Finding My Fight Again: How Billie Jean King Lit My Fire—Twice

After decades of fighting for gender equity, I was burning out—until a powerful new play about Billie Jean King rekindled my resolve to keep pushing for change.

I’m tired. Maybe you are too.

I’ve been fighting for gender equality for over two decades—pushing against outdated norms, challenging industries that resist change, and speaking up in rooms where I wasn’t always welcome. I’ve built businesses, created toys that empower girls, held meetings at the Biden White House, written a book and numerous articles, delivered keynotes and rallied for change. And while I’ve seen progress, the setbacks have a way of draining your spirit.

Lately, I’ve felt that exhaustion more than ever. Not because I’m disinterested. Not because I’ve stopped believing. But because change—especially the kind that disrupts power structures—takes everything you have. And even then, it sometimes feels like it’s not enough.

But last week, I felt a shift in my energy.

I saw Billie Jean, the new play about Billie Jean King, at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. And just like that, something inside me reignited.

Billie Jean King has been a north star in my life, though she doesn’t know it. I was 9 years old when I watched her take on Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.” Even then, I could feel the weight of what she was doing. It wasn’t just a tennis match—it was a declaration. She wasn’t just fighting for herself; she was fighting for every girl and woman who’d ever been told she didn’t belong on the court, in the boardroom or at the table.

That moment opened my eyes to the inequality women face—especially in sports.

As I got older, I learned more about her role in fighting for Title IX, which gave girls like me a shot at competing on equal footing. Her courage laid the foundation for so many of us to dream bigger, play harder and believe that we were just as worthy.

Years later, when I launched a line of sports dolls to shatter gender stereotypes, I often thought about Billie. When industry executives told me that “girls like fashion, not sports,” or that “Black dolls don’t sell,” I remembered Billie. When they said girl empowerment was a trend that had passed, I remembered Billie. When they said a doll without makeup, flashy outfits or glitter wouldn’t work, I remembered Billie—and kept going.

And now, once again, as I question whether the fight is working, she shows up—this time on a stage in Chicago, portrayed brilliantly by Chilina Kennedy.

The dialogue was a gut punch in the best way. Lines like: 

“Losers find an excuse; winners find a way.”

“Pressure is a privilege.” 

“Change is a team sport.” 

And maybe my favorite: “Winners adjust.”

This wasn’t just theater. It was a masterclass in perseverance.

Because yes, pressure is a privilege. It means people are watching. It means the work matters. And yes, change is a team sport. We can’t do this alone. We need each other—to vent to, to strategize with, to lift one another when the load gets heavy.

And we will have to adjust. Again and again. Because the backlash to progress is real. Just look around: women’s rights under attack, women’s accomplishments being erased, women’s sports caught in political crosshairs, the word “feminist” treated like a slur. We’re watching hard-won gains get chipped away. It’s enough to make anyone want to sit down and rest.

But last night reminded me that rest is not the same as resignation.

We are allowed to be tired. But we are not allowed to give up.

Billie Jean King never did. Not when they told her women’s tennis wasn’t worth watching. Not when they denied her equal pay. Not when they dismissed Title IX as unnecessary. She never gave up—and because of that, generations of women have been able to step onto courts, into locker rooms, boardrooms, classrooms and stages with more rights and more visibility than ever before.

And yet … we still have so far to go.

That’s why I’m writing this. Not to share a story about a play, but to share a truth about persistence. The path to equality is long, winding and punishing. But it is also worth every step.

So if you’re tired—really tired—I see you. I am you. But if there’s even a flicker left in your chest, fan that flame.

Because we still need your voice. Your advocacy. Your energy. Your story.

Let’s remind each other that we’re not alone. That the fight didn’t start with us, and it won’t end with us. But while we’re here, we carry it forward. Together.

Billie taught me that. Twice.

And I’m not done yet.

Billie Jean

By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Marc Bruni

Run Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes (including intermission)

Developed by special arrangement with Harriet Newman Leve and Stephanie Sandberg with Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner.

Associate Production Sponsor
Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee New Work and Education Outreach Fund