Serena Williams, Steph Curry Take Top Sports Honors at 2019 BET Awards

Serena Williams and Steph Curry have emerged as the Sportswoman of the Year and the Sportsman of the Year respectively at the 2019 BET Awards. This will not be the first time both athletes are clinching similar accolades.

The BET Awards took place on Sunday, June 23rd at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and Williams, 37, and Curry, 31, made it to the list of winners in their respective categories.

The tennis champion added to her ever-growing list of awards and accolades by edging out nominees like sprinter Allyson Felix, WNBA star Candace Parker, gymnast Simone Biles, and fellow tennis star Naomi Osaka, who defeated Williams at the controversial US Open final in September.

On the other hand, Curry, who captains the Golden State Warriors and is notorious for his 3-pointers in the NBA, beat out teammate Kevin Durant, NBA star LeBron James, NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and golf champion Tiger Woods, to become this year’s BET Sportsman of the Year.

PREVIOUS HONORS

Both Williams and Curry are no strangers to being recognized for their hard work on and off their respective courts.

For the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion who welcomed her first child two years ago, 2018 saw her becoming The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the fifth time.

Williams’ performance in the sport earns her a spot on the list of tennis greats, but the AP honor did not come because she clinched one more title. In fact, 2018 was a tough year for the athlete.

FOR THE LOVE OF TENNIS

After delivering daughter Olympia Ohanian in September of 2017, Williams developed blood clots and had to undergo multiple surgeries in the fight for her life.

Many were stunned when she made her return at the WTA Tour in March before heading to the French Open where she made headlines for her catsuit costume.

THE MANY FACES OF SERENA

Williams has not been able to recover her physical form, but the mum-of-one continues to give the game her best, combining hours of training with raising a lively 21-month-old, and more recently, building a business.

According to AP News, the 2018 honor was “about her perseverance.”

THE 'CURRY' EFFECT

Curry has also had his fair share of awards. The six-time NBA All-Star, whose team recently conceded to the Toronto Raptors at the NBA Finals, won the BET Sportsman of the Year award in 2016. A year before that, Curry earned The Associated Press 2015 Male Athlete of the Year award.

Congratulations to Serena Williams and Steph Curry!