Matches played on distinctive, branded multicolored courts.
Billie Jean King
WTT Year-by-Year Team Results
1974 Philadelphia Freedoms
Regular season record:
1st Place, Eastern Division (39–5)
Playoffs:
Round 1: Philadelphia def. Cleveland Nets, 49–44
Semifinals: Philadelphia def. Pittsburgh Triangles, 52–45
Championship Round: Denver Racquets def. Philadelphia, 55–45
Philadelphia roster:
Julie Anthony, Brian Fairlie, Tory Fretz, Billie Jean King, Kathy Kukyendall, Buster Mottram, Fred Stolle. Coach: Billie Jean King.
1975 New York Sets
Regular season:
2nd place, Eastern Division (34–10)
Playoffs:
First round, Boston Lobsters def. New York Sets, 25–24.
New York Sets roster:
Mona Guerrant, Billie Jean King, Sandy Mayer, Betsy Nagelson, Charlie
Owens, Fred Stolle, Virginia Wade.
1976 New York Sets (League Champions)
Regular season:
1st Place, Eastern Division (33–10)
Playoffs:
Semifinals (Best of Three), New York def. Pittsburgh, 25–26, 29–21, 28–26;
San Francisco Golden Gaters def. Phoenix, 32–16, 24–18
Championship Round (Best of Five): New York def. San Francisco, 3–0.
(Match scores: 31–23, 29–21 OT, 31–13)
New York roster:
Lindsey Beaven, Phil Dent, Billie Jean King, Sandy Mayer, Linda Siegelman, Fred Stolle, Virginia Wade. Coach: Fred Stolle.
1977 New York Apples (League Champions)*
Regular season record:
2nd Place, Eastern Division, (33–11)
Playoffs:
First round: New York def. Indiana Loves, 89–63
Semifinals, New York def. Boston Lobsters, 58–41, Phoenix def. San Diego, 83–74.
Championship Round: New York def. Phoenix, 55–39.
New York roster:
Lindsey Beaven, Billie Jean King, Sandy Mayer, Ray Ruffels, Linda Siegelman, Fred Stolle, Virginia Wade.
* Scores listed are cumulative team totals for each playoff series.
1978 New York Apples
Regular season record:
2nd Place, Eastern Division, (22–22)
Playoffs:
Round 1 (best of three), New York def. Anaheim 2–0 (29–16, 27–20)
Semifinals (best of three), Los Angeles def. New York 2–0 (28–20, 26–16)
New York Roster:
Mary Carillo, Vitas Gerulaitis, Billie Jean King, Ray Ruffels, JoAnne Russell, Fred Stolle
1981 Oakland Breakers
Regular season record:
3rd Place, (5–7)
Playoffs:
(None) Los Angeles Strings declared champion of the four-team WTT, based on league-leading 9–3 record
Oakland Breakers roster:
John Austin, Fritz Buehning, Phil Dent, Billie Jean King, Ann Kiyomura, Ilana Kloss, Bernie Mitton, Peter Rennert.
1982 Los Angeles Strings
Regular season record:
3rd Place (9–5)
Los Angeles Strings roster:
Vijay Amritraj, Billie Jean King, Trey Waltke, Ilana Kloss. Coach: Vijay Amritraj
1983 Chicago Fyre (League Champions)
Regular season:
1st place, 12–1
Playoffs:
Championship Round: Chicago Fyre def. Los Angeles Strings, 26–20.
Chicago Fyre roster:
Billie Jean King, Lloyd Bourne, Sharon Walsh, Trey Waltke, Coach: Ilana Kloss.
1984 Chicago Fire
Playoffs:
The league held a one-week season, single-elimination tournament played entirely at The Forum in Los Angeles.
Semifinals: Long Beach Breakers def. Chicago Fire 29–19 (OT), San Diego Buds def. Los Angeles Strings, 26–24.
Championship round: San Diego Buds d. Long Beach Breakers 30–3
Chicago Fire roster:
Billie Jean King, Ben Testerman, Sharon Walsh, Trey Waltke
PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS
Billie Jean holding brother, Randy: The Billie Jean King Collection, New-York Historical Society
Moffitt family front yard: The Billie Jean King Collection, New-York Historical Society
Billie Jean with neighborhood friends: The Billie Jean King Collection, New-York Historical Society
Billie Jean with softball team: The Billie Jean King Collection, New-York Historical Society
Susan Williams, Jerry Cromwell, Allan Robbins, and Billie Jean: The Billie Jean King Collection, New-York Historical Society
Jerry Cromwell, coach Clyde Walker, and Billie Jean: The Billie Jean King Collection, New-York Historical Society
Perry T. Jones and Billie Jean: The Billie Jean King Collection, New-York Historical Society
Uncle Art, Aunt Gladys, Bill Moffitt: Courtesy Donna Lee Chavez
Kehoe Family: Courtesy R.J. Moffitt
Althea Gibson and Alice Marble: © Bettmann / Getty Images
Wightman Cup team: The Billie Jean King Collection, New-York Historical Society, Edmund Gilchrist, Jr.
