Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King redefined sports activism, winning 39 Grand Slam titles—12 in singles, 16 in women’s doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles—while elevating tennis to a global platform. Her 1973 Battle of the Sexes victory over Bobby Riggs drew an estimated 90 million viewers worldwide, a broadcast audience 30% larger than the average Super Bowl of that decade. That single match outperforms Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10 viewership in reach, cementing King’s legacy as a cultural force beyond the court.