Another Year of Serena: SI Sportsperson of 2015 & Beyond

And it came to pass that in the year 2015 Serena Williams became Sports Illustrated's first solo female Sportsperson of the Year in more than three decades. (Here's to you, Mary Decker.)

As this year winds down, the news and accolades surrounding Serena Williams keep ramping up. The WTA tour's Player of the Year has claimed that particular title in four consecutive years, part of what SI's S.L. Price terms her "tyrannical three-year reign" as the sport's No. 1 star. Away from the courts, she lit up Vogue's April cover, perhaps incited even more of a riot with a certain New York magazine picture, and even danced with the GOP's leading presidential candidate in waiting, one Donald Trump. (She also took a taxi cab to the finish of her own Ultimate Run in South Beach last weekend, but small matter.)

Williams was her usual loquacious self about this SI award, sharing a photo to her social media channels and writing, in part, "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"

On the heels of talk about Serena's 2015 Pirelli calendar and Vogue photos appearing similar, it's difficult not to note that her new SI cover shot calls to mind "Bow Down"-era Beyonce. And for the record, that's just fine. Fellow gifts from Virgo, those two—and like-minded and -bodied souls as well. "Stunt on them, Serena," Beyonce once wrote on her website's blog.

It so happens that the SI news dropped on the Monday after Maria Sharapova's "Maria and Friend"-themed celebrity-laced charity hit in Los Angeles. Thus it's obvious that Serena continues to do just what Queen Bey once commanded. Who's to say when she'll stop? You can see how she plays the marquee matches on the biggest stage, when she squares off against sister Venus, Sharapova, her arguable chief rival Victoria Azarenka, and fresh phenoms such as Madison Keys. This one knows to watch her throne.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9.