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Billie Jean King news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Hoda Kotb received the Billie Jean King Champions of Equality Award at the 2026 US Open.
The honor ties King's equality legacy to women's sports today.
Background
The Champions of Equality award began in 2023 as part of the celebration of 50 years of equal prize money at the US Open, and honors trailblazers in gender equality. Past recipients include Billie Jean King, Venus Williams, Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay and Stacey Allaster. This year's ceremony at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center also recognized 16 grassroots tennis leaders from USTA sections.
How it unfolded
- 1970The Original 9 came together with a shared purpose to create greater opportunities and a better future for women in professional tennis.
- 1973Billie Jean King wore adidas blue suede shoes in the "Battle of the Sexes."
- 2023The Champions of Equality award started as part of the celebration of 50 years of equal prize money at the US Open.
- Sep 9, 2026Larry Scott, former Pac-12 commissioner, was reported to be helping orchestrate players' push against tennis' most lucrative tournaments, in a labor-management battle over who controls the sport's money.
- Sep 10, 2026Hoda Kotb was honored with the Billie Jean King Champions of Equality Award at the 2026 US Open, along with 16 grassroots tennis leaders from USTA sections.
- Sep 10, 2026Billie Jean King led the annual Billie Jean King Power Hour mentoring session for the 29th time, organized by the WTA, speaking with a dozen or so emerging WTA stars alongside WTA Chair Valerie Camillo and Ilana Kloss.
Who’s saying what
- Honoree
- Hoda Kotb said being honored with an award named after Billie Jean King was "an honor that I had never expected," calling King "an icon in our house."
- Expert
- Billie Jean King said being a changemaker brings risk and criticism, but athletes have a unique opportunity and responsibility to use their platform.