Billie Jean King Honored With Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Tennis legend and equality advocate Billie Jean King received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday, April 24, in a White House ceremony recognizing her lifelong contributions to sports and social justice. President Joe Biden awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor to King, praising her as "a champion who changed America" for her groundbreaking work in gender equity and LGBTQ+ rights.

The 82-year-old icon, who won 39 Grand Slam titles, was celebrated for her 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" victory against Bobby Riggs and her leadership in founding the Women’s Tennis Association. The event trended nationally as fans and athletes shared tributes, with #BillieJeanKing topping Twitter trends for over 12 hours.

King’s recognition comes amid renewed focus on pay equity in sports, following the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team’s recent landmark equal pay settlement. In her acceptance speech, King urged continued progress: "We’ve come far, but the game isn’t over." The ceremony coincided with the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the federal law she championed that transformed women’s athletics.

Notable attendees included fellow medal recipient Megan Rapinoe and King’s longtime partner Ilana Kloss. The White House livestream drew over 1.2 million viewers, a record for such events in 2026. King becomes just the fourth female athlete to receive the honor, joining Althea Gibson, Pat Summitt, and Babe Didrikson Zaharias.