Billie Jean King Becomes First Female “Sports Entertainment” Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Billie Jean King just became the first woman to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the “Sports Entertainment” category. On April 7, the tennis legend sat proudly next to her star, flanked by friends like Magic Johnson and Jamie Lee Curtis. At 81, she is still collecting firsts.

This moment was not about a trophy or a title. It was about recognition of her voice, her fight, her reach beyond tennis. Billie Jean King didn’t just serve aces. She served change. And Hollywood finally caught up.

A Look Back at the Career of the Former Tennis Icon

Billie Jean King started swinging a racket long before women’s tennis got prime-time slots. She won 39 Grand Slam titles and made headlines for crushing Bobby Riggs in the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes.” That match was not just about tennis. It proved women could compete, period.

But King didn’t stop there. She spoke up when silence was easier. She pushed for equal prize money and better treatment for female athletes. Her work helped level the playing field, and not just in sports.

King is a Fighter Off the Court

What made Billie Jean King more than a champion was her drive to challenge the system. In 1973, she helped launch the Women’s Tennis Association and forced the U.S. Open to become the first major tournament to offer equal prize money to women.

Billlie / IG / King has founded the Women’s Sports Foundation and pushed for Title IX enforcement, helping generations of girls access sports.

When people told her to “stick to tennis,” she didn’t listen. She stuck to doing what was right.

Billie Jean King’s Legacy is Way Bigger Than Tennis

Getting a star in Hollywood is not about backhands or forehands. It is about cultural impact, and Billie Jean King has had plenty. She stood up for LGBTQ+ rights before it was safe or popular. She came out publicly in the 1980s and has since been a loud, proud advocate for equality.

King’s courage off the court turned her into a role model for people who didn’t even watch tennis. Her life has been about showing up, speaking up, and lifting others as she climbed.

Hollywood’s Newest Star Still Shines Bright

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is packed with actors, musicians, and legends. But now, it has got a fighter. Billie Jean King earned this spot not with a script or a scene, but with grit and guts. She showed the world what’s possible when you don’t back down.

Billie / IG / King’s latest stardom is a nod to every girl told she couldn’t. A thank you to someone who never stopped pushing.

Billie’s story still speaks to the battles women face today. Equal pay. Fair treatment. Representation. Visibility. She is proof that one voice can start a movement.

The King Keeps Winning

Even at 81, Billie Jean King is moving forward. She mentors, speaks, and advocates. Her name shows up in documentaries, books, and speeches. People don’t just talk about her victories. They talk about her values.

This star on the Walk of Fame? Well, it is yet another win for the former star athlete. Not because it adds to her fame, but because it puts her legacy in a new light. A public, permanent one.