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At the 2023 US Open, the United States Tennis Association celebrates 50 years of equal pay—a milestone spearheaded by legendary champion Billie Jean King and, a group of women tennis players who demanded equal compensation. Hosted by ESPN’s Chris McKendry and presented by J.P. Morgan, Equal Play: 50 Years of Equal Pay in Tennis offers conversations with trailblazing female athletes from tennis and beyond—on topics like motherhood, mental health, women in leadership roles and more.
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In our last episode, we explore the issue at the very heart of the podcast: equal pay for all. More than 50 years ago, Billie Jean King and the Original Nine paved the way for fair pay. Several generations of athletes in their stead have continued the fight, including basketball star and broadcaster Rebecca Lobo. As a UConn championship winner and …
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Seeing women in leadership roles off the court is just as important as highlighting our star athletes—and US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster and sports journalist Lesley Visser know this firsthand. Stacey and Lesley are two of the “firsts” in their respective fields of sports management and sports broadcasting. They join host Chris McKendr…
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For years, women athletes were expected to give up competing when they became mothers. But some pushed back against expectations, like Dara Torres: a 12-time Olympic medal-winning swimmer. At the age of 41, two years after giving birth to her daughter, Dara became the oldest swimmer to compete on the U.S. Olympic team. We’ll also hear from American…
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Being an elite athlete isn’t just hard on the body—it can also test an athlete’s mental wellness. After her gold and silver medal-winning appearance in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, gymnast Laurie Hernandez reported her longtime coach for abusive behavior. Laurie joins host Chris McKendry to discuss what it took to publicly address her strug…
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When a 16-year-old Chris Evert made it to the semifinals of the 1971 US Open, a star was born—helping steer women’s tennis toward exciting new heights. From there, Chris dominated, claiming 18 Grand Slam singles titles and winning an astounding 125 consecutive matches on clay courts. Known for her calm demeanor on the court, Chris has left her mark…
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At the 1973 US Open, male and female champions received equal prize money for the first time, 86 years after the first women competed in a national championship in the U.S. in 1887. Just weeks before, the Women’s Tennis Association was established, creating a tour that united women’s professional tennis. The founding of the WTA was the result of th…
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At the 2023 US Open, the United States Tennis Association celebrates 50 years of equal pay—a milestone spearheaded by legendary champion Billie Jean King and, a group of women tennis players who demanded equal compensation. Hosted by ESPN’s Chris McKendry and presented by J.P. Morgan, Equal Play: 50 Years of Equal Pay in Tennis offers conversations…
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continue reading
