Andrew Rizzo adidas is reaching deep into its archive to revive a gem from generations past: the signature shoe of tennis legend and women’s rights icon Billie Jean King.
Few athletes have done more to advance women’s sports or challenge assumptions about female athletic ability than King. The defining moment came in 1973, when 55-year-old former tennis champion and self-described male chauvinist Bobby Riggs claimed that the women’s game was so inferior that even an aging male player could dominate its best competitors.
A 29-year-old King accepted the challenge, setting the stage for what became known as the “Battle of the Sexes.” With an estimated 90 million viewers watching worldwide, King defeated him in three straight sets, delivering a monumental win for women everywhere and forcing a far less progressive public to reconsider the legitimacy of women’s sports.
Most people know the story. Far fewer know the shoe. In 1974, one year after her historic victory, King became the first female athlete to release a signature sneaker with adidas. She had worn the same model against Riggs in a blue suede colorway, with that game-worn pair now preserved in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. More than half a century later, adidas is bringing the silhouette back with a handful of special touches.
Two colorways are on tap, led by a royal blue identical to the pair King wore against Riggs over a half century ago. The most compelling detail lands on the tongue, where a leather tag features an illustration of King updated to reflect her present-day likeness. The other skews simpler in off-white, though both feature the same commemorative details. King’s signature is stamped in gold along the lateral heel, while the backtabs commemorate the scores from her straight-set victory: 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. The insoles read “Pressure Is a Privilege,” King’s personal motto and the title of her 2008 memoir.
Beyond those elements, the adidas Billie Jean King stands out through its curved toe-box overlays. The rest of the design remains firmly rooted in familiar adidas Originals language, pairing serrated Three Stripes with a low-profile retro tennis sole.
The adidas Billie Jean King has already begun surfacing at European retailers, suggesting a wider adidas.com release is imminent. Women’s sizes are expected to retail for $110. See official images below and stay tuned for further release details.
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WHERE TO BUY
Womens adidas Billie Jean King
US 2026
Powered By:
| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| adidas US | Standard | Check Site |
WHERE TO BUY
Womens adidas Billie Jean King
US 2026
Powered By:
| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| adidas US | Standard | Check Site |
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