King could be leaned on by the Dodgers for guidance on social issues such as gender equalityGETTY IMAGES
The Dodgers are adding Billie Jean King and her partner, Ilana Kloss, as "new minority owners," according to a front-page piece by Bill Plaschke of the L.A. TIMES. Pending WNBA approval, the couple will also "become part of the ownership group of the WNBA’s Sparks," which are run by Guggenheim. King and Kloss as team investors will have a "place at the table for discussions about the organization's future." The Dodgers will "lean on them for guidance on a wide range of social issues, from gender equity to sexual inclusion." Guggenheim Baseball Chair Mark Walter said of King, "Everyone at the Dodgers and the Sparks could learn something from her. She can help shape and expand how we promote inclusion and empowerment at both teams and throughout the Los Angeles area." When Walter first "broached the ownership idea at the end of last year," King figured she and Kloss "would fit right in." Walter said that King’s "mere presence at that table will have an effect not only front-office attitudes, but also those of the athletes on both the Sparks and Dodgers." King emphasized that she will "not be a full-time presence at Dodger Stadium, as she still has a job making public appearances" (L.A. TIMES, 9/21).
