Serena Williams, renowned for her 23 Grand Slam wins, took center stage at the 2024 ESPYS following a dynamic opening act by Ciara.
The retired tennis icon, 42, delivered a slew of jokes aimed at sports luminaries such as Caitlin Clark, LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes.
"Male athletes get paid so much more than female athletes," Williams quipped, humorously referencing Ohtani's supposed $16 million oversight.
Williams also paid tribute to her longtime friends, the Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, present at the event. Prince Harry received the prestigious Pat Tillman Award for Service in recognition of his impactful work with the Invictus Games.
ESPN had previously announced Williams' hosting role for the ESPYS, a move celebrated after the recent launch of her ESPN+ docuseries, "In the Arena: Serena Williams." The series promises an in-depth look at her legendary career.
In a statement preceding the event, Williams expressed her excitement: "I couldn’t be more excited to host The ESPYS. This is a dream come true for me, and something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember."
The ESPY Awards, broadcast live on ABC, commenced at 8 p.m. ET, showcasing Williams' wit and warmth as she navigated her new role as emcee.
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