Billie Jean King added another remarkable chapter to her extraordinary life on May 18, graduating from California State University, Los Angeles at the age of 82 — more than six decades after first enrolling as a student.
The tennis legend received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History during the university’s commencement ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Dressed in a traditional black gown, bright blue sneakers and signature pink glasses, King proudly walked across the stage alongside thousands of graduates from the Class of 2026.
King first joined the university, then known as Los Angeles State College, in 1961. But her rapidly rising tennis career soon took over after she won the first of her 20 Wimbledon titles that same year, forcing her to leave college and pursue the sport professionally.
What followed was one of the most influential careers in sports history. King won 39 Grand Slam titles, famously defeated Bobby Riggs in the iconic “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973, and became a driving force behind gender equality in sport. She also helped found the Women’s Tennis Association and spent decades fighting for equal pay and greater opportunities for women athletes.
Despite all her achievements, not completing her degree always stayed with her. That changed recently when King discovered she was only a year short of graduating. She returned to complete coursework remotely, studying subjects including historical research, historiography, Title IX and LGBTQ+ rights movements.
On Monday, the moment finally came full circle. As she celebrated with family, friends and fellow graduates, King once again proved that some victories have nothing to do with scoreboards and that it’s never too late to finish what you started.
