Named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by Life magazine, Billie Jean King has long been an equality champion. At a time when women faced limited rights and opportunities, from unequal pay to a lack of legal protections, King used her platform to challenge the status quo and expand what was possible for women in sport and beyond. She is the founder of the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and the Billie Jean King Foundation, organizations that have transformed access and opportunity for generations of girls and women. 

In her legendary tennis career, King captured 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles, including a record 20 Wimbledon championships, and was the year-end No. 1 player in the world six times. Her historic victory over Bobby Riggs in the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” remains one of the most defining moments in sports history and helped shift perceptions of women athletes around the world. 

Beyond her on-court success, King was a driving force behind securing equal prize money at the US Open and led the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973. These were two pivotal milestones that helped transform the structure of professional sport for women. She is also part of the ownership groups of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angel City FC, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), continuing to shape the global sports landscape today. 

In 2020, the Fed Cup, the women’s world cup of tennis, was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup, making it the first global team competition to be named after a woman. She remains actively involved in advancing the future of sport through leadership roles across professional leagues and continues to be a leading voice for inclusion and equality. 

King’s contributions have been recognized with some of the highest honors in the world, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, as well as France’s Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur. She has also been inducted into the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame as a special contributor. And in 2025, she became the first female athlete to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Sports Entertainment category. 

A New York Times best-selling author, her memoir ALL IN: An Autobiography reflects a lifetime spent breaking barriers and building a future of equal opportunity. Her legacy continues to inspire generations to use their voices, challenge social norms, and help create a world where opportunity in sport, and beyond, is truly equal.