Serena Williams is undeniably one of the most celebrated figures in sports, but there’s a side to her that’s often overshadowed by her athletic achievements—her deep spirituality. For Williams, faith has been a cornerstone of her life, guiding her through the highs and lows both on and off the court. It’s not something that’s always in the spotlight, but for her, it’s been one of the most important pillars behind her success. And what’s even more heartwarming is her desire for her daughters to develop the same bond with faith and spirituality.

Williams engaged in an interaction with Glamour and deliberated on several aspects of her life including her post-retirement phase and her spiritual side. Williams has not often spoken about it but she is deeply religious. The star player was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and believes in a connection with god. Interestingly, she desires to pass on these values to her daughters Olympia and Adira as well.

Speaking in the interview, Williams said, “I pray every night that the girls stay close and have a true relationship with God on their own and get to know him,” Williams believes that “It’s the most important thing that I personally think you can do.” Through this, the 43-year-old wishes to instill in her daughters that their blessed existence “isn’t theirs in a way,” and that they need to earn success and values in life. Williams, meanwhile, has not failed to stay connected with religion despite her successful career.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner had the Bible on her desk, in her reach even during the interview, according to the publication. She believes that it is something that “was able to keep me grounded. Especially with getting famous and wealthy so early, that stuff can really change who you are as a person, and I didn’t want to change.” However, this is not the first time when the athlete has opened up about her spiritual side.

Engaging in an interview with Essence in 2021, Serena Williams shared that she grew up with a bible because of her mom and her family and that continued to stay with her. “I think there comes a point in life where you have your spirituality with what you choose for yourself, and that’s basically what I’m doing. And I’ve had a lot of learning about the Bible. There’s so much practical advice you can get from the Bible that applies in our lives today,” she said. It is probably because of these values that Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian, often considers her to be a great mother for their children.

Alexis Ohanian has often highlighted the role of Serena Williams in the upbringing of Olympia and Adira and has credited her for instilling values in them. This affection once again took center stage at the Athlos NYC, a women’s only track and field event, that was founded by Ohanian this year.

Speaking during the grand opening ceremony, Ohanian opened up about Olympia’s personality and highlighted Williams’ role behind it. “Olympia is easily the most amazing little human I have met and she’s a great big sister,” he said about Williams. Continuing further, the entrepreneur also heaped praise on his wife. “The one credit that I gotta give, Serena is an amazing mom and one of the things we do is just really prioritize, just trying to show up for our kids, and it’s a great way to say take your daughter to work,” he added.

As Olympia and Adira continue to grow and enjoy their childhood, it would be interesting to see if Williams and Ohanian come up with more such candid updates and open up about the values they instill in their children.