The Death of a Sports Legend on This Day in 1993 Changed How Americans Viewed AIDS
Tennis star Arthur Ashe achieved many firsts as a Black athlete. In the months leading up to his death, he thrust AIDS advocacy into the mainstream
These 17 Pictures Tell the Stories of Black Athletes in America
A new book from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture shows the images and impacts of athletes on and off the playing field
From Corsets to Singlets, the Olympics Have Driven the Evolution of Women’s Sportswear
The bold choices of female athletes like Serena Williams have pushed brands, including Nike and Speedo, to produce better gear
Tennis Icon Venus Williams Scores Her Own Barbie Doll
The plastic (and fantastic) version of Williams is one of nine new Mattel dolls celebrating female athletes
How Did Humans Evolve to Use Everyday Tools?
An anthropologist explains why we experience many objects, from tennis rackets to cars, as extensions of our bodies
The Books We Loved
Smithsonian editors choose their favorite (mostly) nonfiction of (mostly) 2023
Sports Legend Althea Gibson Served Up Tennis History When She Broke Through in 1950
Her athletic performance in New York impressed onlookers of all colors and cracked opened the door for a new generation of Black players to come
Pickleball Courts Are Replacing Shuttered Mall Stores
Across the country, developers are trying to capitalize on the approachable sport’s growing popularity
Why LeBron James Is Buying a Pickleball Team
The Los Angeles Lakers star is a fan of America’s fastest-growing sport
Should Parents Worry About New Research Linking Kids’ Mental Health and Individual Sports?
According to the study, children who played team sports had fewer mental health difficulties than those who didn’t play sports
These Vintage Photos of Venus and Serena Williams Reveal the Truth of ‘King Richard’
Seen as preteens, the future tennis sensations loved each other as much as they loved the sport
Sixty-Five Years Ago, Althea Gibson Broke the Color Line at the French Open
She was the first Black athlete—man or woman—to win any major national tennis championship
Athletes Shut Down Sports to Protest Police Brutality
A sports curator at the Smithsonian provides his thoughts on the past and future implications of the events of the week
Smithsonian Names Billie Jean King One of Its ‘Great Americans”’
The tennis icon chatted about her life and legacy in a wide-ranging conversation at the National Museum of American History
The True Story Behind Billie Jean King’s Victorious “Battle of the Sexes”
Smithsonian sports curator Eric Jentsch offers a look at her legacy beyond the legendary match
10 New Ways to Use Drones
From fighting wildfires to coaching people on their tennis game, the aerial devices are becoming a tool of choice
Croquet Was Once the Big Thing at Wimbledon
The club has croquet to thank for its famous lawns
A Proud Day at American History Museum as LGBT Artifacts Enter the Collections
The creators of “Will & Grace” and others donated objects related to gay history
Pioneering Tennis Player Renée Richards Recalls the Glory Days of Wooden Rackets
After winning the New York State men’s title in 1964, Richard Raskind became Renée Richards and a civil rights icon
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