Tennis superstar Serena Williams received the Jackie Robinson Sports Award and Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner was recognized Saturday at the NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, California.
Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, was honored for "high achievement in athletics along with their pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement." Williams has extensive involvement in philanthropy and a venture capital fund that promotes diversity-led businesses.
Previous winners of the award, named after the legend who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier, include NBA stars Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Magic Johnson, as well as the Harlem Globetrotters and sprinter Wilma Rudolph.