A girl didn’t get an athletic scholarship until the fall of 1972 for the very first time. – Billie Jean King
I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion. – Billie Jean King
I used to be told if I talked about my sexuality in any way that we wouldn’t have a tennis tour. – Billie Jean King
Any therapist will tell you that when you’re ready, you will come out. To be outed means you weren’t ready. – Billie Jean King
Everyone has people in their lives that are gay, lesbian or transgender or bisexual. They may not want to admit it, but I guarantee they know somebody. – Billie Jean King
Be bold. If you’re going to make an error, make a doozy, and don’t be afraid to hit the ball. – Billie Jean King
Men can have a huge turnover of sponsorship and still survive a lot better than the women. But the women’s ratings are better, at least at home in the United States than in the men’s tennis. – Billie Jean King
In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar; now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and business, we are at 68 cents on the dollar. – Billie Jean King
It’s just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let’s start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences. – Billie Jean King
That is where the power, opportunity, and choice come from-when you have money. Money equals opportunity. There is no question. – Billie Jean King
Women’s sports is still in its infancy. The beginning of women’s sports in the United States started in 1972, with the passage of Title 9 for girls to finally get athletic scholarships. – Billie Jean King
Ever since that day when I was 11 years old, and I wasn’t allowed in a photo because I wasn’t wearing a tennis skirt, I knew that I wanted to change the sport. – Billie Jean King
It is very hard to be a female leader. While it is assumed that any man, no matter how tough, has a soft side… and female leader is assumed to be one-dimensional. – Billie Jean King
They’re not put on earth to be martyrs; they have to want to come out. It depends on your culture, where you work, where you live. Each person’s circumstances are unique. – Billie Jean King
The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing. – Billie Jean King
When they take surveys of women in business, of the Fortune 500, the successful women, 80% of them, say they were in sports as a young woman. – Billie Jean King
Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose-it teaches you about life. – Billie Jean King
Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquillity. – Billie Jean King