Sports are evolving at lightning speed, with exciting developments and fresh faces taking center stage, but one crucial issue remains a constant challenge—gender equality. Despite the progress made, there’s still a long road ahead to level the playing field for women in sports. Activists and athletes alike have been vocal, calling for real, lasting change. In a landmark moment for women’s sports, two influential figures—tennis legend Billie Jean King and Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian—are once again taking the spotlight as they highlight the importance of investing in women’s sports.

Ohanian and King attended two different events in the United States, but the motive behind their discussions was the same: improving the sports arena for women. Both icons, known for their continued efforts to improve women’s sports, discussed the nuances of spending in women’s sports and expressed their commitment to bringing about positive change. 

Speaking at the Brandweek event organized by the Adweek magazine in Phoenix, Arizona, Ohanian opened up on his views about investing in women’s sports. “I never want to make an argument for women’s sports based on anything other than attention because that’s valuable,” he said. Continuing further, he emphasized saying, “Uh, Brand Alignment because that’s valuable.” A similar sentiment was reciprocated by the tennis legend Billie Jean King. 

The former player and women’s sports activists attended the LWT Summit in New York. In a series of pictures and videos shared by her on her Instagram profile, she can be seen hitting some balls towards the fans. Captioning the post she wrote, “Huge thanks to @lwtech and @morgan.stanley for hosting such a powerful conversation on the impact of investment in women’s sports.” Remember, the event came at a time when King celebrated the 51st anniversary of the iconic Battle of the Sexes when she defeated Bobby Riggs on September 20, 1973. 

“It was even more special to share why investing in this space is so important to me, with leaders who are committed to championing equal access and opportunity. The work is not done yet! 🎾 🙌,” King wrote further. Their remarks signify that their continued efforts in the domain are finally bearing fruit, with more platforms discussing the importance of investments in women’s sports. Remember, both Ohanian and King have been vocal about bringing positive changes and strengthening women’s sports.

A recent example was witnessed by Ohanian during the Paris Olympics this year. When the unsponsored American sprinter Alaysha Johnson qualified for the 100-meter hurdle finals, she took to her X and made an emotional request. “If anybody wants to buy me 8 tickets so my family can watch me run then I’d love yall … but know they going for $500 a piece.” Her request was quickly acted upon with Ohanian coming to her rescue and sponsoring the tickets. “😤 got you. @athlos account will handle,” the Reddit co-founder responded. Besides, he has also spent heavily on the soccer club Angel City FC and has given some much-needed boost to the team. King’s contribution, meanwhile, has been no different.

Remember, the 80-year-old icon has been recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for her continued efforts in women’s sports. The award has been given to King in recognition of her work fighting for Title IX and women’s and LGBTQ+ equality on and off the tennis court. She has also been vocal about equal payment for male and female tennis players. Interestingly, King has also come to the defense of Ohanian’s wife, Serena Williams, on certain occasions.

When Billie Jean King slammed former pro for inappropriate stance on Serena Williams

Billie Jean King’s efforts in women’s sports are not just limited to bringing equality. She has been vocal against the negative remarks that women players face and has been critical of people even in her own sports arena as well. One such instance was witnessed when former pro John McEnroe took a dig at the legendary player Serena Williams

In an interview in 2017, McEnroe said that while he respected Williams, he would not refrain from giving honest feedback to the legendary player. Continuing further, he claimed that “If she played the men’s circuit, she’d be like 700 in the world.” This quickly drew criticism from King, who said, “They want attention. We’re talking about John. He gets exactly what he wants. It’s attention and fear.”

For now, it will be interesting to see how both Ohanian and King create a long-term impact and what new measures they take to bring more positive changes to the sports arena, thereby making it a more equal and inclusive place for women.