Billie Jean King

Athlete, coach, leader, activist, and one of the most illustrious and celebrated tennis players in history, Billie Jean King is recognized for her life-long struggle for gender equality, both on and off the court. Her work led to the landmark Title IX law requiring that girls/women and boys/men be given the same opportunity in sports, and she empowered women and educated men when she defeated Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes in 1973. Life magazine named King one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century," and she is ranked No. 5 on the Sports Illustrated "Top 40 Athletes" list for significantly altering or elevating sports the last four decades.