Adidas Revives Billie Jean King's 1974 Signature Shoe

Adidas is bringing back the signature shoe worn by tennis legend Billie Jean King in 1974, marking the first time a female athlete released a signature sneaker with the brand. The revived model is designed to honor King's historic "Battle of the Sexes" match against Bobby Riggs in 1973, which garnered an estimated 90 million viewers worldwide and significantly advanced the legitimacy of women's tennis. The original game-worn pair from the 1973 match is preserved in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The new release incorporates specific historical details, including a leather tongue tag with an illustration of King reflecting her current appearance and her signature in gold on the lateral heel. The back tabs display the exact scores from her three-set victory: 6-4, 6-3, and 6-3. The insoles feature the motto "Pressure Is a Privilege," a personal mantra that also served as the title of her 2008 memoir.

King, a prominent advocate for women's rights and equality in sports, became the first female athlete to have a signature sneaker with Adidas in 1974. She wore a blue suede version of this model during her pivotal match against Riggs. The revival aims to connect with the shoe's rich history rather than introducing a completely new design, drawing from familiar Adidas Originals aesthetics with features like curved toe box overlays and serrated three stripes.