World Team Tennis (WTT)
WTT was founded by King in 1974. WTT is a co-ed professional tennis league.
"World TeamTennis is one of the proudest parts of my life. If you have ever seen a WTT match, you have seen my philosophy of life in action . . . men and women competing together on equal terms. For me, it does not get much better, much more important than that."
-Billie Jean King on WTT in 2012
"I have a job that I love because of Billie Jean King."
-Venus Williams, a player on the WTT team, the Washington Kastles
[Source: Washington Post]
There are seven WTT teams. Austin Aces Boston Lobsters Philadelphia Freedom San Diego Aviators Springfield Lasers Texas Wild Washington Kastles |
|
Helping WTT expand is more important to King than her 39 grand slam titles and helping the WTA. King wants WTT to expand nationally and internationally, but the league isn't very popular. There are few champions playing that would draw big crowds, and there are very limited television opportunities.
"We're small. Unfortunately, I'm from the wrong generation. If I had the money myself, we'd be in probably a little different position." "You know March Madness? That's what we could be." |
WTT has gone from 16 teams to 7 teams, but King has been talking to other countries about starting leagues.
"We'll expand when we're ready to expand, and we'll do it right"
-Billie Jean King in 2014 on her hopes for WTT in the future
Women's Sports Foundation (WSF)
"We're basically the advocates of keeping Title IX strong in the area of sports." "We do well over 100 sports, and we have given about 70 million dollars in grants." |