Tennis icon Billie Jean King will make history as the first individual female athlete to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. The bipartisan bill honoring King passed the House of Representatives and is set to be signed by President Biden, having already passed the Senate unanimously.

On September 20, 1973, Billie Jean King, the top-ranked women’s tennis player at the time, defeated men’s Hall of Famer Bobby Riggs in a historic match, winning in three consecutive sets.

King’s honor comes on the 50th anniversary of her landmark “Battle of the Sexes” victory against Bobby Riggs, which remains the most-watched tennis match in history. The medal recognizes her groundbreaking achievements as both an athlete and advocate for gender equality.

This award adds to her 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom, further solidifying her legacy as a barrier-breaker and inspiration to millions.