Serena Williams Cracks Jokes and Gives Prince Harry and Meghan Markle a Shout-Out in 2024 ESPYS Monologue

Williams took the stage following a rousing opening performance by Ciara

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Serena Williams came prepared with jokes galore for her 2024 ESPYS hosting gig.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who transitioned away from tennis nearly two years ago, stepped up to the mic on Thursday night at the annual awards ceremony — and served up jokes about an array of sports stars, including Caitlin Clark, LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.

“Male athletes get paid so much more than female athletes,” Williams, 42, said before joking that Ohtani didn’t know that he lost “$16 million.”

Williams also acknowledged her longtime friends, the Duke of Sussex and wife Meghan Markle, who are in attendance. Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service to recognize his impact on the veteran community through the Invictus Games during the ceremony.

ESPN first announced that Williams would host the 32nd edition of the ESPY Awards on May 14.

Her appearance comes one day after the debut of the first episode of the ESPN+ Original Series In the Arena: Serena Williamsan eight-part docuseries the network calls “the most complete, intimate and compelling account” of Williams’ “legendary career.”

Related: Prince Harry Will Be Honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service at 2024 ESPYS

The GOAT — who shares daughters Olympia, 6½, and Adira, 1 next month, with husband Alexis Ohanian — was ready to take on a new challenge as an emcee.

“I couldn’t be more excited to host The ESPYS,” Williams said in a statement in May. “This is a dream come true for me, and something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember. It has been a sensational year for sports and an unprecedented one for female athletes. I can’t wait to celebrate everyone on-stage in July.”

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While speaking with PEOPLE for the 50th Anniversary cover story in April, the tennis icon revealed that she’s now at a point where she is reflecting on her illustrious career with Olympia.

Related: Serena Williams Recalls Trying to Deposit Her First $1 Million Tennis Winnings in a Drive-Thru ATM

“I told her the other day that she was actually in my belly when I won a big tournament (the 2017 Australian Open), and she was surprised,” she said. “She’s at an age now where I can kind of open up to her a little bit more and she can understand things more, whereas she didn’t really understand before.”

The ESPY Awards are airing live on ABC beginning at 8 pm ET.

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