The first time Serena Williams stepped off the court and dazzled was at the Met Gala’s illustrious red carpet in 2004. That moment marked her seamless entry into the world of A-listers and opened doors to meaningful connections. Serena has bonded with several high-profile celebrities ever since, whether it’s Meghan Markle, Beyoncé, or pop sensation Taylor Swift. Serena’s celebrity circle keeps growing. Now, at the TIME100 Gala in New York City, she showed off two more friends!

Serena lit up the red carpet at the Gala on Thursday, April 24, at Lincoln Center. She wore a striking black bodycon gown with sheer slits. Her signature sparkle came from dazzling diamond jewelry and a luxurious Audemars Piguet watch. The 23-time GS winner radiated confidence and beamed as she mingled with entertainment royalty. The night delivered a dazzling blend of tennis royalty and Hollywood star power.

Earlier today, Serena shared her highlight from the night on Instagram. She posted a carousel of pictures, which included photos with Marvel superstar Scarlett Johansson and gold medalist Simone Biles. Her caption read, “The highlight of my night meeting my favorite #Avenger Scarlett Johansson ❤️😍😍 And of course being reunited with my new doubles partner @simonebiles.”

Serena’s joke about Simone being her doubles partner is a running gag from September 2024. During the US Open last year, Simone Biles had jokingly said that Serena would be her ideal doubles partner. Responding to that on Instagram later, Serena wrote, “I used to want to be a Gymnast but chose tennis. Lol, so I’ll definitely be yours!”

As far as Johansson and Serena’s encounter is concerned, they have rarely been seen together, but they share a gala history. Serena’s first gala was the 2004 Met Gala. Coincidentally, it was Johansson’s first time too! They may not have interacted back then. But as they crossed paths again, it looked like a bond had formed.

All this unfolded after Serena Williams landed a spot on TIME magazine’s 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential People. She joined a powerhouse lineup with Snoop Dogg, Demi Moore, Ed Sheeran, and AI trailblazer Demis Hassabis. She marked the moment by posting stunning behind-the-scenes shots from her cover shoot on Instagram on April 16. Her caption read, “@TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world is out. I’m honored to be a part of this group.”

While Serena is hanging around with the A-listers amid glitz and glamor, tennis is still something she just can’t forget. After all, it was the most memorable 27 years of her life.

Serena Williams admits missing tennis because she’s still “healthy”

Serena opened up to TIME Magazine about how much she still misses tennis, saying, “I miss it a lot, with all my heart.” At 43, she feels the pull even more because she’s in great shape. “I miss it because I’m healthy,” she explained. “If I couldn’t walk, or if I was so out of it, I wouldn’t miss it as much.”

Still, when asked about a comeback, Serena kept it honest. A return is “highly unlikely” because she can’t bear to leave her children. “I just can’t peel myself away from these children,” she said. Serena knows she gave her all to tennis, but now her heart is with her family. Looking back, she says, “Yeah, it was definitely worth it”.

The former World No. 1 is obsessed with her daughters, Olympia and Adira. Even when she is miles away, she keeps that connection strong! Recently, she posted a touching video on Instagram as she got ready for the TIME100 Gala. Her glam team worked their magic while she held a laptop, sweetly talking to her younger daughter, Adira.

The moment melted hearts as Serena guided Adira through their nightly prayer: “Hi I miss you.. mama. I love you. Can you say prayer? Can you prayer? Say to God, I love you, I miss my mom, and I love my papa.. good job,” she said, before softly singing bedtime songs.

“No matter where I am in the world, we never miss our nightly prayers,” Serena captioned the post.

Serena’s devotion to faith has only grown since her retirement. In a previous Instagram post, she appeared in full glam as she tucked Olympia into bed, writing, “I try my best to pray every day with them, no matter the circumstances. I slay and pray.”

She might be running million-dollar businesses after her retirement, but Serena always shows a down-to-earth side as a devoted mom. She is truly a GOAT, isn’t she?