A pioneer of equality in sports, Billie Jean King’s fight to fight against gender parity has made her a global icon. Be it the Battle of the Sexes or fighting for equal pay, the tennis legend has left an unforgettable legacy in the sports world. She once again took to social media to share an interview of Sarah Nurse commenting on how there is a paradigm shift in people watching women’s sports.

The Canadian ice hockey star has helped to found the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, serving on its board of directors. Amazed to see the increasing excitement surrounding women’s sports, she stated the example of women’s hockey in a recent interview. 

Billie Jean King shares the changes which Sarah Nurse has witnessed recently in women’s sports

Appearing at a Fan Fest, Sarah Nurse commented how it has been surprising to see men’s interest in women’s hockey too. “It’s pretty crazy being at Fan Fest today. And, the amount of boys who- I was talking through Fan Fest with Marie-Philip Poulin and the amount of boys who were stopping us. That’s never happened. Within the last year, things have completely changed and turned around,” the PWHL star said.

Nurse did point out that girls have always made up most of the fanbase, “Yes, we’ve always had young girls who have idolized us and who would come up to us and want to talk to us to take photos. But I’ve taken more photos with men and boys this week than anything.” But at the same time, “It’s been pretty cool. And I can’t wait for the girls to continue to have that respect as they grow up as hockey players.“

Billie Jean King, who had first encountered gender inequality at the age of 12 while participating in a tournament at the Los Angeles Tennis Club, shared Sarah Nurse’s interview on her Instagram stories. 12YO King was then banned from a group photo of junior tennis players. It was just because she was wearing tennis shorts instead of the traditional skirts.

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Taking things to a climax was of course the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ on September 30, 1973, when Billie Jean King stunned the world after defeating Bobby Riggs. Last year it marked the 50th anniversary of her triumph and she stated, “It gave women self-confidence to ask for what they want and need. Because we’re taught not to.” King added, “With women’s sports particularly, they paid a lot of attention to that match. Because there was a guy involved. If you got a guy involved, you got a lot more attention.”

Billie Jean King has spent the 1960s and early 1970s campaigning tirelessly for parity for women in global sports. And to see them gain popularity among the masses, equaling the feats of men in sports (if not more) always makes the 80YO American tennis legend ecstatic.

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