Early Life and Education of Billie Jean King: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Billie Jean King. From birth to education, explore key events.

Billie Jean King, a former world No. 1 American tennis player, is considered one of the greatest of all time. She accumulated 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. King also contributed to the United States' victories in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups. Beyond her athletic achievements, King is known for her advocacy for gender equality in sports and society.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

November 22, 1943: Billie Jean King's Birth

On November 22, 1943, Billie Jean King (née Moffitt), the American former world No. 1 tennis player, was born.

Others born on this day/year

January 28, 1948: Marilyn Barnett's birth

On January 28, 1948, Marilyn Kathryn McRae (later known as Marilyn Barnett) was born. She would later become involved in a relationship with Billie Jean King.

Others born on this day/year

1959: Grand Slam Debut

In 1959, Billie Jean King made her Grand Slam debut at the U.S. Championships at the age of 15, losing in the first round. Her national tennis ranking was number 19.

1959: Started Grand Slam singles events

In 1959, Billie Jean King started playing in Grand Slam singles events.

1961: High School Graduation

In 1961, Billie Jean King graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School.

1963: Met Larry King

In 1963, Billie Jean King met Larry King in a library while attending Cal State LA. The pair became engaged while still in school.

1964: Left College to Focus on Tennis

In 1964, Billie Jean King left Los Angeles State College (now California State University, Los Angeles) to focus on her tennis career.

1964: King Engaged to Larry King

In the fall of 1964, Billie Jean King got engaged to Larry King.

September 17, 1965: Marriage to Larry King

On September 17, 1965, Billie Jean King, aged 21, married Larry King in Long Beach. They had met while she was attending Cal State LA.

1968: King's Pre-Open Era Employment

Before the start of the open era in 1968, Billie Jean King earned US$100 a week as a playground instructor and student at California State University, Los Angeles when not playing in major tennis tournaments.

1968: King realizes attraction to women

By 1968, Billie Jean King realized that she was attracted to women.

1968: Australian Championships win and knee surgery

In early 1968, Billie Jean King won three consecutive tournaments, including the Australian Championships. She later had surgery on September 24, 1968, to repair cartilage in her left knee, causing her to miss the rest of the year's tournaments.

May 1969: Knee recovery completion

According to Billie Jean King, in May 1969, it took her eight months for her knee to completely recover from the surgery that she had in 1968.

1971: King has an abortion

In 1971, Billie Jean King had an abortion, which was later revealed in a Ms. magazine article by her husband Larry without her consent.

1971: Margaret Court Misses Portions of Season

In 1971, Margaret Court missed significant portions of the tennis season due to childbirth.

1972: Margaret Court Misses Portions of Season

In 1972, Margaret Court missed significant portions of the tennis season due to childbirth.

1972: Admission of Abortion-Related Cramps

In early 1972, Billie Jean King admitted that leg cramps associated with an abortion caused her to retire from a match with Chris Evert after splitting the first two sets.

September 20, 1973: Battle of the Sexes

On September 20, 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" at the Houston Astrodome. The match was watched by over 30,000 spectators and an estimated 50 million U.S. television viewers, and 90 million across 37 countries. King won 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. The event is considered significant in promoting recognition and respect for women's tennis.

1973: King's Wimbledon Triple Crown and Battle of the Sexes

In 1973, Billie Jean King completed the Triple Crown at Wimbledon, becoming the first player in the Open Era to do so. She also won against Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes. She lost the final match against Court in the Virginia Slims of Nashville tournament. She retired from her fourth-round match at the US Open due to illness. After defeating Riggs, she lost in the semifinals to Casals in the Virginia Slims of Houston tournament. King ended the year with tournament wins in Phoenix, Hawaii, and Tokyo.

1975: King wins Wimbledon and Temporarily Retires

In 1975, Billie Jean King only played singles for half of the year, retiring from tournament singles competition after winning her sixth Wimbledon singles title.

November 1976: King Rehabilitates After Surgery

Billie Jean King spent the first three months of the year rehabilitating her right knee after surgery in November 1976.

November 1976: Knee surgery

On November 9, 1976, Billie Jean King had her third knee surgery, this time on her right knee, and did not play the remainder of the year.

1976: King's Doubles Play and Knee Surgery

In 1976, Billie Jean King focused on doubles and mixed doubles, winning the mixed doubles title at the US Open with Phil Dent. She underwent knee surgery for the third time in November and did not play for the rest of the year.

1977: Doctor's prediction about knee's competitive tennis lifespan revealed

In 1977, Billie Jean King revealed that doctors had predicted in 1968 that her left knee would allow her to play competitive tennis for only two more years.

December 1978: Foot Surgery

During December 1978, Billie Jean King had major surgery on her left foot.

1978: King Wins US Open Doubles and Federation Cup

In 1978, Billie Jean King teamed with Navratilova to win the women's doubles title at the US Open. She was also undefeated in Federation Cup doubles matches and hinted at retirement due to surgery, but underwent foot surgery in December to return to the tour.

1982: Claim of intentionally losing a match

In her 1982 autobiography, Billie Jean King claimed she intentionally lost a match in Long Beach to Françoise Dürr due to an argument with her husband.

March 1983: Malibu house destroyed

In March 1983, the Malibu house that had been contested in the palimony suit was destroyed during a series of severe storms along the southern California coastline.

1983: Played last Grand Slam singles event

In 1983, Billie Jean King played her last Grand Slam singles event.

1987: Marriage to Larry ends

In 1987, Billie Jean King's marriage to Larry King ended after she fell in love with her doubles partner, Ilana Kloss.

February 7, 2014: King's Mother Dies

On February 7, 2014, the day of the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, Betty Moffitt, Billie Jean King's mother, died, causing King to withdraw from the delegation.

September 2018: King Becomes Minority Owner of Los Angeles Dodgers

In September 2018, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss became minority owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

October 18, 2018: Marriage to Ilana Kloss

On October 18, 2018, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss were married in a secret ceremony by former New York City Mayor David Dinkins.

2018: King Attends Golden Globe Awards

In 2018, Billie Jean King attended the 75th Golden Globe Awards as a guest of Emma Stone.

October 2020: King Becomes Part of Angel City FC Ownership

In October 2020, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss became part of the ownership group of Angel City FC, a Los Angeles–based team set to start play in the National Women's Soccer League in 2022.

May 2022: Partnership with PWHPA

In May 2022, the Mark Walter Group and BJK Enterprises, headed by Mark Walter and Billie Jean King, entered a partnership with the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA).

2022: Angel City FC Start Play

In 2022, Angel City FC, which Billie Jean King is part of the ownership group, started to play in the National Women's Soccer League.

June 29, 2023: Mark Walter Group and BJK Enterprises Purchase PHF

On June 29, 2023, the Mark Walter Group and BJK Enterprises, headed by Mark Walter and Billie Jean King, purchased the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) to create a new professional women's ice hockey league in North America.

2023: King Competes on The Masked Singer

In 2023, Billie Jean King competed in season ten of "The Masked Singer" as "Royal Hen" and was the first of Group B to be eliminated on "A Celebration of Elton John".

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