Description
Billie Jean King grew up in a working-class family in Long Beach, California. She was a curious, energetic girl who loved many sports—basketball, softball, and swimming. But when she first picked up a tennis racket at age ten, she felt something different. Tennis gave her movement, speed, and mental challenge all at once. After that first lesson, she declared to her mother that she wanted to become the world’s number one tennis player. Her mother smiled politely, but Billie Jean was serious. That goal never left her mind.
Her parents didn’t have much money, but they gave her the greatest gift: encouragement. They worked extra hours to pay for lessons and equipment. They didn’t laugh at her dreams. This support kept her going, even when she noticed the unfairness around her. At her first professional baseball game, she realized no women were on the field. The truth hit her—girls were not given the same chances as boys. But instead of giving up, she grew more determined.
As she trained harder, she found mentors who believed in her. A local coach, Clyde Walker, told her he couldn’t make her a champion—but with enough work, she could make herself one. Her pastor, an Olympic medalist, preached that the difference between ordinary people and champions was extra effort. These words stuck with her. Even after losing her very first junior match without scoring a single point, she refused to quit. She built a practice wall in her backyard and kept hitting balls until her arms ached. Soon, she began winning. Reporters called her the “Long Beach wonder.”
But she also started noticing something else: tennis was a very white, exclusive world. Watching matches, she saw only white players, white spectators, white everything. She promised herself that if she ever reached the top, she would use her success to make sports more open and equal.
In her teens, she witnessed greatness when she saw Althea Gibson, the first Black tennis champion, dominate the court. Althea’s power and grace showed Billie Jean how high the bar really was. Inspired, Billie Jean pushed herself harder and won junior tournaments, gaining entry into bigger clubs and competitions. She was no longer just a talented kid—she was on her way to the world stage.
At Wimbledon in 1961, she and her partner became the youngest doubles champions in history. It was a thrilling victory, but still, her future felt uncertain. Women players didn’t get the same offers or respect as men. She met Larry King around this time, a young law student who supported her dreams. Larry encouraged her feminism and helped her see more clearly how women were treated unfairly in sports. He became her husband, and together they started plotting not just her path to number one, but a movement for women’s rights in sports.
Billie Jean’s career took a leap forward when she traveled to Australia for months of intense training. Under a top coach, she rebuilt her game from scratch. She worked endlessly on her serve, her forehand, her footwork, and her fitness. She practiced against some of the best players in the world. The effort paid off. After that trip, she no longer feared her rivals. By 1967, she became the world’s number one player.
At the same time, tennis itself was changing. The Open Era began, allowing professionals to compete and finally earn real prize money. But there was a catch: men were given far larger prizes than women—sometimes eight times more. Tournament organizers claimed women didn’t draw crowds. Billie Jean knew this was nonsense. Fans loved women’s tennis, and she had the surveys to prove it.
Instead of accepting unfairness, she fought back. Along with eight other women players, she broke away and created a new tour. They risked being banned, but they wanted control over their careers and fair pay. With the support of Gladys Heldman, a businesswoman and tennis promoter, they launched the Virginia Slims Tour. The tour was small at first, but it grew quickly, showing the world that women’s tennis was just as exciting and valuable as men’s.
Then came one of the most famous moments in sports history: the “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs in 1973. Riggs, a retired champion, loudly claimed that even an older man could beat the best women. He said women belonged in the kitchen, not on the court. When another female champion lost to him, Billie Jean knew she had to step in. The match became a global event. In front of millions of viewers, she beat him in straight sets, proving not just her skill but also the strength and legitimacy of women athletes everywhere.
Her victories on court were matched by struggles in her personal life. She was married to Larry, but also discovered her attraction to women. In the 1970s, she began a relationship with Marilyn Barnett. When that relationship ended badly, Marilyn sued her and revealed the affair to the press. Billie Jean was forced into the public eye before she was ready. Sponsors dropped her, and she denied being gay, fearing it would destroy her career and prevent her from working with young people. It would take many more years before she fully came out, eventually marrying Ilana Kloss, her longtime partner, in 2018.
Through it all, Billie Jean continued to fight for equality. She co-founded the Women’s Tennis Association, helped launch World Team Tennis, and supported Title IX, the law that banned gender discrimination in education and sports. This law changed everything. Schools and colleges had to open doors for female athletes. Slowly, prize money in tennis became equal too. By 2007, all the Grand Slam tournaments paid men and women the same.
Even after retirement, she never stopped using her voice. She became an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and equal opportunities in all areas of life. She stood with young activists, spoke at international events, and even represented the United States at the Olympics as part of the official delegation. In recognition of her lifelong work, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, and the main courts of the US Open were renamed in her honor.
Billie Jean King’s story is more than a tale of trophies and titles, though she won many—129 in total, including 12 Grand Slam singles championships. Her story is about courage, fairness, and persistence. She faced unfair rules, social prejudice, and personal struggles, yet turned each obstacle into fuel. She showed the world that women could not only compete but also lead.
Her life reminds us that sports are not just games. They can shape culture, break barriers, and change how society views equality. Thanks to her, generations of women—and men—know that fairness is possible, but only if someone is brave enough to fight for it.
