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Billie Jean King

What is billie jean king?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Born November 22, 1943, in Long Beach, California, U.S.[1]
Role American tennis player and equality advocate[1]
Grand Slam titles 39 major titles[1]
Singles titles 12 Grand Slam singles titles[2]

Billie Jean King is an American tennis player and equality advocate, born November 22, 1943, in Long Beach, California. She won 39 Grand Slam titles and helped establish the Women’s Tennis Association [1].

Context

Billie Jean King was born Billie Jean Moffitt on November 22, 1943, in Long Beach, California [1]. She won 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles [1]. Her influence helped elevate women’s professional tennis starting in the late 1960s [1]. She is a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient [4]. In 1973, she defeated Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes [4]. She also founded the Women’s Sports Foundation [3].

Documented claims

  • She helped establish the Women’s Tennis Association. [4]
  • She beat Bobby Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes. [4]
  • She founded the Women’s Sports Foundation. [3]

Questions and answers

Why is Billie Jean King important?

She helped establish the Women’s Tennis Association and won 39 Grand Slam titles [1].

What did Billie Jean King achieve in tennis?

She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 women’s doubles titles, and 11 mixed doubles titles [2].

Did Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs?

Yes, she beat Bobby Riggs in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes [4].

Sources

  1. 11 Facts About Billie Jean King — mentalfloss.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Facts About Billie Jean King — billiejeanking.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. BBC Two - Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century - Billie Jean King — bbc.co.uk (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Billie Jean King Facts — softschools.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in People