Karen Hantze and Billie Jean win doubles at Wimbledon: © AELTC / Michael Cole
Billie Jean, Carole Caldwell, and Darlene Hard win first Fed Cup: © TopFoto
Mervyn Rose: © Bert Hardy / Picture Post / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
Billie Jean and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy: Edward Fernberger, International Tennis Hall of Fame
Billie Jean and Larry on their wedding day: The Billie Jean King Collection, New-York Historical Society
Billie Jean and Frank Brennan: © Richard Meek / The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe, and Billie Jean: Edward Fernberger, International Tennis Hall of Fame
Billie Jean, 1966 Wimbledon ladies singles championship: Keystone Press / Alamy
Ann Jones, Françoise Dürr, Rosie Casals, Billie Jean, and Roy Emerson sign as professionals: © Bettmann / Getty Images
Original 9: Houston Post Photographs, Houston Public Library, HMRC
Billie Jean and Chrissie Evert: © AP
Virginia Slims players in Richmond, VA: Courtesy International Tennis Hall of Fame
Billie Jean earns $100,000: © AP
Virginia Wade, Evonne Goolagong, Ted Tinling, Rosie Casals, and Billie Jean: © Michael Webb / Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
Billie Jean, Joe Cullman 3rd, and Gladys Heldman:Courtesy International Tennis Hall of Fame
Billie Jean sitting with the press: © Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Billie Jean and Gloria Steinem: © Ann Phillips
Randy pitching with the San Francisco Giants: © S.F. Giants
Billie Jean with Sen. Birch Bayh: Courtesy of Barack Obama Presidential Library
Ted Tinling with Bonnie Logan, Sylvia Hooks, and Ann Koger: Edward Fernberger, International Tennis Hall of Fame
Bob Hope, Billie Jean, and Tony Randall: © Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation
Billie Jean, Lany Kaligis, and Ilana Kloss at the founding of the WTA: © Monte Fresco / Mirrorpix
Billie Jean, Billy Talbert, and Owen Davidson:© AELTC / Michael Cole
Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean: © Ann Limongello / Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Billie Jean on litter at Battle of the Sexes match: © AP
Billie Jean hitting stretch backhand: © George Kalinsky / Bettmann / Getty Images
Billie Jean testifying at U.S. Senate: © Bettmann / Getty Images
Billie Jean and Muhammad A
li: © Michael Leshnov
Larry King and Billie Jean with womenSports magazine: © Bettmann / Getty Images
Billie Jean with children at a Philadelphia Freedoms clinic: Nancy Moran © Billie Jean King Enterprises Inc.
Elton John with Billie Jean and Bernie Taupin: Photograph by Sam Emerson. ©HST Global Limited, Courtesy of Rocket Entertainment
Elton John with Billie Jean: © Terry O’Neill / Iconic Images
Billie Jean on stage with Elton John at Dodger Stadium: © Terry O’Neill / Iconic Images
Ilana Kloss, Elton John, Billie Jean, and David Furnish: Courtesy Ilana Kloss
Billie Jean, Jerry Diamond, Ann Jones negotiate at the AELTC: © Daily Express / Archive Photos / Getty Images
The Kloss family: MEDIA 24 / GALLO IMAGES
Linky Boshoff and Ilana Kloss play Billie Jean and Rosie Casals: © Adam C. Balch
President Ford, Billie Jean, and Arthur Ashe in the Oval Office: Ricardo Thomas / The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Billie Jean stretch forehand: © Ellen Griesedieck
Bella Abzug, Billie Jean, Gloria Steinem, and Mary Anne Krupsak: © AP
Renée Richards and Billie Jean playing doubles: Larry Morris / The New York Times / Redux
Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean, Wimbledon 1979: © AELTC / Michael Cole
Lucy: © Billie Jean King Enterprises, Inc.
Larry King, Billie Jean, Betty Moffitt, and Bill Moffitt: © Julian Wasser
Peanuts comic strip: © 1986 Peanuts Worldwide LLC
Billie Jean, Martina Navratilova, Mary Carillo: © Globe Photos
Billie Jean and Venus Williams: Jerry Lenander © Billie Jean King Enterprises, Inc.
