WTA Pays Respects To Women’s Tennis Pioneer Larry King

The WTA is deeply saddened by the passing on May 29 of Larry King, an impactful figure in the early growth of women’s professional tennis, and the former husband of Billie Jean King. He was 81 years old.

A lawyer and entrepreneur, King prepared the legal paperwork that laid the foundations for the creation of the WTA in 1973. Among many ventures during his lifetime, he was also a key player in the staging of Billie Jean’s historic ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition match against Bobby Riggs, as well as the formation of the Women’s Sports Foundation and the innovative World Team Tennis league.

In 2024, King was presented with the WTA Foundation’s Champions for Change Award, for his contributions to the sport of tennis and women’s empowerment.

At the time, Billie Jean King stated: “Larry, you are a founding member of the WTA, because the WTA would not have been formed in 1973 without you. You got us to sign in members, drafted the by-laws and facilitated the election of officers. You taught me the importance of being a feminist and stood beside me and all the players in our fight for equality, inclusion and respect. We all owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Reflecting on King’s legacy, WTA Chair Valerie Camillo said: “Larry King didn’t just champion equality from the sidelines – he embodied male allyship at a defining moment for sports, culture, and society. Standing with Billie Jean and sharing her mission for positive change, his moral advocacy and vital contributions as a lawyer and businessman set the stage for the WTA Tour as we know it. On behalf of the WTA, I extend our deepest condolences to Larry’s wife, Nancy, their children, and all his loved ones.” For more on Larry King, click here