Saudi Arabia might host the Billie Jean King cup

Greetings, Meteor readers,

If you’ve been with us long enough, you likely know I—like almost half of Americans—have an unnatural obsession with reality television because I am, as a coworker put it, “a garbage person.” I see no lies. So it behooves me to share with my fellow garbage goblins that Love is Blind: Sweden is where it’s at right now. If you plan to be indoors this weekend hiding from the weather, please give it a watch and let me know exactly how much you hate Sergio.

In today’s newsletter, we’re meeting up at the intersection of global politics and women’s sports—my favorite place to be. Plus a frightening bill looking to ban gender-affirming care, and a monumental lawsuit.

Love is Swedish,

Shannon Melero

WHAT’S GOING ON

A Prince and the King: For years, the nation of Saudi Arabia has been using sports to improve its image on the global stage—or, as Human Rights Watch called it, “sportswashing.” In lieu of addressing the limited freedoms women have in the country, Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud (or MBS as he’s referred to) has been focusing his attention on acquiring licenses to bring (mostly) American sporting leagues and top-name athletes to Saudi. (His most notable contracts are a 10-year multi-billion-dollar agreement with the WWE, the LIV golf merger, and an ambassador deal with Rafael Nadal.)

Now,  the Kingdom is in talks to host the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup (BJK), aka the most prestigious tournament in women’s tennis. Why should this matter to anyone but diehard tennis fans who may have to figure out how to get to Saudi Arabia come Cup season?

THE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM FROM THE 2023 BILLIE JEAN KING CUP. (IMAGE BY MATT MCNULTY VIA GETTY IMAGES)

Two key reasons: The first is, of course, money. Like most sports, there’s still an alarming gender pay gap in tennis. According to Sportico, “Across 2020, 2021, and 2022, the top 10 male players earned 53% more than their female counterparts.” And despite women’s earnings increasing (Iga Swiatek was the third highest-paid tennis player in the world in 2023), the Women’s Tennis Association Tour won’t reach pay equity with its male counterpart, the ATP, until 2033. That’s a long time to wait.

While a new host country won’t close that gap overnight, the Saudis have made it abundantly clear that they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is, which could easily translate into a larger prize pot for players. It also creates an opening for players—particularly African and Middle Eastern ones—to reach a wider audience and, therefore, more earning opportunities.

The second reason is human rights. It’s impossible to ignore the country’s litany of violations—gender discrimination, the use of torture, and the brutal, state-sanctioned murder of journalists. When the WTA announced it was considering Riyadh as a location for its finals, tennis immortals Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert penned a letter against the move citing the Kingdom’s anti-LGBTQ stance.

World number-six-ranked player Ons Jabeur has expressed support in bringing women’s tennis to Saudi Arabia, but her colleagues have yet to share what they think. And we cannot forget the Billie Jean King of it all. Last year when asked about whether or not the Cup could end up in Saudi, King told Reuters, “The thing I’m concerned about is the women, I want change if we go. But I’m big on engagement and inclusion so it’s a tough one.”

AND:

• The South Carolina House passed a sweeping ban on gender-affirming care on Wednesday—and this one is even crueler than usual. If approved by the Senate, the law would eliminate care for minors and prevent adults up to the age of 26 from using Medicaid coverage to pay for any form of gender-affirming care. The bill also adds language that would compel school employees to reveal if a student was transgender to their legal guardian—with or without the student’s consent. It’s all in the name of “protecting” teens from making life-changing decisions, of course—but what actually constitutes a life-changing decision? Over 3,000 teenage girls got breast implants in 2020, a decision one could argue affirmed their gender expression, and yet the Republicans aren’t scheming how to ban boob jobs.

• A new bill called the Safer Kentucky Act is picking up steam with GOP lawmakers and police in the state. TLDR: it’s fucked up and would essentially criminalize the unhoused.

• 170 years ago, the British monarchy signed a revenue-sharing agreement with First Nations tribes in what is now Northern Ontario, Canada. The Crown never paid up, and now, the descendants of the original signees are suing for the billions they’re owed.

• I’ve got good news and bad news. The good: Che Diaz, the most disliked character in the SATC franchise since Jack Burger will not be returning to the next season of And Just Like That. The bad news: there will be another season of And Just Like That.

• After 12 years at the company, Sheryl Sandberg will be stepping down from Meta’s board of directors.

WEEKEND READS

On conflict: The seemingly disjointed battles taking place across the Middle East may be sending global superpowers into one big war. (The New Yorker)

On money: What is unpaid caregiving really costing women? Their retirement. (The Washington Post)

On polyamory: Monogamists are bored. (The Cut)

On growth: Hala Alyan on the power of changing your mind. (Time)

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