Serena Williams 'excited' to play with her new signature Barbie doll with daughters

Cydney Henderson, USA TODAYThu, October 8, 2026 at 4:01 PM UTC

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Serena Williams' mantel is likely crowded between her 23 Grand Slam singles trophies, 14 major doubles titles and four Olympic gold medals. Now, she'll have to find room for her new signature Barbie.

Mattel is celebrating International Day of the Girl by honoring the tennis legend with a Barbie Signature doll, officially joining Team Barbie, a group of athletes and role models that inspire confidence in young girls.

“Growing up, I didn’t see many girls who looked like me being told there was no limit to who they could become. I want every girl who plays with this doll to see possibility — not just in me, but in herself," Williams said in a statement shared with USA TODAY Sports. "She can dream big, work hard, change direction, break barriers, and become anything she chooses. That’s what makes having my own Barbie so meaningful to me.”

More: Venus Williams Barbie honors tennis legend’s push for equal rights

When it comes to picking which legendary outfit Williams would be memorialized in, Mattel had plenty of inspiration. They could've selected Williams' iconic denim tennis skirt from the 2004 US Open. Or her edgy black catsuit worn at the 2018 French Open, her first Grand Slam since giving birth to her daughter, Olympia, in September 2017. Mattel could've event taken it back to her first Grand Slam singles title at the 1999 US Open, where she stole the spotlight in her colorful beads and yellow Puma dress.

Ultimately, Williams' look from her 2005 Australian Open win was selected. Williams' Barbie is wearing a neon green and white mesh cutout top and white skirt identical to the set she wore to defeat fellow American Lindsay Davenport 2–6, 6–3, 6–0 in the final. Her outfit is complete with a matching sweatband, knee-high boots and a tennis racket in hand. "What a fun outfit," Williams recalled during her Barbie reveal.

The 2005 Australian Open marked Williams' triumphant return to the Grand Slam circuit after ending the 2004 calendar year with an abdominal injury. It marked the first year since 2001 that Williams hadn't won a Grand Slam singles title, leading some to question if the dominance of Williams and her sister Venus Williams was over.

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"No, we're not declining. We're here," Williams said in January 2005. "I don't have to win (the Australian Open) to prove anything. I know that I'm out here and I know that I'm one of the best players out here."

Williams won the tournament anyway. It was the seventh Grand Slam singles title of her career. She would win 16 more by 2017. The Barbie Signature Serena Williams Doll will be available to purchase online on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Mattel Creations, Target and other mass retailers.

Williams, who welcomed daughter Adira in August 2023, said she's "excited" for her doll because "my girls love playing Barbies." Williams also made note of the "strong muscles in my legs. I love that."

"As we celebrate International Day of the Girl, Barbie is proud to honor Serena Williams. Barbie hasalways inspired girls to believe they can be anything, from the sports stadium to the fashion runway tothe boardroom," Nathan Baynard, vice president and head of Barbie, Mattel, said in a statement. "Serena Williams embodies that message through her extraordinary achievements as an athlete, entrepreneur, and advocate for equality. By honoring her with a Barbie Signature doll, we’re celebrating a barrier-breaking icon whose legacy empowers fans everywhere to dream big and embrace their own potential."

Williams isn't the only tennis legend to get the Barbie treatment in her household. Venus Williams was honored during Barbie's Inspiring Women Series in August 2025. Venus Williams' doll is dressed in the same outfit she wore during her 2007 Wimbledon win, paying homage to the first year the women's and men's singles champions earned equal prize money at the tournament.

"Wimbledon 2007 was a huge moment in my career — not just because I won, but because of what was happening off the court," Williams told USA TODAY Sports at the time. "Championing for equal prize money wasn’t just about me, it was about pushing for change for all women in sports. To see that moment honored with a Barbie doll is incredibly special. I hope it inspires young girls to speak up, believe in themselves, and know they have the power to change the game too."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Serena Williams 'excited' to play with her new signature Barbie doll with daughters

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