It’s rare for social activists to reach legendary status during their own lifetime, but that’s exactly the case for Billie Jean King in her ongoing quest for women’s sports equality.

In a recent conversation with Just Women’s Sports, the tennis icon revealed just how early in life she became passionate about the inequalities she witnessed in the world.

“I knew at 12 years old tennis was my platform for change. I was sitting at the Los Angeles Tennis Club thinking about my sport and I noticed everyone who played wore white clothes, played with white balls, and everyone who played was white,” recalls the now 78-year-old Southern California native.

“I asked myself, ‘Where is everyone else?’ From that day forward, I committed my life to fighting for equality for all.”

The intersection of sport and social change is where King has resided ever since that day at the Los Angeles Tennis Club. Luckily, her athletic prowess on the tennis court led to a level of athletic dominance that gave her a national and even global platform for what she had to say.

At Wimbledon in 1966, the then 23-year-old won the first of her 12 career Grand Slam titles, the last coming at Wimbledon once again in 1975. Her tennis awards, accolades and Hall of Fame inductions are impossible to summarize succinctly, but it’s her off-court accomplishments that her 12-year-old self would be most proud of.

When the existing structures didn’t aptly respond to her calls for equal prize money among men and women, she started the Women’s Tennis Association in 1970 along with eight fellow players, now known as the “Original 9,” and became its first president. A few years later, she started the Women’s Sports Foundation. The organization, dedicated to enhancing girls’ access to all sports and defending the nascent Title IX legislation, broadened her influence well beyond tennis.

Looking back almost 60 years after her first Grand Slam title at how far the sports world has come, King has no intention of taking her foot off the gas pedal.

“It’s not enough, and there is much more to do. Women’s sports have come a long way, but we are still very much in our infancy, especially when you compare us to men’s professional sports,” she says. “The best example is the NBA has been around more than 75 years, and the WNBA has been operating for just over 25 years. You cannot compare the two as it just isn’t apples to apples. We arrived in the marketplace later and we need a chance to show what we can do.”

Though she still believes that tennis is “the leader in women’s sports today,” she knows progress across the sports spectrum is essential, serving as a mentor for women’s teams and athletes throughout the U.S. With a front-row seat to the ebbs and flows of that progress, King has a unique perspective to demarcate key advances over the decades.

“The success of women athletes at the [1996] Atlanta Games spoke loud and clear about the future of women’s sports in this country and beyond. But women’s professional sports are just now starting to gain traction,” she says. “The NWSL is a bright star right now. I was at the Angel City FC home opener, and it was a special moment in history. The salaries are up in the WNBA. More than 40 percent of all professional athletes are women, yet we still only receive 4 percent of the media coverage.

“When that needle starts to move forward, women’s sports will really grow. The bottom line is we need everyone to invest in and champion women’s sports.”

Always one to let her actions speak louder than words, King’s own investment firm, BJK Enterprises, has now invested in the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, Angel City FC of the NWSL, the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association and Just Women’s Sports. But pushing for successful women’s pro leagues and equal pay with male counterparts is not where her agenda ends.

She always has her eye on the next crucial battlefronts in the pursuit of sports equality for all.

“Looking ahead to the next 50 years of Title IX, we must increase compliance with the law and find a workable solution for name, image and likeness laws,” she says. “Most importantly, we need to give attention to those who have thus far been left behind: defining inclusive opportunities for transgender athletes, athletes with disabilities, and girls and women of color.”

A quick scroll through King’s social media posts reveals her relentless drive to both honor the progress we’ve made and call for action on the work yet to be done. In the past few decades, other female athletes have reached legendary status in their own right, but they have all — knowingly or not — stood on the shoulders of Billie Jean King.

Editor’s Note: This story is a part of the Just Women’s Sports inaugural Legends Collection. Check out our stories on the other legends, Sheryl Swoopes and Brandi Chastain.

Tessa Nichols is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports.

WNBA superstar A'ja Wilson debuted her first-ever Nike signature shoe on Tuesday, with the sneakers scheduled to hit shelves in May 2025.

The first iteration of her "A'One" sneaker comes in "Pink A'ura," with more colorways planned for the future.

"My signature shoe is everything I need, engineered for my game and my style — and built to motivate the next generation to go big," Wilson said in Tuesday's release.

