April 7 (UPI) -- Tennis legend Billie Jean King has become the first woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the new sports entertainment category.
"The important thing is, I don't want to be the last one," King told the crowd gathered for Monday's ceremony.
King, 81, was joined by her wife, Ilana Kloss, as she received the Walk of Fame honor, which got its start in 1961. The sports entertainment category was added 60 years later, by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in 2021, to celebrate those who have significantly contributed to entertainment through sports.
King's star is the 2,807th on the Walk of Fame and is located near Hollywood and Vine. While she is the first woman to receive the honor in the sports entertainment category, Michael Strahan, former New York Giants defensive end and current "Good Morning America" anchor, was the first recipient in 2023. The second honoree was the late Carl Weathers, former professional football player known for his role as Apollo Creed in "Rocky."
During Monday's ceremony, fellow tennis star Maria Sharapova, Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis also joined King for photos as she remained seated in a red jacket.
During her tennis career, King won 39 Grand Slam titles with 12 of those wins in the singles category. She also founded the Virginia Slims Circuit and World Team Tennis.
King is perhaps best known for defeating Bobby Riggs in the 1973 tennis exhibition match dubbed the "Battle of the Sexes." It became the most watched televised sports event of all time and added weight to King's ongoing fight for equal pay for women.
After winning ...
