Billie Jean King believes one of the quickest ways to drive children away from sports is by tying their self-worth to winning. The tennis icon shared her perspective during the January 9 episode of LIFT, a new SiriusXM show on Stars that spotlights conversations with extraordinary women.
Now 82, King said her parents’ approach to youth sports was foundational to both her longevity and her success.
She revealed that neither she nor her younger brother, Randy King, who went on to play professional baseball for more than a decade, was ever judged by results. “They never asked Randy or me if we won,” King said.
Instead of focusing on outcomes, her parents emphasized effort, learning, and enjoyment. When picking them up after games or welcoming them home, they avoided questions like, “Did you win?” and centered the conversation on the experience itself.
“They’d say, ‘What kind of day did you have?’ or ‘What did you do well?’” King recalled.
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King pointed to research showing that many children walk away from sports around the ages of 10 or 11, often because they feel pressure to fulfill their parents’ ambitions rather than pursue their own interests.
She noted that, in many cases, burnout isn’t intentional but stems from an overemphasis on results and performance. “Let the child figure it out,” King said, explaining that she often observes parents “hover” over their children in today’s youth sports culture.
According to King, giving young athletes space to grow, explore, and enjoy the process can make the difference between a short-lived experience and a lifelong love of sport.
How Access Helped Shape Billie Jean King’s Legacy
King tied her parents’ philosophy directly to the values that have shaped both her career and her lifelong advocacy for access and opportunity in sports. That foundation helped propel her to one of the most dominant runs in tennis history, as she captured 39 Grand Slam titles, including 12 singles majors, and ruled women’s tennis throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Her impact extended far beyond the court. In 1973, King famously defeated Bobby Riggs in the nationally televised “Battle of the Sexes,” a watershed moment that transcended sports and became a defining symbol in the fight for gender equality. The historic match later inspired the 2017 film Battle of the Sexes, starring Emma Stone.
Reflecting on her journey, King told PEOPLE in May 2024 that she became acutely aware of the limitations placed on girls at a young age. “There was really nothing for girls in sports then,” she said, recalling the realization at age 9 that she could never play professional baseball. “There was no way we could make a living.”
That early awareness continues to fuel her mission today. Expanding access, King emphasized, remains central to her work. “Everyone has something to offer,” she said. “You never know where a good idea is going to come from.”
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Beyond her achievements on the court, King reshaped the sport from the inside. She was a founding force behind the Women’s Tennis Association, giving female players a unified voice and greater control over their careers.
She also played a pivotal role in the U.S. Open, becoming the first Grand Slam tournament to award equal prize money, a landmark step toward gender equity in professional sports.
Decades later, King continues to be a powerful and influential advocate, championing inclusion, equity, and LGBTQ+ visibility, and using her platform to push for meaningful change well beyond tennis.
