Front Office Sports Today Billie Jean King on the Rise of Women’s Sports
Jun 28, 2024
Billie Jean King, legendary 39-time Grand Slam champion and longtime gender equity activist, reflects on elevating women’s sports. She discusses growth in the WNBA, NWSL, and PWHL. She talks Parity Week, making the investment case for women’s leagues, and lessons from founding the PWHL.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
First Woman Athlete Medal Surprise
- King recalled being the first woman athlete awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and feeling surprised by the delay.
- She names Althea Gibson as an overlooked predecessor who deserved recognition earlier.
Women Often Must Do More To Earn Recognition
- Public platforms combine athletic achievement with off-field contributions for women more than men.
- King argues women often must do more off the field to gain similar recognition and highlights role models like Willie Mays for whole-person impact.
Women's Sports Revenue Gap Is Immense
- Women's pro sports revenue is growing but still far behind men's, reflecting broader gender income gaps.
- Billie Jean King contrasts estimated $83B in men's sports to women's aspiring to hit their first $1B, showing scale and inequality.