Tennis icon Billie Jean King etched her name into history on Monday, April 7, 2025, as the first woman to receive a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s new Sports Entertainment category.
The 81-year-old legend was celebrated at a ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard, where she reminisced about her L.A. tennis roots, and chance encounters with stars like Lucille Ball and Doris Day. “Sports are entertainment. We thrive performing for crowds,” King said, spotlighting the need for more women on the Walk, per the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the authoritative body behind the honour since 1960.
Billie Jean King poses for photos by her newly unveiled star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. https://t.co/oByVgjCkoR pic.twitter.com/VOf5ddes92
— Variety (@Variety) April 7, 2025Launched in 2023, the Sports Entertainment category honours individuals excelling in sports and entertainment. Billie Jean King joins figures like Michael Strahan and the late Carl Weathers. With a remarkable 39 Grand Slam titles, she founded the Women’s Tennis Association and World Team Tennis, in addition to executive-producing PBS’s “Groundbreakers.” Her television credits, including “Law & Order,” solidify her legacy in both arenas. “She’s a trailblazer beyond the court,” remarked NBA legend Magic Johnson at the event, a sentiment echoed by Jamie Lee Curtis, who praised her advocacy.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King, a trailblazer for women in sports, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first woman honored in the Sports Entertainment category at 81. pic.twitter.com/3OXy6D4wvO
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 8, 2025Dr. Susan Carter, a sports historian with 25 years of experience at USC, states, “King’s impact spans decades; her star is a benchmark for equality.”
Backed by the Chamber’s rigorous vetting and King’s verifiable achievements, Variety reports that this milestone honours her tennis prowess and cultural clout. As the first female recipient, she’s paving the way, proving sports and entertainment are one stage.
