Billie Jean King named grand marshal of 2025 Rose Parade

Former tennis champion and gender equality advocate Billie Jean King was named grand marshal of the 2025 Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena on Monday.

“I had a unique opportunity. I didn’t know the word platform, but I knew that’s what I had and I promised myself that I would always fight for inclusion and really champion equality,” King said on stage after the announcement

As a tennis player, King spent years ranked number one in the world. She won 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 in singles, 16 in women’s doubles and 11 in mixed doubles.

In 1973, at 29, she famously won the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match against former men’s tennis pro Bobby Riggs, who was 55 at the time.

The event took place at the Houston Astrodome in Texas and drew a national audience with millions watching the match on television.

King, who turns 81 next month,  is also the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation.

As grand marshal King will ride down Colorado Boulevard in the upcoming Tournament of Roses Parade, themed “Best Day Ever!” on January 1, 2025.

“We looked forward to it every year,” King said, recalling her childhood in Long Beach. “My mother and I always loved parades.”

King was honored with a bronze statue at Cal State Los Angeles last week. She attended the university from 1961-64 but never graduated. She told students she plans to re-enroll and finish her degree.

Meanwhile, seven finalists for the Rose Court were selected from a field of 28 last Monday.

They are Lisette Parker of Maranatha High School, Saniyah Brunston of John Muir High School, Lara Georgian of Mayfield Senior School, Natalia Pradhan of Flintridge Preparatory School, Simone Ball of Arcadia High School, Lindsay Charles of Westridge School and Kate Kelly of La Cañada High School.

The Rose Queen, who will be selected from the Court, is yet to be named.

Singer and actress Audra McDonald handled the grand marshal duties in the 2024 Rose Parade, dubbed “Celebrating a world of music.”

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