The Unlikely Alliance That Changed Sports Forever

In the 1970s, tennis was a sport defined by rigid gender norms, heteronormative expectations, and fierce gatekeeping. Billie Jean King, already a towering figure for gender equality after defeating Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes,” took on an even more controversial cause: publicly supporting Renée Richards, a transgender woman and former male professional tennis player. Their partnership wasn’t merely a personal alliance—it was a tactical intervention that challenged the very foundations of athletic eligibility, privacy, and human dignity. King’s willingness to stand beside Richards at a time when transphobia was both legal and socially accepted proved that sports could be a lever for civil rights, not just a mirror of society’s prejudices.

The collaboration between these two women forced the tennis establishment—and the broader sporting world—to confront questions that are still being debated today. How do we define fairness? Should trans athletes compete in accordance with their gender identity? And who gets to decide? By revisiting their story, we can trace the roots of modern transgender inclusion in athletics and understand why their alliance remains a blueprint for allyship in the face of entrenched discrimination.

Billie Jean King: From Champion to Activist

Long before she met Renée Richards, Billie Jean King had established herself as one of the most dominant tennis players of all time, winning 39 Grand Slam titles. But her legacy extends far beyond trophies. In 1973, she led the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), fought for equal prize money at the US Open, and defeated Bobby Riggs in a globally televised match that galvanized the feminist movement. King understood that sports could be a powerful stage for social change, and she was unafraid to leverage her fame for causes others considered too risky.

King’s activism was grounded in a simple conviction: everyone deserves the chance to compete without discrimination. She had personally experienced gender-based exclusion—college tennis scholarships were nearly nonexistent for women, and tournament directors often paid female champions a fraction of what their male counterparts earned. This background made her uniquely receptive to Richards’ plight. While other players and officials feared that allowing a transgender woman to compete would “ruin” women’s tennis, King saw the issue through a prism of justice. “If you’re born with a certain anatomy, that shouldn’t be what defines you,” King later said. “It’s about who you are on the inside.”

The WTA and the Battle for Inclusion

King’s position as a WTA founder gave her political leverage. In the mid-1970s, when Richards was attempting to enter professional women’s tournaments, the WTA initially resisted. King privately lobbied fellow players and administrators, arguing that Richards should be judged on her tennis ability, not her medical history. She also helped Richards find legal representation when the United States Tennis Association (USTA) tried to block her from competing in the 1976 US Open. King’s involvement was not merely symbolic—she put her reputation on the line for a teammate who many regarded as an outsider.

Renée Richards: A Life of Resilience and Skill

Born Richard Raskind in 1934, Renée Richards was a talented tennis player even before transitioning. She played at Yale and later served as an ophthalmologist in the US Navy. Richards underwent gender confirmation surgery in 1975, at a time when transitioning was far less common and far more stigmatized than today. After returning to tennis, she attempted to enter the 1976 US Open but was required to pass a Barr body chromosome test—a crude and inaccurate method of determining sex. Richards refused, and the ensuing legal battle made national headlines.

Richards’ case eventually reached the New York Supreme Court. In 1977, Judge Alfred M. Ascione ruled in her favor, stating that she was “now a female” and that the chromosome test was “grossly unfair, discriminatory, and inequitable.” The ruling allowed Richards to compete in the US Open, where she lost in the first round. But her presence on the court was a victory in itself. Her autobiography, Second Serve (published in 1983), detailed the isolation, harassment, and medical challenges she faced, helping to humanize transgender experiences for a mainstream audience.

Overcoming Skepticism and Hostility

Richards faced relentless hostility from fellow competitors, the press, and tournament officials. Many opponents refused to speak to her or questioned her right to be on the court. Some threatened to boycott tournaments that allowed her entry. Richards later recalled that she occasionally received death threats and was often followed by paparazzi who wanted to photograph her in the locker room. Through it all, she maintained a quiet dignity and focused on her game. Her highest career ranking was No. 20 in the world in singles and No. 1 in the WTA over-35 doubles, proving that her talent was genuine.

Billie Jean King’s Support: More Than a Gesture

King’s public backing of Richards transcended simple allyship. She invited Richards to practice with her, shared locker rooms, and issued a statement to the press: “Renée is a woman. She has proven herself as an athlete and as a person. It is not our job to police people’s bodies.” King also drew on her own experience of being scrutinized for her appearance and muscles, noting that female athletes—whether cisgender or transgender—often face unfair judgments about their femininity.

The two women never formally partnered in doubles matches, but their personal relationship was a powerful symbol. King used her platform to correct misinformation, arguing that Richards’ transition had not given her any “unfair advantage” on the court. In a 1977 interview with Sports Illustrated, King said, “We have to stop looking at this as a man trying to beat women. This is a woman who happens to have been born with male chromosomes. She has a female brain and a female identity.”

King’s influence extended behind the scenes. She worked with WTA leadership to craft a policy that would allow transgender athletes to compete based on their gender identity rather than birth sex—a policy that, at the time, was virtually unheard of in professional sports. Although the WTA’s initial policy was inconsistent and often applied arbitrarily, King’s persistence helped establish a framework that later organizations like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would adapt. The 1977 court ruling in Richards’ favor, amplified by King’s advocacy, effectively set a legal precedent that gender verification testing could be challenged as discriminatory.

