Serena Williams Serves Up Excitement in Speaking Appearance for Target
The legendary Serena Williams seems to have a target on her back when it comes to pro tennis rule-keepers, but fresh off her controversial final match at the US Open, the Target showed America loves her regardless – or perhaps because of it.
The iconic athlete and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alex Ohanian headlined Target’s National Meeting Wednesday at Orchestra Hall. No reporters were allowed, as is the retailer’s practice for the annual event—which typically features superstars, like Justin Timberlake and Beyonce—but the Williams’ appearance served up a flurry of social media activity.
Though celebrity participation in the National Meeting often comes with a business partnership announcement, there’s been nothing yet. Williams, who has done clothing collections with HSN and Nike, launched her own line this year called Serena and sole online at serenawilliams.com.
Target declined to comment on Williams’ appearance at the meeting, and what specifically she discussed.
But Target execs shared their pics with Williams and Ohanian, and Nina Terrero Groth, a Target communications team member, basically provided round-the-clock coverage via her Instagram story.
Others among the approximately 3,000 employees who attended the event expressed their excitement to simply be in the same room as Williams, with the terms “greatest of all time” and “inspiring” coming up quite often.
Here are some of the must-see social media posts about Williams’ appearance.
.@serenawilliams + @alexisohanian will be at Target HQ for our fall national events this week. I plan to be there Wednesday at 6am…I will NOT miss it because first come first serve for all TGT employees ð
— B. (@BriLimitless) September 10, 2018
Huge line to meet @serenawilliams and @alexisohanian at #targetfallnational! #wearetarget #orchestrahall #Target pic.twitter.com/6xh6lEBTmC
— Matt Schillerstrom (@SchillyVanilly) September 12, 2018
@serenawilliams & @alexisohanian hung out with @Target team members today and *casually* dropped some knowledge about life, love, wins and loss. NBD (except actually, way big deal!) More on my Insta stories ð¯ #WeAreTarget pic.twitter.com/Ha95FamdiT
— Nina Terrero (@Nina_Terrero) September 13, 2018
Kicked off my morning seeing the G.O.A.T. @serenawilliams interviewed by her awesomely supportive husband @alexisohanian. #Target pic.twitter.com/xpFpDyRF0y
— Lauren B. Hill (@LaurenBHill) September 12, 2018
Thank you @serenawilliams for sharing with #target today. My “S” is sharing / connecting and I’m excited to buy some @ShopSerena clothing to express this! @alexisohanian you are an awesome partner too! pic.twitter.com/9ZrsXNgfAY
— Matt Johnson (@matthewmj) September 12, 2018
Current at Target’s FNM, listening to @serenawilliams talk about the little sister dynamic. I grew up idolizing her as a tennis player. I always pretended I was Serena and my sister was Venus. I even had the same black and white Wilson tennis racket.
— NikLiang (@NikLiang) September 12, 2018
“It encourages me to think of myself as clay, molding and developing. Without those tough times, you might be a shapeless form. But the more things you go through, the more beautiful and well formed you become.” —Nina Terrero’s Instagram story, quoting Serena Williams during her Target conversation.
Me to my husband after today’s @serenawilliams & @alexisohanian talk at Target: You need to adore me more. ð
Husband: You need to win a Grand Slam.ð— cate abbott (@csmabbott) September 13, 2018
OMG! Amazing kick off to @Target’s National Meeting with the extraordinary @serenawilliams & @alexisohanian. #inspiring pic.twitter.com/HnS21wvR8d
— Laysha Ward (@LayshaWard) September 12, 2018
Thanks @serenawilliams for visiting Minneapolis for #target fall national week! Truly inspiring!
— Kristi (@mnsportsfan14) September 12, 2018
While there may have been no Williams partnership announcement Wednesday, Target did disclose today that model, television personality, mom and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen has teamed up with Target to launch Cravings by Chrissy, a kitchen and tabletop collection.