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Serena Williams is 'really proud' that her star-studded Super Bowl commercial features an equal number of male and female athletes

Serena Williams on set for the Michelob Ultra's 2023 Super Bowl commercial.
Serena Williams on set for the Michelob Ultra's 2023 Super Bowl commercial.Michelob Ultra
  • Serena Williams is the star of Michelob Ultra's new golf-themed commercial for Super Bowl LVII.

  • The retired tennis legend shares the screen with several megawatt athletes and actors.

  • She told Insider about the ad and how she's "proud" it shines a light on "gender equality in sports."

Like many other recent retirees, Serena Williams has taken up golf in her newfound free time.

Well, not exactly. But she did head out to the country club for at least one glorious day on the course.

The tennis legend is the main character of Michelob Ultra's new star-studded Super Bowl LVII commercial. The Caddyshack-inspired ad features a slew of megawatt athletes and actors convening at the fictional Bushwood Country Club for "New Members Day."

Serena Williams on set for the Michelob Ultra's 2023 Super Bowl commercial.
Williams on set.Michelob Ultra

"I love the idea of just having such a diverse set of athletes, actors, people," Williams told Insider. "It was really cool honestly to just be on that set — it was really great opportunity to just work with some really different people that I don't get to work with on an everyday basis."

In the spot, the 23-time Grand Slam champion plays a round against Emmy award-winner Brian Cox, who plays Logan Roy in the hit HBO show "Succession." The pair battle as the NFL's Tony Romo, NBA's Jimmy Butler, and boxing star Canelo Alvarez look on with brews on hand.

But it was the women's sports superstars who really caught Williams' attention. Seven-time WNBA All-Star and 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike featured in the commercial, as did US Women's National Team and National Women's Soccer League star Alex Morgan.

Nneka Ogwumike filming Michelob Ultra's newest Super Bowl ad.
Nneka Ogwumike filming Michelob Ultra's newest Super Bowl ad.Michelob Ultra

For those keeping count, that's the same number of men's and women's athletes included in the ad.

"It's really good. That's one thing that I love about Michelob Ultra is that they're actually passionate for gender equality in sports," Williams said. "The spot has equal representation of both male and female athletes and it doesn't go unseen to those who [watch] it.

"It's really powerful to see and very exciting to see as well," she added.

The ad is, in part, an extension of Michelob Ultra's five-year, $100 million commitment "to increase the visibility of female athletes" and women's sports at large. It's not lost on Williams — who is arguably the most recognizable women's athlete on the planet, even now that her playing career is behind her — that "big companies like Michelob" have the power and the platforms to help promote progress.

Serena Williams filming Michelob Ultra's newest Super Bowl ad.
Williams in this year's Michelob Ultra Super Bowl ad.Michelob Ultra

"We need that," Williams said, adding, "This is a big deal in a Super Bowl commercial, to have something like this. And I'm really proud of it."

In the end of the minute-long spot, Williams reigns supreme. It's a fitting and familiar finale for one of the greatest athletes on the planet. Check out the full spot below:

 

Read the original article on Insider