Billie Jean King Trivia Questions

She never played basketball professionally. She excelled in tennis from a young age and focused solely on it, though she was athletic in other sports recreationally.

King co-founded the Women's Sports Foundation in 1974 to promote equality and opportunities for girls and women in sports.

Her first Grand Slam title was at Wimbledon in 1961—in women's doubles, not mixed. She was 17, not 16, and the mixed doubles win came later.

King was year-end No. 1 in 1966-68, 1971-72, and 1974. Her longest consecutive streak was three years (1966-68), not five.

Billie Jean King led the formation of the WTA in 1973 to unite women's professional tennis, securing equal prize money and player rights.

She lost to Chris Evert in the 1978 Wimbledon semifinals at age 34, and to others later. She had several losses after 30.

She received the honor from President Barack Obama in 2009, and no female athlete had been awarded it before her.

In 1970, King and eight other players symbolically signed $1 contracts with promoter Gladys Heldman, defying the tennis establishment to create the Virginia Slims Circuit, the first professional women's tour.