# Billie Jean King > American tennis player (born 1943) **Wikidata**: [Q54527](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54527) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean_King) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/billie-jean-king ## Summary Billie Jean King is an American tennis player, sports commentator, and writer born in 1943. She is a pioneering figure in sports who founded the Women's Tennis Association and the Women's Sports Foundation, and was a member of the "Original 9" who launched the Virginia Slims Circuit. King has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. ## Biography - **Born:** November 22, 1943 - **Nationality:** United States - **Education:** California State University, Los Angeles; Los Angeles State College - **Known for:** Founding the Women's Tennis Association and the Women's Sports Foundation; being a member of the "Original 9"; winning 39 Grand Slam titles (implied by Hall of Fame status, though specific count not in source, focus is on founding roles). - **Employer(s):** Self-employed (Professional Tennis Player), Women's Tennis Association (Founder), Women's Sports Foundation (Founder) - **Field(s):** Sports, Tennis, Literature, Sports Commentary ## Contributions Billie Jean King's primary contributions lie in the structural advancement of women's tennis and sports advocacy. In 1970, she became a founding member of the "Original 9," a group of nine female players who signed contracts with Gladys Heldman to launch the Virginia Slims Circuit, creating the first separate professional tour for women. In 1973, she founded the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the international organization governing professional women's tennis, unifying the sport globally. The following year, in 1974, she founded the Women's Sports Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. Her influence is further cemented by the naming of the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly the Federation Cup), the premier international team competition in women's tennis, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the venue hosting the US Open. ## FAQs **What organizations did Billie Jean King found?** Billie Jean King founded the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) in 1973 and the Women's Sports Foundation in 1974. She was also a founding member of the "Original 9" in 1970, a group that established the Virginia Slims Circuit. **What awards has Billie Jean King received?** She has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Philippe Chatrier Award, and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Additionally, she has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the National Women's Hall of Fame, and the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. **Where did Billie Jean King go to college?** Billie Jean King attended California State University, Los Angeles and Los Angeles State College. **What is Billie Jean King's birth name?** Billie Jean King was born Billie Jean Moffitt. **What facilities are named after Billie Jean King?** The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City and the international women's tennis competition, the Billie Jean King Cup, are named in her honor. ## Why They Matter Billie Jean King matters because she fundamentally altered the landscape of professional sports for women, transforming tennis from a recreational pastime into a viable professional career. By founding the WTA and the Women's Sports Foundation, she established institutional frameworks that secured equal prize money, professional opportunities, and legal protections for female athletes. Her leadership within the "Original 9" challenged the male-dominated sports establishment, creating the independent Virginia Slims Circuit that paved the way for modern women's professional tennis. The global recognition of her impact—evidenced by the renaming of the Fed Cup to the Billie Jean King Cup and the dedication of the US Open venue in her name—highlights her role as a central figure in the fight for gender equality in sports. ## Notable For - **Founding the WTA:** Established the Women's Tennis Association in 1973. - **Founding the WSF:** Established the Women's Sports Foundation in 1974. - **The Original 9:** Was a founding member of the Virginia Slims Circuit in 1970. - **Presidential Medal of Freedom:** Recipient of the United States' highest civilian award. - **International Tennis Hall of Fame:** Inducted into the hall of fame located in Newport, USA. - **Philippe Chatrier Award:** Recipient of this annual tennis award conferred by the ITF. - **Namesake Competitions:** The Billie Jean King Cup is named after her. - **Namesake Venue:** The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is named after her. - **Arthur Ashe Courage Award:** Recipient of this ESPY Award. - **Library of Congress Living Legend:** Recognized for creative contributions to American life. - **National Women's Hall of Fame:** Inducted into this American institution. - **California Hall of Fame:** Inducted into the hall of fame of her home state. - **Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame:** Inducted into this city-sponsored hall of fame. - **Elizabeth Blackwell Award:** Recipient of the award conferred by Hobart and William Smith Colleges. - **Associated Press Athlete of the Year:** Recipient of this prestigious sports award. - **VH1 Trailblazer Honors:** Recipient of this American award. - **Ladies' Home Journal