Billie Jean King made history as the first woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the newly established sports entertainment category. The ceremony took place on Monday, with notable friends Magic Johnson and Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis by her side.
King, a Hall of Fame tennis legend, expressed her hope that she wouldn’t be the last to receive such an honor. Her star, the 2,807th on the Walk of Fame, is positioned near the iconic intersection of Hollywood and Vine, right across from the historic Pantages Theater. The electronic marquee celebrated her achievement with the message, “A star for a star. Congratulations Billie Jean King.”
A crowd of fans gathered outside a nearby dumpling shop, while celebrity tour buses passed by along the bustling Hollywood Boulevard. King’s wife, Ilana Kloss, also captured moments with her camera, alongside numerous photographers.
Magic Johnson praised King’s lifelong advocacy, saying, “You always fight for what’s right. You lend your platform, voice, time, and resources to bring about change.” Johnson, like King, is a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had been honored at the White House earlier the same day for winning the 2024 World Series.
Reflecting on their shared drive, Johnson added, “We’re just alike. We’re super competitive, control freaks because we know if you put it in our hands, we’re going to win. You’ve been a winner your whole life, you love to help people, and you always stand for what’s right.”
The ceremony also brought together King with former tennis stars Rosie Casals and Julie Anthony, along with retired WTA athletic trainer Connie Spooner. Additional attendees included five-time major champion Maria Sharapova and Stacey Allaster, former WTA CEO and current U.S. Open tournament director.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis highlighted King’s influential legacy, saying, “Billie Jean King’s contribution is power—power on the courts, in the courts, in the press, in public advocacy, and in her fight for freedom.”
Growing up in Long Beach, California, King frequently played at the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills tennis clubs, where she’d occasionally spot Hollywood icons like Lucille Ball and Doris Day. Reflecting on her roots, she shared, “My family loved music and movies. A trip to Hollywood, a movie at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, was a special treat. My mother would have loved this.”
King recalled attending actress Holly Hunter’s star ceremony in 2008, saying, “I remember thinking back then, ‘Wow, this is unbelievable. I’ll never get this.’ Here I am.”
She was the first to step onto her bronze star after it was unveiled, located just blocks east of her longtime friend Elton John’s star. “Remember,” King said, “my star is your star.”
Notable attendees also included Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, her husband Jay Mohr, rapper Flavor Flav, race-car driver Katherine Legge, and Emmy-winning screenwriter Jane Anderson. King’s recent honors also include serving as the grand marshal of the 136th Rose Parade and receiving the Congressional Gold Medal last year.