Billie Jean King is still traveling the world supporting more investment and equity in women’s sports.
She participated in the Women’s World Cup in Australia, Start player draft Serving Toronto’s new women’s professional hockey league and opening London office for tennis operations involving international Billie Jean King Cup.
That’s what it’s been like for King, who turns 80 in November, over the past three months.
“We are at a turning point,” King said. “People actually look at women’s sports as a huge investment.”
She is a member of the ownership group of the Los Angeles Dodgers, NWSL Angel City Soccer Club and PWHL Hockey League start january.
Her busy schedule is reminiscent of the summer of 1973, when the 29-year-old King established the WTA, won the Wimbledon Triple Crown of singles, doubles and mixed doubles, achieved equal pay at the U.S. Open and defeated self-professed chauvinist Bobby Leigh. Gus in the “Battle of the Sexes” competition.
On Thursday, King and about 60 athletes will celebrate the 50th anniversary of equal prize money at the U.S. Open and King Riggs tournaments at an annual awards banquet in New York for the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in August Attend the U.S. Open Held at Arthur Ashe Stadium to commemorate a milestone in pay equity.
“Let’s remember, this is more important than a championship’s salary,” Michelle Obama said during the opening night ceremony. “It’s about how the world sees and values women.”
King recently launched the production company “Pressure is a Privilege,” a quote that the 39-time Grand Slam winner can relate to. She is also the executive producer and host of “Groundbreakers,” a documentary about female athletes that airs November 21 on PBS.
Members of Congress worked to award King the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors awarded to individuals who have made a lasting impact in their fields.
The following is King’s Q&A, which has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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Associated Press: This year marks the 50th anniversary of so much achievement in 1973.Talk about that whirlwind.
KING: We started the WTA four days before Wimbledon. I won all three titles at Wimbledon, which was a big thing for me. Then equal prize money came along, starting in 1972, and we said we wouldn’t come back (the 1973 U.S. Open). Then there’s Kim Riggs. That’s all for 3 months. Having been away from it for so long, I’m grateful for it. How did we do it?
You’ve said that the King vs. Riggs match is about social change, with women standing up for themselves in every field.
It’s also really about men. Because men began to undergo some changes. Obama was 12 years old when he watched King play against Riggs. He said it had a great impact on him. Men care more about their daughters than before. It all adds up.
You are part of a professional sports ownership group. How did you get involved with women’s professional hockey? Teams in Boston, New York, Minnesota, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal?
PWHL, it’s really exciting. It took five years. Plus, other leagues took years and everyone was trying. (U.S. Olympic gold medalist) Kendall Coyne said, “Can you help us?” We need to have a coalition. The best players will compete. We went to Toronto and I gave an opening talk about the pioneers. It was amazing because the families were crying, the players were crying and they were like “We’ve never been treated like this, this is amazing, we feel like professionals for the first time.” There were a lot of little kids there. . Children will have incredible opportunities that previous generations never had. All three of their networks are up. There is a religion there.
How is investment in women’s sports changing?
I now ask CEOs and everyone – “Are you investing as much in women as you are in men?” And then it usually gets quiet. But I must say it’s much better than before. We are really lucky to be part of this investment group. Our male allies have made such a difference for us over the years. They have money and power. But we are getting there, attracting more and more female investors, especially in football. Women’s sports, we’ve been fighting for this.
What do you hope the future holds for women’s sports?
more. Making sure we get girls involved in sports from an early age. This is really about health issues more than anything else. More work, more everything. Women of color and diversity do matter.
We only get 5% of the media. That’s where the money is. People always say, “Why doesn’t the WTA have as much money as the ATP?” I’m like, really? If you watch a show at night, a sports show, just count how many minutes of the men’s program are there and how many minutes of the women’s program. We are 5%. We have to change this.
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