Billie Jean and Serena Williams: Jerry Lenander © Billie Jean King Enterprises, Inc.
Serena Williams, Billie Jean, Venus Williams, 2001 U.S. Open: © Howard Earl Simmons / NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
2000 USA women’s tennis team, Sydney Olympics: © Stephen Wake
Kloss family with Billie Jean, Provincetown, MA:© Helen R. Russell
Dignitaries at the renaming of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center: Municipal Archives, City of New York. Mayor Michael Bloomberg Photograph Collection
Image of court with U.S. flag at the renaming of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center: © Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Billie Jean with Sen. Hillary Clinton: © AP, Jason DeCrow
Ilana, President Mandela, and Billie Jean: Zelda la Grange © Ilana Kloss
Billie Jean presented Medal of Freedom by President Obama: © Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Billie Jean meeting Her Majesty the Queen of England: © AP, Oli Scarff
Donnelly Awards: © Susan Mullane / camerawork USA
Cruise with Ruth Kloss and Betty Moffitt: Courtesy Rosie Casals
Moffitt family: © Susan Mullane / camerawork USA
WTA fortieth anniversary: © Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Tennis outing at Billie Jean’s seventieth birthday: © Fred Mullane / camerawork USA
WTT staff at Billie Jean’s seventieth birthday: © Susan Mullane / camerawork USA
Tennis tournament on cruise: © Ilana Kloss
Ingrid Löfdahl-Bentzer with family and Billie Jean: © Art Seitz
Ilana, Billie Jean, Mark Walter at Dodger Stadium: © Los Angeles Dodgers LLC
Ilana and Billie Jean at NYC Pride: © Robin Platzer / Twin Images / SIPA USA
Ilana, Joyce Dinkins, Mayor David Dinkins, and Billie Jean: © Ilana Kloss
Billie Jean’s celebration of her seventy-fifth birthday: Jennifer Pottheiser © Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative
Billie Jean with her first-grade namesake class: © Marjorie A. Gantman
The opening of the Billie Jean King Main Library: © Stephen Carr
BJKLI event at the U.S. Open: Jason Markowitz © Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative
Naomi Osaka wearing Breonna Taylor mask at the U.S. Open: © AP, Frank Franklin
Billie Jean serving at 1974 U.S. Open: © Melchior DiGiacomo / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
1977 World TeamTennis champions: © Cheryl Traendly
Billie Jean defeating Bobby Riggs: Russ Adams Productions, Courtesy International Tennis Hall of Fame
A Note About the Authors
Billie Jean King, a champion of equality, is the first female athlete to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She is the cofounder of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative and World TeamTennis. She is part of the ownership group of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, Angel City FC, and the Philadelphia Freedoms. In August 2006, the National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open, was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in honor of her accomplishments on and off the court. In September 1970, she and eight other women known as the Original 9 led a revolt that created the first women’s pro tennis tour. King also founded the Women’s Tennis Association (1973) and the Women’s Sports Foundation (1974). She was named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by Life magazine. Her groundbreaking 1973 victory in the Battle of the Sexes match over Bobby Riggs was watched by an estimated 90 million people worldwide.
King grew up playing tennis in the public parks of Long Beach, California and went on to win thirty-nine Grand Slam titles during her career, including a record twenty titles at Wimbledon. In 2019, King’s Southern California roots were recognized with the dedication of the Billie Jean King Main Library in her hometown. She was twice selected captain of the United States Olympic tennis team and competed for U.S. Fed Cup teams eleven times as a player or coach. King serves on the board of the Women’s Sports Foundation and is a Global Ambassador for the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly known as the Fed Cup), the annual World Cup of women’s tennis. In 2018, King received a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. She is a past member of the board of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and a past member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. She lives in New York with her life partner, Ilana Kloss.
Johnette Howard is the author of The Rivals: Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, Their Epic Duels and Extraordinary Friendship. Her writing has been included in nine anthologies, including Best American Sports Writing of the Century. Howard has worked as a national columnist and on-air commentator for ESPN, and as a long-form writer for Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post, and The National, among others. Howard lives in New York.
Maryanne Vollers wrote the civil rights classic Ghosts of Mississippi, which was a finalist for a National Book Award, and has helped many authors create their memoirs, including Hillary Rodham Clinton and Ashley Judd. She lives with her husband in the same small town in Montana where Billie Jean King’s father was born.
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