#261 September 5th, 2022 [Untold Legends]

On Friday, Serena Williams played what could very well be her last professional Tennis match. Last month, she shared that she’s “evolving toward other things”, signaling to the world that she’s retreating from tennis but isn't done being great at what she does. Williams is one of the greatest and most accomplished athletes in all of sports. Even as she transitions away from tennis, it’s clear she’ll parlay everything we know about her into something legendary in its own right.

That really shouldn’t be news to you, though. Everyone knows who Serena Williams is.

Today, everything we do is documented. Whether we intend to or not, we contribute to a digital archive through our actions across the Internet and in real life. There is absolutely no chance that Serena Williams will be lost to the sands of time – she has cemented herself as a pillar of sports history for several reasons and will be a role model forever.

Match. Set. Point.

But, we’re not really here to cover Williams’ accomplishments. We’re here to cover the accomplishments of a multi-sport athlete whose career predates Williams’ by about 70 years; and whose accomplishments likely overshadow those of the incredibly accomplished modern-day tennis star.

We’re here to cover Ora Washington – quite possibly one of the best tennis players of all time and the focus of Untold Legends. Ora Washington also extended her excellence beyond tennis and dominated the game of basketball; all during a time when it was unheard of to be a Black, female athlete.

Trace her early beginnings in Caroline County, Virginia thanks to archivist and census data. Learn how she made her way to Philadelphia during the Great Northward Migration and what motivated her to take to up basketball. Understand how segregation affected her life and her drive to compete.

Renee Montgomery investigates her story alongside biographers and historians to piece together Washington’s life. This six-part series underscores how were it not for the color of her skin, you may very well have already known Ora Washington as the household name she should be regarded as.

Have a listen and share what you think.

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