Billie Jean King

Tennis legend Billie Jean King profiles 11 of today's pioneering female and nonbinary athletes in this inspiring nonfiction book that will empower athletes and sports fans ages 12 and up. Billie Jean King made history in her 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match against Bobby Riggs. She proved women athletes were as capable, determined, and worth watching as men. Now, she highlights the trailblazing female and nonbinary athletes of today who are proving the same thing every time they play. Billie Jean King profiles both well-known athletes like tennis star Naomi Osaka and WNBA newcomer Caitlin Clark, and emerging talents who deserve to be better known, like flag football player Diana Flores or Paralympic swimmer McKenzie Coan. Featuring exclusive photos from the athletes and their families, this inspiring nonfiction collection shares true stories that empower young athletes and prove that legends aren't just born, they're made--both on and off the playing field. Athletes profiled also include Midge Purce (soccer), Chelsea Gray (basketball), Amit Elor (wrestling), Nikki Hiltz (track), Kendall Coyne Schofield (hockey), Kelsie Whitmore (baseball), and Asjia O'Neal (volleyball).

Serve up tennis history with Billie Jean Kinganddiscover the unmatched story of women’s tennis, featuring beautifully illustrated, inspiring biographies of 20+ trailblazing women in the sport. Ideal for young readers who dream big. Celebrate the incredible achievements of women in tennis with this beautifully illustrated collection of biographies. Young readers will be captivated by the stories and inspiring records of trailblazing athletes like Serena and Venus Williams, Billie Jean King, Naomi Osaka, and many more. This young reader's edition is packed with real facts about the history of tennis and features brand-new illustrations by the renowned artist Alexandra Badiu. Through a powerful blend of art, history, and inspiring stories, this book aims to educate, inspire, and empower readers to chase their dreams and achieve their goals. Featured Tennis Icons Include: Billie Jean King Serena Williams Venus Williams Naomi Osaka Diede de Groot Ash Barty and many more!

Featuring a foreword by Billie Jean King. Since the turn of the century, women’s tennis has established itself as one of the world’s most unpredictable sports. With 36 different Grand Slam champions from 2000 to 2024, upsets have become the norm and underdog triumphs are almost guaranteed. These young winners are not all serve bots or baseline bruisers hailing from the tennis academy system. Instead, their origin stories differ considerably. A generation of Czech talent eclipsing the richest tennis nations; child prodigies like Coco Gauff modelled by her parents; Kim Clijsters defying the odds to become a comeback champion after giving birth; and Emma Raducanu crafting a coaching rotation system to achieve her fairytale in New York. This book maps out the complex, remarkable blueprints followed by champions from across the globe, as told by those in their inner circle, and explores what this generation of women can tell us about the future of the game.

Start the conversation about inequality early, and empower kids to do something about it! This is a kids book about equality. Equality is worth standing up for because each one of us matters, and when we are all included and represented equally, we all thrive. This book helps kids aged 5-9 to notice when things are unfair, ask why, and do something about it. Find out about gender inequality by one of the greatest tennis players in history, Billie Jean King, and her first hand experience with the topic. A Kids Book About Equality features: - A large and bold, yet minimalist font design that allows kids freedom to imagine themselves in the words on the pages.- A friendly, approachable, and empowering, kid-appropriate tone throughout.- An incredible and diverse group of authors in the series who are experts or have first-hand experience of the topic. Tackling important discourse together! The A Kids Book About series are best used when read together. Helping to kickstart challenging, empowering, and important conversations for kids and their grownups through beautiful and thought-provoking pages. The series supports an incredible and diverse group of authors, who are either experts in their field, or have first-hand experience on the topic. A Kids Co. is a new kind of media company enabling kids to explore big topics in a new and engaging way. With a growing series of books, podcasts and blogs, made to empower. Learn more about us online by searching for A Kids Co.

Start the conversation about inequality early, and empower kids to do something about it This is a kids book about equality. Equality is worth standing up for because each one of us matters, and when we are all included and represented equally, we all thrive. This book helps kids aged 5-9 to notice when things are unfair, ask why, and do something about it. Find out about gender inequality by one of the greatest tennis players in history, Billie Jean King, and her first hand experience with the topic. A Kids Book About Equality features: - A large and bold, yet minimalist font design that allows kids freedom to imagine themselves in the words on the pages.- A friendly, approachable, and empowering, kid-appropriate tone throughout.- An incredible and diverse group of authors in the series who are experts or have first-hand experience of the topic. Tackling important discourse together The A Kids Book About series are best used when read together. Helping to kickstart challenging, empowering, and important conversations for kids and their grownups through beautiful and thought-provoking pages. The series supports an incredible and diverse group of authors, who are either experts in their field, or have first-hand experience on the topic. A Kids Co. is a new kind of media company enabling kids to explore big topics in a new and engaging way. With a growing series of books, podcasts and blogs, made to empower. Learn more about us online by searching for A Kids Co.