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Designed for Wilson, plus basketball's next generation

"From the beginning, we designed the shoe to both accentuate my game and to provide young hoopers a tool to help them push their limits," explained the three-time WNBA MVP.

After a two-year development process, the A'One boasts foam to cushion landings, plus traction details to enable precise lateral movements on the court.

"The A’One is meant to go the distance, taking control from the jump and dominating the floor on every play," Wilson says.

The shoe also showcases details personal to Wilson, including the Celtic symbols for "mother" and "father" to honor her parents. There is also a pearl motif in reference to the necklace Wilson received from her grandmother, who also contributed a favorite saying to the outsole: "As a matter of fact, the best is yet to come."

Additionally, one of Wilson's own quotes is splashed across the heel: "Weakness, weakness. We don’t have time for that."

Along with her signature shoe, Wilson is releasing an eight-piece apparel collection that includes foam slides, T-shirts, shorts, and cropped tops.

In true Wilson fashion, the collection's highlight is her single-legged A'Symmetric compression tight, a nod to the Las Vegas star's on-court uniform.

Wilson joins star-studded roster of signature shoe athletes

When her sneakers drop in May, Wilson will become the 14th WNBA athlete across all brands to receive her own signature shoe.

The 28-year-old will join current stars like Breanna Stewart, Elena Delle Donne, and Sabrina Ionescu in the footwear department. Other iconic sneaker creators have included retired legends Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and Wilson's former college coach, South Carolina boss Dawn Staley.

Wilson initially signed with Nike as a rookie in 2018 before becoming one of the sportswear giant's signature athletes in May 2024, when the brand doubled down on their investment in women's basketball.

How to purchase A'ja Wilson's signature Nike shoe

Wilson's A’One sneaker and apparel collection will be available directly from Nike, with purchase options both online and at select retail locations starting in May 2025.

The NWSL agreed to a major settlement with the attorneys general of New York, Illinois, and Washington, DC, on Wednesday, capping a two-year investigation into the abuse allegations outlined in the 2022 Yates Report.

The NWSL must now create a $5 million restitution fund to compensate athletes who experienced abuse. The league is also required to continue implementing comprehensive player safety reforms.

"For too long, the hardworking and talented women of the National Women's Soccer League were forced to endure an unacceptable culture of abuse, harassment, and retaliation," said New York Attorney General Letitia James. "This settlement sends a clear message that such misconduct will not be tolerated and ensures players receive the compensation and protections they deserve."

Years of investigation led up to the NWSL settlement

Whistleblowers initially exposed a culture of harassment and sexual misconduct within multiple NWSL teams in 2021. As a result, US Soccer's subsequent Yates Report suggested extensive reforms were needed at both the league and club level.

In the fallout surrounding that 2022 report, the attorneys general initiated their own joint investigation. They ultimately found credible allegations, as well as a culture of abuse, neglect, and retaliation against athletes who spoke up.

This "widespread violations of players' fundamental rights" prompted the attorneys general to award the restitution. They also codified reforms that grant them oversight and enforcement rights, ensuring league protocols are followed and players are protected.

Terms of the NWSL misconduct settlement

In addition to the restitution fund, the attorneys general are requiring league-wide policy changes. These include hiring a league-wide safety officer and increased rigor in vetting team staff. Teams must also add HR staff and at least one mental health professional, and create multiple avenues of reporting misconduct.

Clubs must now conduct anonymous athlete surveys into team culture and coach conduct each year, the results of which will be shared with the attorneys general.

Additionally, for the next three years, the NWSL must submit biannual reports detailing their progress in implementing these terms. The reports must also overtly flag any complaints of alleged misconduct.

Should it default on any of the settlement's terms, the league will face $2 million in penalties.

"Accountability is not a one-time event — it is an ongoing commitment that never ends," said NWSL Players Association director Meghann Burke about the settlement. "The NWSLPA will continue to ensure that this league never again prioritizes silence over safety.”

The Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) is celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) this week in Washington, DC

Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, the organization held the first NGWSD 39 years ago. To "amplify the monumental moments being seen across women's sports," the WSL arranged local programming honoring the February 5th event.

This year's edition kicked off yesterday with a youth sports clinic led by the WNBA's Washington Mystics and AU student-athletes. Other activations included a panel discussion and workshops.

