams admitted, noting that even her athletic sister, Venus, had a leaner physique. Despite not fully realizing it at the time, Williams was shifting perceptions. She recalled the initial hesitation she felt, even consulting with other players in the locker room. The feedback was mixed, with some urging her not to wear the bold outfit. But something clicked right before she walked out.

Body Positivity on the Court: How Serena Williams reshaped tennis for women? 

“I threw the catsuit on… and then it was just, it was no looking back,” she explained. The conversation crystallized the impact Serena Williams has had both on and off the court. “It just crossed all borders,” she said. The catsuit not only turned heads and brought new audiences to tennis—it inspired up-and-coming athletes on a global note.

“I didn’t understand at the time, but seeing later on… even the people that started playing tennis after that… people that are currently playing because of myself and my sister, it all started these moments.” Serena Williams reminisces. “It’s crazy to think about! I’ve never even voiced this stuff like, ‘Oh my God!’”

It was a moment for both Serena, the athlete, and Serena, the icon. “It changes the business of tennis,” Kelly noted. “Absolutely. Also changes the business of Serena,” Williams smirked.

While her Grand Slam titles provide the hard statistics on Serena Williams’ greatness, it’s moments like her daring catsuit that illustrate the full scope of her impact. She isn’t simply a talented tennis player; she’s a cultural phenomenon who reshaped fashion and body image conversations and brought the sport of tennis to a whole new generation of fans.