Legendary tennis player Billie Jean King details the remarkable history of women’s tennis in this stunning edition of Trailblazers: The Unmatched Story of Women's Tennis. In celebration of the Women’s Tennis Association’s 50th anniversary, this updated and expanded edition—based on the 1988 original We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis—includes more than 250 photographs and 33 years’ worth of stories about inspiring women and their achievements. The book arrives 53 years after King and eight other women players broke with the male tennis establishment and launched their own professional tour. With this gorgeous, photographically forward, and deeply moving ode to women’s tennis, King and co-author Cynthia Star will continue the remarkable story in which King has played such an integral role, shedding new light on barriers that were overcome and milestones that were achieved. Women’s tennis today has never been more popular across the globe and, as this book demonstrates, has never been more diverse and inclusive.

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER - An inspiring and intimate self-portrait of the champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice. "A story about the personal strength, immense growth, and undeniable greatness of one woman who fearlessly stood up to a culture trying to break her down."--Serena Williams In this spirited account, Billie Jean King details her life's journey to find her true self. She recounts her groundbreaking tennis career--six years as the top-ranked woman in the world, twenty Wimbledon championships, thirty-nine grand-slam titles, and her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs in the famous "Battle of the Sexes." She poignantly recalls the cultural backdrop of those years and the profound impact on her worldview from the women's movement, the assassinations and anti-war protests of the 1960s, the civil rights movement, and, eventually, the LGBTQ+ rights movement. She describes the myriad challenges she's hurdled--entrenched sexism, an eating disorder, near financial peril after being outed--on her path to publicly and unequivocally acknowledging her sexual identity at the age of fifty-one. She talks about how her life today remains one of indefatigable service. She offers insights and advice on leadership, business, activism, sports, politics, marriage equality, parenting, sexuality, and love. And she shows how living honestly and openly has had a transformative effect on her relationships and happiness. Hers is the story of a pathbreaking feminist, a world-class athlete, and an indomitable spirit whose impact has transcended even her spectacular achievements in sports.

An inspiring and intimate self-portrait of the champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice.'A constant role model in my life, Billie Jean King is a leading example of integrity in the face of adversity. The book's powerfully honest and unapologetic candor is a reflection of King's brilliant mark on the world and the glass ceilings she shattered' Serena WilliamsIn this spirited account, Billie Jean King details her life's journey to find her true self. She recounts her groundbreaking tennis career -- six years as the top-ranked woman in the world, twenty Wimbledon championships, thirty-nine grand-slam titles, and her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs in the famous "Battle of the Sexes." She poignantly recalls the cultural backdrop of those years and the profound impact on her worldview from the women's movement, the assassinations and anti-war protests of the 1960s, the civil rights movement, and, eventually, the LGBTQ+ rights movement. She describes the myriad challenges she's hurdled -- entrenched sexism, an eating disorder, near financial ruin after being outed -- on her path to publicly and unequivocally acknowledging her sexual identity at the age of fifty-one. And she talks about how her life today remains one of indefatigable service. She offers insights and advice on leadership, business, activism, sports, politics, marriage equality, parenting, sexuality, and love. She shows how living honestly and openly has had a transformative effect on her relationships and happiness. Hers is the story of a pathbreaking feminist, a world-class athlete, and an indomitable spirit whose impact has transcended even her spectacular achievements in sports.__________________________'Compelling... a brave and moving book, a must-read for tennis fans and a vivid slice of social history' Melanie Reid, The Times'A terrific read' Constance Craig Smith, Daily Mail'A vivid and detailed account of her rise to sporting greatness and her struggles to attain equal treatment for women in a shockingly discriminatory sport... All In describes a life comprising one epic struggle after another, both on and off court' Fiona Sturges, Guardian'[She] writes candidly about a career that led the way for women's sports as we know them . . . thoughtful, soul-searching' Tim Adams, Observer'This is a fascinating, energising, inspirational book from a woman who continues to set the standard for making a positive difference in the world' Clare Balding

I Always Wanted To Be Somebody is the intimate and candid story of a girl who grew up in the asphalt environs of Harlem, skipping school, drinking hard liquor, stealing and fist-fighting, but went on to break the color barrier in tennis and achieving the pinnacle of the sport by winning Wimbledon and the U. S. Open and becoming an inspiration for many future champions such as Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe, Venus Williams, and Serena Williams, among many others.

