Billie Jean King has never been one to back down from a challenge—whether it's facing down Bobby Riggs on the tennis court or fighting for gender equality in sports. Now, at 82 years old, she's taking on a new milestone: graduating from college, six decades after leaving to pursue her legendary tennis career.
The 12-time Grand Slam singles champion and women's sports icon is set to receive her degree from Cal State LA on Monday, as first reported by USA Today's Cydney Henderson. King originally enrolled at the university from 1961 to 1964 before stepping away to focus on tennis. Now, after an inspiring journey that includes a Presidential Medal of Freedom, she's adding "college graduate" to her remarkable resume.
King will be the first member of her immediate family to earn a college degree, and she describes this achievement as "up there" among her most meaningful accomplishments. Her only regret? That her parents and brother Randy won't be there to see her walk across the stage. "That's my one regret. They're not alive, but boy would they be happy," King shared. "My parents, oh my God, would be over the moon because they're big on education. They told Randy we have to get our education." Randy Moffitt, a former pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, passed away last year at age 76.
King's degree is in history, a fitting choice for someone who helped shape sports history. During her coursework, she even wrote an essay about Title IX—the landmark law she helped champion that transformed opportunities for women in athletics. Her academic journey included classes like LGBT Political History in the United States and Historiography, blending her personal experiences with academic study.
What made this long-awaited graduation possible? A mix of determination and modern technology. King had long considered returning to college but thought she needed two more years to finish. That changed when Marjori Gantman, managing director of her BJK Enterprises firm, reviewed her transcripts. "I was just talking out loud and (Gantman) goes, 'Well, let me check.' So she checks and she goes, 'Billie, you have three years (completed),'" King recalled. "I went, 'Three years? Oh, I'm going back for sure.'"
The rise of remote learning also played a crucial role, allowing King to complete her coursework while traveling for her busy schedule of speaking engagements and advocacy work. It's a powerful reminder that it's never too late to chase a goal—whether on the court, in the classroom, or in life. For King, this graduation is just another serve in a lifetime of breaking barriers. And as always, she's showing us all how it's done.