Tennis legend, equality advocate, and co-founder of the Hologic WTA Tour, Billie Jean King, has been celebrated with a prestigious star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The official unveiling took place this week.
King`s star marks a historic moment as she is the first woman to be recognized in the Hollywood Walk of Fame`s newly introduced sports entertainment category in 2023. This category acknowledges athletes` significant contributions to the entertainment world. The unveiling ceremony was held on Monday near the intersection of Hollywood and Vine, with basketball icon and Olympic champion Magic Johnson, along with Academy Award-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis, assisting in revealing the commemorative tile, the 2,807th in the collection.
During the ceremony, held close to the Pantages Theatre, Magic Johnson praised King, stating, “You always fight for what’s right. You use your platform, your voice, your time, and your resources to drive change.”
Jamie Lee Curtis further emphasized King`s impact, adding, “Billie Jean King’s contribution is immense. She embodies power – power on and off the court, power in the press, power in her public advocacy, power in her fight for freedom, and the power to be true to herself.”
Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, along with King`s contemporaries Rosie Casals and Julie Anthony, were also present at the event.
This honor adds to King`s list of recent historic achievements. Last September, she was the first female athlete to individually receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest accolade awarded by the U.S. Congress. This recognition was for her `courageous and groundbreaking leadership in advancing equal rights for women in athletics, education, and society.`
In a social media post, King expressed her gratitude: “Words cannot express how honored and grateful I am to receive this star. I may be the first woman to receive a star in this category, but I am certainly not going to be the last.”
King`s recognition comes just before the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers, an international women`s team tennis competition named in her honor. The qualifiers are set to begin later this week, with countries competing for a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals later in the year.
