Billie Jean King Basks In Heartfelt Homecoming As Alma Mater Pays Emotional Tribute

Billie Jean King is a name that echoes far beyond the tennis court. With 39 Grand Slam titles to her name -12 singles, 16 doubles, and 11 mixed doubles- she’s one of the most decorated tennis players in history. But numbers only tell half the story. King has always been more than a champion with a racket. She’s been a leader, a rebel, a changemaker. From fighting for equal prize money to founding the Women’s Tennis Association, she’s always shown up when it mattered. And now, the American stalwart’s journey comes full circle in a place where it all began.

Before all the fame, Billie Jean Moffitt was born in Long Beach, California, into a conservative Methodist family. Her mother, Betty, was a housewife, and her father, Bill Moffitt, was a firefighter. At age 11, she switched from softball to tennis after her parents suggested she find a more “ladylike” sport. She saved $8 to buy her first racket, setting off a journey that would change the face of tennis. Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where a young Billie Jean Moffitt once studied, has just honored their most famous alum with something that’s truly larger than life—a mural. The school, named by *Sports Illustrated* as the “Sports School of the Century,” wanted to celebrate King’s impact in a special way. And what better way than to put her story up on a wall for generations of students to see?

BJK shared her excitement about the tribute on Instagram. The 81-year-old posted a carousel of photos from her visit, where she saw the mural for the first time. The mural was painted by artist Mike Sullivan, and the event was full of emotion and celebration. She also took the time to meet the school’s tennis team during her visit. In her caption, she wrote, “Such an incredible honor to witness the unveiling of this mural on the outside wall of my high school, Long Beach Poly, Home of Scholars and Champions, in Long Beach, California. Artist Mike Sullivan did an incredible job, and it was so much fun to have the high school’s tennis teams there to witness it all. Thank you to all involved in making this happen. I am forever grateful and my Alma Mater will always have a huge piece of my heart. Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve. ”

After graduating from Long Beach Poly in 1961, King attended Los Angeles State College, now known as California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA). But she didn’t graduate. She left in 1964 to focus full-time on tennis. That choice worked out pretty well. But she never forgot what she left behind. In October last year, Cal State LA announced that King would be given a Congressional Gold Medal. That’s one of the highest civilian honours in the U.S. And to top it off, the university even made a bronze statue of her. “I’m so honored. This statue on our campus will connect us forever. It reminds me that our legacy is not what is important. Your legacy is what other people say about you, but our contributions to our communities is what will define us forever,” said King.

But the story doesn’t stop there. At 81, King is proving once again that it’s never too late to learn. She’s gone back to college to complete the degree she left unfinished nearly 60 years ago.

Billie Jean King goes back to finish what she started

In an interview with Harvard Business Review in 2021, BJK talked about how much education meant to her. She said, “I wanted to go to college: Education was everything for my family. But this was pre–Title IX, so there were no women’s athletic scholarships, which meant I had to work two jobs while at California State University, Los Angeles. Meanwhile, about 30 miles away, Arthur Ashe had a full scholarship to the University of Southern California. But we practiced with our men’s team every afternoon, from 2 to 5, which ended up being a huge advantage.”

That drive never left her. On March 24, she made a big announcement on social media. “60 years ago, I left California State College, at that time, now it’s California State University in Los Angeles, to go and be No. 1 in the world. I went to Australia and I became No. 1. But, it has always bothered me that I haven’t graduated.” She continued, “So, we’re gonna call this the ‘Road to Graduation.’ I have entered Cal State LA… and I was a history major and I’m back being a history major.”

From saving $8 for a tennis racket to getting honored with murals and medals, Billie Jean King’s journey is unmatched. Her story keeps growing, and she’s still writing new chapters. What do you think is Billie Jean King’s most powerful contribution—on the court or off it?

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