For decades, Kimbra and Mark Walter have been working to make the world a better place, one investment at a time. They share a commitment to social justice and equity that has led them to help drive the explosive growth of women’s sports. Their understanding that women’s sports is a wise investment, their bold choice to go all-in on a new professional women’s league, and their determination to empower women athletes in different arenas are why they are this year’s Billie Jean King Leadership Award recipients.
Kimbra is a distinguished attorney, and Mark is the CEO of TWG Global and Guggenheim Partners. Mark and his partners purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 and revived the storied franchise. The relationships the Walters built with other members of the ownership group have further shaped their sports investment journey.
Not long after Mark, basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and their investment partners acquired the Dodgers, they saw that the future of the Los Angeles Sparks was at risk. The importance of preserving one of the original WNBA franchises made it an easy decision for members of the group to purchase the Sparks in 2014 — keeping the team’s legacy intact while continuing to grow its fan base. Today, the Sparks remain one of the more popular teams in the league, as the WNBA continues to reach new heights in attendance.
Additionally, the Walters and a number of their partners have acquired stakes in the iconic Los Angeles Lakers and Chelsea Football Club franchises; the commercial arm of the Professional Squash Association; the Billie Jean King Cup, the premier international team competition in women’s tennis; and the Andretti Global motorsports conglomerate.
Kimbra and Mark have founded or are major benefactors of several organizations that expand opportunity for young people from under-served communities. These include the Academy Group, Chicago Beyond, OneGoal and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. And through TWF Conservation, the Walter family works to save imperiled species and natural habitats around the world by protecting wildlife, securing vast wilderness areas, and establishing assurance populations.
It is no surprise that Kimbra and Mark would hit it off with sports icon, social justice pioneer and WSF Founder Billie Jean King and WSF past Board Chair Ilana Kloss, who became part of the Dodgers ownership group in 2018. Together, they led the launching of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The six-team league dropped the puck commencing its inaugural season in January 2024, which led to record-breaking attendance, viewership, social engagement and new partnerships.
Though they avoid the spotlight as they create meaningful change, their work is extraordinarily worthy of recognition. Kimbra and Mark have shown that intentional investments and hard work can build a more equitable world — in sports and beyond.
