King accepted award at world’s largest summit addressing antisemitism and hate.
New York, NY, March 4, 2025…ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today presented sports icon and equality champion, Billie Jean King, with the ADL’s 2025 Changemaker Award. The award was presented during ADL’s signature event, Never Is Now: The World’s Largest Summit on Antisemitism and Hate in New York City.
“Billie Jean King has used her platform to break down barriers, expand opportunities, and build the kind of infrastructure and community that has allowed others to thrive,” said Larry Scott, ADL Board Member and Founder of ADL’s Sports Industry Leadership Council. “From her founding of the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973, to her creation of the Women’s Sports Foundation in 1974, to her involvement in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sparks, Angel City FC, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League; to her work in the campaign for equal pay and equal prize money, to her ongoing efforts as a founding member of ADL’s Sports Leadership Council, she has advanced equality across the board and driven social change.”
King’s dedication to advocating for marginalized communities has earned her numerous accolades, including being the first individual woman athlete to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in 2024 and the first woman athlete to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009).
“Billie Jean King exemplifies the spirit of a changemaker,” said ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt. “Her relentless fight for fairness and her advocacy for marginalized communities have paved the way for a more inclusive world. We are thrilled to honor her remarkable legacy at Never Is Now.”
The Changemaker Award was first presented to WNBA Champion and activist Sue Bird. Previous honorees and speakers at Never Is Now include actor and activist Sacha Baron Cohen, NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson, Apple CEO Tim Cook, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and Attorney General Merrick Garland.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.