At the 1973 US Open, male and female champions received equal prize money for the first time, 86 years after the first women competed in a national championship in the U.S. in 1887. Just weeks before, the Women’s Tennis Association was established, creating a tour that united women’s professional tennis. The founding of the WTA was the result of the dedication and determination of nine women—the Original Nine—who broke away from the governing body of tennis and established their own professional tour in 1970.

In this episode, host Chris McKendry is joined by one of the Original Nine, Rosie Casals, who remembers what led her and her peers to take a career-threatening risk in the hopes of receiving equal opportunities and pay. Chris also speaks with Sloane Stephens, a player carrying on the legacy of the Original Nine as a member of the WTA Players’ Council.

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