Billie Jean King, tennis legend and longtime social activist, will lead the 2025 Rose Parade as its grand marshal, Tournament of Roses President Ed Morales announced Monday, Oct. 6, on the front steps of the historic Tournament House in Pasadena.
King, 80, accepted her newest honor as Elton John’s song “Philadelphia Freedom” played — a song he famously wrote in her honor in 1975.
“This is like a dream come true,” said King, as she spoke to a crowd gathered outside the Tournament House. I remember saying to my mom and day. That would be fun being the grand marshal. Little did I know.”
“I cannot wait until Jan. 1, the best day ever.”
The sports legend, lauded post-retirement for her work promoting gender equality on and off the sports field, will lead off the 136th Rose Parade and 111th Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1.
King’s selection as grand marshal aligns with this year’s parade theme, “Best Day Ever!,” celebrating life’s best moments, Morales explained. He chose this year’s parade theme and grand marshal.
“Her (King’s) trailblazing work has elevated women in sports and inspired countless best days ever for athletes and fans around the globe,” Morales added.
Related: Photos: A look back at tennis legend Billy Jean King
Superlatives certainly apply to the Hall of Famer, named by Life magazine as one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century.” She is the first woman athlete to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 (the nation’s highest civilian honor) and last month became the first individual woman athlete to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award from the U.S. Congress.
President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill on Sept. 26 recognizing the tennis great for “a remarkable life devoted to championing equal rights for all, in sports and in society.”
(Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
King founded the Women’s Sports Foundation, the Women’s Tennis Association, and the Billie Jean King Foundation, supporting youth leaders through sports, education and activism.
Billie Jean Moffitt was born in Long Beach on Nov. 22, 1943 and played softball before her parents suggested the then-11-year-old take up the more “ladylike” game of tennis. King attended Cal State Los Angeles before winning her first major singles title in Wimbledon in 1966.
During her career, King won 39 grand slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She holds a record 20 Wimbledon wins. In tennis lore, King may best be remembered for her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs, a former men’s world No. 1 player in a game dubbed the “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973.
Related: Cal State LA unveils statue in honor of tennis legend Billie Jean King
She spent six years as the top-ranked female tennis player in the world.
King retired from tennis in 1990 and began ramping up her work in social justice. She was instrumental in campaigning for equal prize money for female tennis players and pushed for the passage of Title IX, a federal law that provides equal funding for men’s and women’s sports programs prohibits discrimination based on sex or gender in schools and colleges.
As grand marshal, King will ride down the 5 ½-mile route of “America’s New Year Celebration” and will participate in the coin toss for the football game that follows at the Rose Bowl.
“Being from Long Beach and growing up in Southern California I have fond memories of watching the parade with my family and I am deeply honored to be named Grand Marshal of the 2025 Rose Parade,” King said. “This parade is a wonderful celebration of joy and community, and it truly represents the ‘Best Day Ever’ for all who attend or watch.”
Related: Billie Jean King’s Long Beach roots run deep
According to Tournament of Roses officials, more than 700,000 spectators watch the New Year’s festivities in person, with more than 50 million viewers tuning in to the broadcast in more than 170 countries.
King joins a roster of past grand marshals that include Frank Sinatra, Shirley Temple, Vin Scully, Walt Disney, Jane Goodall and Jackie Robinson. Last year’s honorary parade leader was Broadway star Audra McDonald.
Before receiving the Congressional Gold Medal last month, King spent part of the summer at the Paris Olympics, catching the Nadal vs. Djokovic tennis match with rapper Snoop Dogg. The two took a selfie that noted both were born and raised in Long Beach and graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School.
“LBC forever in our hearts,” King captioned the pose.
The announcement of the grand marshal comes in the heels of other milestones of Pasadena’s definitive event, which began in 1890.
On Sept. 30, the Tournament of Roses Association, the nonprofit that produces the parade and game, announced the names of the 2025 Rose Court. The seven-member entourage will attend community events as ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses in the runup to New Year’s Day. The Rose Queen chosen from their number will be announced on Oct. 29.
This year’s Royal Court includes Simone Ball from Arcadia High School; Saniyah Brunston, John Muir High School; Lindsay Charles, Westridge School; Lara Georgian, Mayfield Senior School; Kate Kelly, La Cañada High School; Lisette Parker, Maranatha High School; and Natalian Pradhan, Flintridge Preparatory School.
The Queen and her Court will ride one of more than 40 floats in the parade, joining 20 specially selected marching bands and about 18 equestrian units.
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