Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal Billie Jean King waves during the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. The Ohio State Buckeyes play the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

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Tennis Icon Billie Jean King Creates History By Receiving Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

King won a total of 39 Grand Slams during her time.

Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal Billie Jean King waves during the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. The Ohio State Buckeyes play the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

A certified trailblazer of the women’s game, Billie Jean King shattered the glass ceiling this week by becoming the first woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the new sports entertainment category. King is a legend on the WTA circuit – having won 39 Grand Slam titles in total – 12 in women’s singles, 16 in women’s doubles and 11 in mixed doubles.

BJK is also a co-founder of the present Hologic WTA Tour, and continues to work tremendously towards equal rights. She has won the Fed Cup on seven occasions as a player, and four times as a captain. After an extensive career that spanned over two decades, King retired in 1990 but continues to be a strong advocate for women’s sport in general.

Billie Jean King Unveils Her Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Billie Jean King’s star was officially unveiled on Monday, and it is the 2,807th in the total collection. Located near the intersection between Hollywood and Vine, King was present alongside the likes of five-time NBA Champion Magic Johnson and Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis while unveiling the coveted tile.

“You always fight for what’s right. You lend your platform and your voice and your time and your money to bring about change,” said Johnson about King. Meanwhile, Curtis also lauded the 81-year-old for her contributions. “Billie Jean King’s contribution is power,” he declared.

“She’s power on the courts, she’s power in the courts, she’s power in the press, power in her public advocacy, power in her fight for freedom, power to be who she is now.” The American has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom as well as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award for her incredible work.

BJK “Certainly Not Going to Be the Last” Woman to Receive the Award

Today, I became the first woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Sports Entertainment category.

Words cannot express how honored and grateful l am to receive this star.

I have so many people to thank, including the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce,… pic.twitter.com/dT1ngqKH7m
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) April 8, 2025

After earning her star, Billie Jean King took to social media to extend her gratitude. “Words cannot express how honored and grateful I am to receive this star,” she wrote. “I may be the first woman to be awarded a star in this category, but I’m certainly not going to be the last.” The timing couldn’t be better, with the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers set to kick off this week.

The event was also attended by former tennis players Rosie Casals, Julie Anthony, and five-time major champion Maria Sharapova. The accolade comes just over six months after King became the first individual female sportsperson to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal – for ‘courageous and groundbreaking leadership in advancing equal rights for women in athletics, education and society.’

It has been over 50 years since Billie Jean King won the historic ‘Battle of the Sexes’ against Bobby Riggs, and laid the red carpet for women to take inspiration from. And it is safe to say that even today, she remains a visionary that women of all ages continue to idolise.

Battle of the Sexes

Billie Jean King

Jamie Lee Curtis

Magic Johnson

Maria Sharapova

NBA

Presidential Award

Tennis

USA

Wimbledon

WTA

Sankalp Harikrishnan

A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.