"For 50 years and counting, the Women's Sports Foundation's vast research has continued to prove that a powerful way to positively impact society's future is by investing in girls' and women's sports," said WSF CEO Danette Leighton.

"This National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we are back in the nation's capital to both celebrate the momentum throughout the women's sports ecosystem and to ensure progress continues, so that all girls and women have a chance to play and reap the lifelong benefits of sport."

WSF spends National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Capitol Hill

Today, WSF leadership, athletes, coaches, and industry pros met with members of Congress on Capitol Hill. They discussed the issues impacting women's sports athletes, proposed legislation to level the playing field, and the economic benefits of sports equity.

Participants across the week's events include: WSF president and Paralympian Scout Bassett; WNBA legend and Mystics Hall of Famer Alana Beard; Women's College World Series champion Rachel Garcia; Hall of Fame NCAA women's basketball head coach  Muffet McGraw; and two-time NWSL champion Mana Shim, among others. 

"As a Paralympian, I know more must be done to get additional girls and women in the game and advocate for policies that bolster inclusion and eliminate barriers, especially for those with disabilities," said Bassett. "It is my hope that National Girls & Women in Sports Day encourages positive conversations that will lead to lasting change so all girls and women can play, compete and lead — in sports and beyond." 

Promoting inclusion for all women's sports athletes

WSF sets itself apart from recent political initiatives focused on prohibiting trans athletes from participating in sports in accordance with their gender identity. Instead, the foundation outspokenly advocates for the inclusion of trans and intersex women's sports athletes.

Accordingly, in a 2016 position statement, the foundation said that it "supports the right of all athletes, including transgender athletes, to participate in athletic competition that is fair, equitable, and respectful to all." 

The WSF doubled down in 2022. They subsequently penned a letter to the NCAA imploring them to revise their exclusionary Transgender Athlete Participation Policy. 

25 additional organizations endorsed the pro-inclusion letter. Together, they echoed the WSF motto "All girls. All women. All sports."

Chelsea FC star Sam Kerr is taking the stand this week, as her trial for allegedly verbally abusing a white London police officer got underway on Monday.

The Australia national team captain pleaded not guilty to one count of racially aggravated harassment before testifying on Wednesday.

While the celebrated striker did not deny calling PC Stephen Lovell "stupid and white" as documented by the officer's body camera, Kerr's legal team is arguing that both the specific incident and "the law is a little more nuanced, a little more human than that."

Kerr describes "terrifying" cab ride at trial

The incident in question occurred in January 2023, when Kerr and her fiancée, USWNT and West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, experienced a concerning late-night taxi ride.

Kerr testified that she leaned out of an open window after beginning to feel sick during the the ride. She alleges that the driver then rolled up the window and proceeded to "drive dangerously," including "swerving in and out of lanes."

The erratic driving allegedly lasted 15 to 20 minutes. Kerr also told the jury that the driver refused to stop or unlock the doors and windows.

"I was terrified for my life," the 31-year-old testified. "We were not in control... I deemed him to be dangerous because of the driving but also because he could have taken us anywhere. He couldn’t be tracked so no one knew where we were."

Mewis eventually "kicked out [the window] with her boot" in an attempt to escape what they thought was a kidnapping. As a result, the driver delivered the pair to the police station.

Perceived lack of help sparked comment from Kerr

At the police station, the couple told officers about their experience. Kerr says she felt that the police did not believe them, prompting the heated exchange.

"The words were a comment, we say — however poorly expressed — about positions of power, about privilege and about how those things might color perception," Kerr's lawyer Grace Forbes argued.

"I expressed myself poorly in that moment. What I was trying to get across was I felt that they were treating me differently and not believing me and treating me as a person that had done something wrong," Kerr elaborated.

"They were in a position of privilege and power. I believed they were treating me specifically differently because of the color of my skin."

Notably, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) originally decided not to charge Kerr. They had determined that the only outcome of a prosecution would be a simply apology from the soccer star.

While PC Lovell's initial statement made no mention of Kerr's comments having any impact on him, he submitted a second statement in the wake of CPS's decision to not prosecute, later claiming the footballer's words had been harassing.

CPS authorized the charge in December 2023, nearly a year after the incident occurred.