Breaking Barriers: The Broader Impact on Sports

The King-Richards partnership shattered several myths. First, it demonstrated that transgender women could compete at a high level without dominating the game—Richards’ singles record was solid but not unbeatable. Second, it forced the sports world to acknowledge that “fairness” is a complex concept that cannot be reduced to chromosomes or testosterone levels. Third, it showed that allyship from powerful figures like King could shift public opinion and create institutional change.

Media Representation and Public Discourse

Coverage of Richards ranged from sensationalist to sympathetic. Tabloids often used her former name and misgendered her, while more progressive outlets tried to educate readers about transgender issues. King herself was critical of media framing, arguing that the press treated Richards as a circus act rather than a serious athlete. Their partnership helped normalize conversations about gender identity in sports, even as it provoked backlash from conservative commentators. Over time, the narrative shifted from “Is Renée Richards a woman?” to “Should transgender athletes have the right to compete?”—a direct result of Richards’ visibility and King’s credibility.

Influence on Future Athletes and Activists

Today, transgender athletes from tennis player Rachel McKinnon to track star CeCe Telfer cite Richards as a pioneer. King’s model of “reputational advocacy”—using her status to protect a marginalized teammate—has been emulated by other sport stars such as Megan Rapinoe and Martina Navratilova (though Navratilova later took anti-trans positions that contradicted King’s stance). King’s consistent support across decades shows that she views trans inclusion as a natural extension of her lifelong fight for gender equality.

Impact on Society and Sports Policy

The partnership between Billie Jean King and Renée Richards contributed directly to policy changes in professional tennis and beyond. In 2003, the IOC adopted the Stockholm Consensus, which allowed transgender athletes to compete after gender confirmation surgery and two years of hormone therapy. While that standard is now considered outdated and overly restrictive, it was groundbreaking at the time—and its roots lie in the 1977 Richards decision and King’s lobbying. In 2015, the IOC updated its guidelines to allow athletes to compete in their affirmed gender without surgery, provided their testosterone levels remain below a certain threshold. The WTA followed with its own inclusive policy, stating that “transgender women are welcome to compete in our events.”

However, the road has not been linear. In recent years, some sports governing bodies have reintroduced restrictions, particularly in swimming (FINA) and athletics (World Athletics). The debate has become political, with some critics arguing that even with hormone suppression, transgender women retain physiological advantages. But King maintains that these policies miss the point. “We need to base our thinking on evidence, not fear,” she told The Guardian in 2022. “Renée wasn’t a threat to women’s tennis. She was a human being who loved the game.”

Richards’ 1977 court victory was one of the first legal affirmations of transgender identity in the United States. It established that an individual’s legal sex could change after transition and that sports organizations could not impose arbitrary testing requirements. This precedent has been cited in later cases involving transgender athletes in high school and college sports, though it has also been challenged by state laws in places like Florida and Arizona. King has continued to speak out against such laws, testifying before state legislatures and writing op-eds defending transgender participation.

Legacy and Continuing Fight

Today, Billie Jean King and Renée Richards are both in their 80s. King remains an active advocate through the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, which focuses on inclusion and equality across all sectors. Richards retired from tennis in the 1980s and returned to her medical practice, but she occasionally comments on current debates. Their collaboration is frequently cited in academic studies of transgender athletes, and their story has been featured in documentaries such as Renée Richards: The Woman in Me.

The partnership was never perfect—both women acknowledged tensions, and Richards sometimes felt that King could have done more to shield her from media intrusion. But their alliance remains a powerful case study in how personal relationships can drive structural change. As the fight for transgender rights in sports intensifies, King and Richards’ example reminds us that progress requires not only legal victories but also the courage to stand beside someone when it is not popular to do so.

What We Can Learn Today

For current and future advocates, the King-Richards partnership offers several lessons:

  • Visibility matters. Richards’ willingness to be public about her transition—despite the threats—created a human face for a marginalized community.
  • Allies with power can leverage that power. King’s status as a champion and WTA founder gave her the ability to influence policy and public opinion in ways that grassroots activists could not.
  • Policy change often follows legal challenges. The 1977 court decision forced sports organizations to adopt formal standards, even if those standards later needed revision.
  • The debate is never truly over. Each generation must re-negotiate the boundaries of inclusion, but the foundation laid by King and Richards remains essential.

As of 2025, the WTA inclusive policy continues to allow transgender women to compete, subject to hormone criteria. King’s official site (BillieJeanKing.com) includes a dedicated page on LGBTQ+ equality.

Conclusion: A Partnership That Transcended Tennis

Billie Jean King’s partnership with Renée Richards was never just about tennis. It was about using the platform of sport to challenge deep-seated prejudices about gender, identity, and fairness. King’s unflagging support helped Richards navigate professional tennis during a time of intense transphobia, and Richards’ determination proved that transgender athletes deserve a place in competition. Their alliance cracked the door open for the transgender athletes who followed, and it continues to inform policy and activism today.

In a world where transgender rights remain contested—in locker rooms, legislatures, and on social media—the story of King and Richards is a reminder that allyship is not a passive stance. It requires risking reputation, confronting hostility, and insisting on humanity. That is the legacy they built together, one match, one hearing, one interview at a time. And that is why their partnership will be remembered as a landmark in the long, unfinished journey toward equality.