In 1974, tennis legend Billie Jean King established the Women’s Sports Foundation and aimed “to advance the lives of women and girls through sports and physical activity.” Through financial support, research, advocacy and education, the organization has made steady gains in opening access to women and girls in sports.
On Jan. 7, 2019, the Foundation welcomed Elana Meyers Taylor as the new president. Known for her prowess on the bobsled track (multiple Olympic and World Championship medals), Meyers Taylor is also a USA 7s Eagle. The late Ric Suggitt met the bobsledder at the Chula Vista training center as she was training for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Friendly banter turned into practice viewings, then some ball-handling, and then finally expressed interested in the sport. Suggitt told Meyers Taylor that he’d save a spot at camp for her after the winter Olympics and see if it worked out. The Georgia native gave it a go at the Guangzhou, China and Amsterdam tournaments during the 2013-14 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.