Earlier this week, reps from Solo’s pro team, the WPS Magic Jack, confirmed that the U.S. National Team keeper will appear on DWTS. Solo tweeted to fans (here), “I’m excited for this challenge but most importantly to try and raise awareness 4 women’s soccer.”
Today’s NYT had this article on the Arthritis Foundation‘s ad campaign. The ads will be unveiled at the U.S. Open tomorrow. In one, apparently King says, “Tennis is a weapon for me with arthritis.”
With both news items catching my eye this week, I couldn’t help but think that without Billie Jean King, Hope Solo probably wouldn’t be on DWTS. Ok, that sounds tenuous, but King was and is one of the most outspoken advocates for women’s sports. Without King (and maybe without that famous match she played with Bobby Riggs), maybe there wouldn’t be millions of girls and women playing sports. And if girls and women didn’t play sports, there wouldn’t be a Women’s World Cup, and if there weren’t a Women’s World Cup…well, you get it.
There’s lots still to achieve in terms of gender equality in athletics, to be sure. In the meantime, DWTS may have increased its audience share with the recruitment of Hope Solo.
Let’s not forget, though, that Billie Jean King had her own DWTS moment (ok, not exactly) back in 1968. King won Wimbledon that year (singles and women’s doubles). The cameras rolled when King danced with tennis great (and 1968 Wimbledon men’s singles winner) Rod Laver at a post-Wimbledon ball. A clip of that dance is available here. Great vintage footage!
-Bridget Crawford
