Each year, Billie Jean King and the Women’s Sports Foundation host its Annual Salute to Women in Sports, a special event that brings girls, athletes, coaches, and sports influencers together to celebrate the power of sport. This year, L.A.C.E.S. Ambassador Holly Wilson was invited to volunteer and attend the Annual Salute, after recently accepting the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award (see blog post here). The event took place at the New York Historical Society in New York City and honored a lengthy roster of influential women in sports.
At the event, Coach Holly had the opportunity to spend quality time with numerous women Olympians and Paralympians, who graciously shared their life stories and experiences with her. “Each one of them was extremely inspiring and personable,” she shared. “They genuinely love what they do while wanting to empower young girls and all athletes to achieve their goals.”
During the event, several of the athletes that Holly was volunteering with were asked to gather on the stage for an interview panel. When asked what advice they would give to young girls on their journey in sports, USA Women’s Softball player, Rachel Garcia replied, “I would say to enjoy it because it might not be the easiest journey, but it will be the best moments of your life.” This response struck a chord in Holly, who says she feels similarly about her own journey in sports. Holly also had the honor of listening to Billie Jean King speak at the event and said, “her speech and presence moved the whole room.”
We are incredibly proud of Coach Holly and the tremendous strides she is making for women in sports.