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER - An inspiring and intimate self-portrait of the champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice. "A story about the personal strength, immense growth, and undeniable greatness of one woman who fearlessly stood up to a culture trying to break her down."--Serena Williams In this spirited account, Billie Jean King details her life's journey to find her true self. She recounts her groundbreaking tennis career--six years as the top-ranked woman in the world, twenty Wimbledon championships, thirty-nine grand-slam titles, and her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs in the famous "Battle of the Sexes." She poignantly recalls the cultural backdrop of those years and the profound impact on her worldview from the women's movement, the assassinations and anti-war protests of the 1960s, the civil rights movement, and, eventually, the LGBTQ+ rights movement. She describes the myriad challenges she's hurdled--entrenched sexism, an eating disorder, near financial peril after being outed--on her path to publicly and unequivocally acknowledging her sexual identity at the age of fifty-one. She talks about how her life today remains one of indefatigable service. She offers insights and advice on leadership, business, activism, sports, politics, marriage equality, parenting, sexuality, and love. And she shows how living honestly and openly has had a transformative effect on her relationships and happiness. Hers is the story of a pathbreaking feminist, a world-class athlete, and an indomitable spirit whose impact has transcended even her spectacular achievements in sports.

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER - An inspiring and intimate self-portrait of the champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice. "A story about the personal strength, immense growth, and undeniable greatness of one woman who fearlessly stood up to a culture trying to break her down."--Serena Williams In this spirited account, Billie Jean King details her life's journey to find her true self. She recounts her groundbreaking tennis career--six years as the top-ranked woman in the world, twenty Wimbledon championships, thirty-nine grand-slam titles, and her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs in the famous "Battle of the Sexes." She poignantly recalls the cultural backdrop of those years and the profound impact on her worldview from the women's movement, the assassinations and anti-war protests of the 1960s, the civil rights movement, and, eventually, the LGBTQ+ rights movement. She describes the myriad challenges she's hurdled--entrenched sexism, an eating disorder, near financial peril after being outed--on her path to publicly and unequivocally acknowledging her sexual identity at the age of fifty-one. She talks about how her life today remains one of indefatigable service. She offers insights and advice on leadership, business, activism, sports, politics, marriage equality, parenting, sexuality, and love. And she shows how living honestly and openly has had a transformative effect on her relationships and happiness. Hers is the story of a pathbreaking feminist, a world-class athlete, and an indomitable spirit whose impact has transcended even her spectacular achievements in sports.

Inspired by the "The Big Challenge" series that aired in 2007 on kids and obesity, and the Surgeon General's report that advocates obesity is more prevalent and pervasive among Blacks and Hispanics; King presented a pedometer challenge to her granddaughter in 2008, who was 8 years old at the time. Notable results were observed.  Her desire for outside activities increased immensely.  Attempting to reach her daily goal of 12k steps became additive.  The pedometer was viewed more as a game, than a tracking tool. King shares frankly concerning her and her families battle with obesity and the associated complications of Type II diabetics, heart disease, sleep apnea, kidney failure, and hypertension to name a few. As a writer, author, she tells her irrefutable testimony of how she attributes the aid of pedometer walking and alternative food selections to her being able to ward off Type II Diabetes thus far. In an eye opening and thought provoking approach; she highlights the impact of the church and its unconscious role on how it contributes toward the advancement of obesity. She also spotlights manufacturers in their supportive and not so supportive efforts. "The church in a good conscious state can't be guilty of creating an opportunity and an environment for the very thing that they preach and teach against, temptation."] "I tussled with the idea of holding off publishing this book until I'd attained my desired weight goal; I figured that it would be received or recognized as being a more effective or proven mechanism. You know... after the victory. Then I was reminded that it's during the struggles of life is when encouragement, comfort, and strength is needed the most, whether you're the one that's receiving it or giving it." Excerpt from Introduction.] Wonderfully illustrated in colorful photo's of food, charts, graphs and alternative food recipes. "Let's Get Steppin " offers an innovative, identifiable and plain talk method to a targeted segment of America concerning the debilitating disease of Obesity. It's non-clinical, yet, in a clinical approach, it promotes self awareness along with her proven principles to assist in tackling the war on obesity. If you or your family members are toiling with the "generational curse" of obesity and its related complications as King confesses...this book will leave you hopeful ...

You Can Quote Me On That isn’t about the polite, country-club sport where players shake hands over the net and offer congratulations on a fine drop shot. It views tennis from inside, where competition is grueling, tempers flare, and egos collide. Top tennis journalist Paul Fein has compiled hundreds of the most outrageous, most significant, and most illuminating quotes on, by, and about tennis’s biggest stars and hottest controversies. You want smack talk? How about Maria Sharapova brushing aside an intended compliment with “I’m not the next Kournikova-I want to win matches!” Wonder why Jimmy Connors was such a cutthroat? According to his mother, “Jimmy was taught to be a tiger on the court. When he was young, if I had a shot I could hit down his throat, I did. And I’d say, ‘See, Jimmy, even your mother will do that to you.’” Fein even delves into the gritty detail of players’ personal lives. Witness Andre Agassi’s explanation that “sex doesn’t interfere with your tennis; it’s staying out all night trying to find it that affects your tennis.” And of course legendary bad boy John McEnroe both fires off and gets hits with multiple zingers. Fein includes quotes of praise, thoughtful commentary, and interesting points about players, tournaments, and the game-where it’s been and where it’s headed. If it’s about tennis and worth remembering, well, You Can Quote Me On That.