The Billie Jean King Foundation, Associated Press Sports Editors and the APSE Foundation are proud to announce the finalists for the inaugural Billie Jean King Award for Excellence in Women’s Sports Coverage.
The finalists were chosen from a group of 80 entries received through the month of April. More than two dozen judges read the entries in two rounds to determine the finalists.
“We did not know what to expect in the first year of this contest and award,” APSE president Naila-Jean Meyers said. “I am overjoyed by the response of the entrants and the judges, and know this endeavor will only grow from here. Congratulations to the finalists and other honorees for a tremendous 2023 doing this important work.”
The finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
- Katie Barnes, ESPN.com
- Candace Buckner, The Washington Post
- Sean Gregory, Time
- Marisa Ingemi, The San Francisco Chronicle
- Sally Jenkins, The Washington Post
- Chantel Jennings, The Athletic
- Meg Linehan, The Athletic
The following journalists, in alphabetical order, received honorable mention citation by the judges:
- Emma Baccellieri, Sports Illustrated
- Rachel Blount, Star Tribune
- Eden Laase, Just Women’s Sports
- Laken Litman, FOX Sports
- Michael Voepel, ESPN.com
“It is an honor to partner with APSE to celebrate excellence in women’s sports coverage,” said Billie Jean King, founder of the Billie Jean King Foundation and namesake of the award. “This award recognizes a journalist’s body of work in women’s sports over the last year, shining a light on the writer’s creativity, commitment and a passion to tell the stories of women and girls who are doing amazing things in sports and in life.”
The award also includes a $5,000 grant from the Billie Jean King Foundation. The winner will be announced in July, and Billie Jean King will present the award to the winner during the 2024 US Open Tennis Championships in New York.
The Billie Jean King Foundation is a living extension of the purpose-driven life of Billie Jean King, dedicated to creating an equitable future for all through the power of sports, education, and activism. As a non-profit, the Foundation partners with diverse organizations to bridge unlocked human potential with equal opportunity.
Journalists entered a portfolio of four stories, published in 2023, that include reporting about girls and women’s sports. Entries included live coverage, feature reporting and commentary about high school, college, amateur and professional sports across North America. The contest was administered by APSE through first vice president and contest chair Dan Spears.
This award is a continuation of APSE’s mission of annually recognizing professional excellence in sports journalism with a wide-ranging national contest. APSE’s members currently include more than 170 news organizations of all sizes from around the country.
