Serena Williams and the Power of a Woman's Second Act

“Something’s got to give.”

With those simple, universal words, Serena Williams announced her retirement from professional tennis in Vogue last week. Williams has been one of the most dominant forces in the game for over 20 years. She turned pro at 14; at 17, she won her first singles title; in the decades since, she’s won 23 Grand Slam titles, the most of her era. Williams is a pop culture icon; she’s been on The Simpsons, Law & Order, and America’s Next Top Model. She is one of the most respected athletes on the planet. By most measures, she would appear to be living a particularly charmed life. But there it is, in black and white, “something’s got to give.”