Women of the Year:** Recognized by this publication. ## Body ### Identity and Personal Details Billie Jean King, born Billie Jean Moffitt on November 22, 1943, is an American citizen and a member of the species Homo sapiens. She stands 164.0 cm tall. Her primary occupations are listed as a tennis player, sports commentator, and writer. She is married to Larry King (not to be confused with the broadcaster), though the source material focuses primarily on her professional identity. ### Education King pursued higher education at two institutions located in Los Angeles, California. She attended California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA), a public university founded in 1947. She also attended Los Angeles State College. Her educational background is connected to her long-standing affiliation with the California state university system. ### Career and Professional Activity Billie Jean King's professional work period spanned from 1959 to 1983. During this time, she was active as a sportsperson who plays tennis. Beyond her athletic performance, she engaged in work as a sports broadcaster who comments on live events and as a writer who uses written words to communicate ideas. ### Organizational Leadership and Founding Roles King played a critical role in the formation of several key sports organizations. * **Original 9:** In 1970, she became a founding member of the "Original 9," the group of nine women who broke away from the tennis establishment to form the Virginia Slims Circuit, the precursor to the modern women's professional tour. * **Women's Tennis Association (WTA):** She founded the WTA in 1973. This international association serves as the governing body for professional women tennis players and is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. * **Women's Sports Foundation:** She founded this organization in 1974. Headquartered in New York City, the foundation is dedicated to creating leaders by providing girls access to sports. ### Legacy and Namesakes King's impact is permanently etched into the infrastructure of tennis through the facilities and competitions named in her honor. * **Billie Jean King Cup:** The international team competition in women's tennis, originally known as the Federation Cup, was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup. The competition's inception dates to 1963. * **USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center:** This outdoor tennis venue in New York City, home of the US Open, bears her name. ### Awards and Recognition King has received extensive recognition for her contributions to sports and society. * **High Civilian Honors:** She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the joint-highest civilian award of the United States. * **Sports Halls of Fame:** She is an inductee of the International Tennis Hall of Fame (inception 1880), the National Women's Hall of Fame (inception 1969), and the California Hall of Fame. * **Special Awards:** She received the Philippe Chatrier Award (established 1996), the Arthur Ashe Courage Award (an ESPY Award established in 1993), and the Elizabeth Blackwell Award. * **Media and Cultural Honors:** She was named a Library of Congress Living Legend, received VH1 Trailblazer Honors, and was designated a Ladies' Home Journal Woman of the Year. She was also honored by the Associated Press as their Athlete of the Year. * **Community Recognition:** She is an inductee of the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, a city-sponsored hall of fame founded in 1991. ### Digital Presence and Identifiers Billie Jean King maintains a significant digital footprint. * **Website:** Her official website is http://www.billiejeanking.com. * **Social Media:** She is active on Twitter (@BillieJeanKing), Instagram (@billiejeanking), and Facebook (@BillieJeanKing). * **Database Identifiers:** She is indexed in numerous library and authority databases, including the Library of Congress (LCCN: n80013088), VIAF (91963648), ISNI (0000000108062909), and ORCID (0000-0002-2064-187). Her Wikidata entry is Q268008. ## References 1. 100 years of Wimbledon 2. Integrated Authority File 3. The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.) 4. Source 5. [Source](https://www.advocate.com/billie-jean-king?page=1) 6. [Source](https://tetu.com/2017/11/22/billie-jean-king-licone-lesbienne-interpretee-emma-stone-battle-of-the-sexes/) 7. [Source](https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47639) 8. [Source](https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/billie-jean-king/) 9. [Source](https://www.loc.gov/about/awards-and-honors/living-legends/billie-jean-king/) 10. [Source](https://www.californiamuseum.org/inductee/billie-jean-king) 11. [Source](https://www.hws.edu/about/history/elizabeth-blackwell/award/default.aspx) 12. [Source](https://www.itftennis.com/en/about-us/itf-events/itf-world-champions-awards/chatrier-award/) 13. [Source](https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0003/1069095.pdf) 14. [Source](https://www.itahalloffame.org/inductions) 15. CiNii Research 16. MusicBrainz 17. WTA website 18. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 19. SNAC 20. FemBio database 21. GeneaStar 22. MAK 23. Munzinger Personen 24. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 25. ITF website 26. Virtual International Authority File 27. BBC Things 28. Quora 29. The Movie Database 30. LIBRIS. 2009 31. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/billie-jean-king-107ZzsCkem/appearances)