Listen Up, Fives: Serena Williams Is Sports Illustrated's 'Sportsperson Of The Year'

Serena Williams has been named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year, becoming the first woman to take the title in thirty-two years.

The literally-unstoppable tennis great and perpetual World No. 1 is just the third individual woman to be awarded the honour. Gold medal-winning track athlete Mary Decker was the last sole female to be named by Sports Illustrated as their Sportsperson of the Year… and that was back in 1983.

(Skater Bonnie Blair and gymnast Mary Lou Retton were honoured alongside male athletes in 1994, while the entire U.S. women's soccer team was picked in 1999. More recently, basketball coach Pat Summitt shared the accolade with fellow coach Mike Krzyzewski in 2011.)

This year was spectacular for me. For @SportsIllustrated to recognize my hard work, my dedication, and my sheer determination gives me hope to continue on and do better. As I always say, it takes a village it's not just one person. This is not just an accomplishment for me, but for my whole team. I am beyond honored. I love you guys! 2016? #letsdoit ❤️💋

A photo posted by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Dec 14, 2015 at 6:35am PST

Sports Illustrated editor S.L. Price explained the incredibly easy decision thusly:

“That’s how it works when you zoom—beyond tennis, beyond $74 million in prize money, beyond one of the greatest late-career runs in sports history—into celebrity hyperspace. That’s how it is when each “Come on!” is taken as a war cry by everyone from “Lean in” women to age-defying codgers to body-shamed kids to #BlackLivesMatter protesters to, yes, the voices of racial conciliation. The outside world accommodates. Real life does you favors.”

Price also noted Williams' 2015 appearance in the Adam Sandler movie Pixels, because no one can have a totally perfect year.

Congrats Serena. In honour of her continued domination, here’s video of the time she chased down some basic who tried to steal her phone.