Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, revealed that if she hadn’t pursued tennis, she would have likely chosen basketball. Gauff has openly shared her love for the sport, crediting her father for encouraging her to consider basketball. Although her ultimate passion led her to tennis, Gauff has found a way to honor her connection to basketball by making an impactful gesture that highlights her commitment to empowering female athletes.
Recently, Gauff announced her investment in Unrivaled, a new league dedicated to women’s basketball. Expressing her enthusiasm, the young tennis star said, “Basketball is one of my favorite sports, and the chance to support a league that’s redefining the game is exciting.” This decision also holds personal significance for her, as she humorously noted, “My dad always wanted me to follow in his footsteps and play basketball. Haha, sorry dad, but this is as close as it will get.” Her involvement in Unrivaled places her among a group of high-profile supporters, including celebrities Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Olympian Michael Phelps, and NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Reflecting further on her decision, Gauff explained, “I’m thrilled to be joining Unrivaled as an investor. Supporting women’s sports and elevating them to new heights is a cause close to my heart.” The 3×3 basketball league was founded by professional players Naphessa Collier and Breanna Stewart, with the aim of redefining opportunities for women in basketball. News of Gauff’s investment was shared on social media by platforms such as On Her Turf, which posted an image of Gauff alongside the announcement. Gauff reshared this post on her Instagram story, showcasing her pride in this endeavor.
In interviews, Gauff has mentioned her long-standing connection to basketball. After her victory against Sachia Vickery in the first round of the 2024 Stuttgart Open, she reflected on her father’s belief that she could have excelled in basketball. “Yeah, it’s funny because my dad was actually talking about that. He was, like, ‘You would have been right up there. I would have had you shooting Js and everything,’” she shared.
Interestingly, Gauff also expressed admiration for basketball star Caitlin Clark, stating her curiosity about how she might perform defensively against such a skilled player. “I don’t know if I would be that type of player, but I will say if I could go in another life, I would love to play on the same team as Caitlin Clark just to see if I could guard her. Obviously, now I definitely couldn’t, but I don’t know—if I trained for it—just to see,” Gauff admitted.
While Gauff’s career remains firmly rooted in tennis, her investment in Unrivaled reflects her broader ambition to support and elevate female athletes. At just 20 years old, Gauff has already built an impressive career in tennis and is now using her influence to inspire others through initiatives that challenge societal perspectives on women in sports.