Overview
- Tournament director Tommy Haas said awarding the event’s first wild card to Williams was an honor and praised her legacy.
- Williams said she is excited to return to Southern California and compete in front of Indian Wells fans.
- If she enters singles, she would likely be the oldest singles competitor at the event in the modern era.
- Her Indian Wells history includes a boycott after 2001, a return in 2016, and subsequent appearances in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2024.
- Her recent schedule includes a US Open doubles quarterfinal with Leylah Fernandez, indicating current competitive activity.