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Billie Jean King is offering what she considers her most important advice to parents raising young athletes.
The tennis icon recently appeared on SiriusXM's LIFT, a new program on SiriusXM's Stars channel that highlights conversations with influential women. During the Jan. 9 episode, King reflected on her legacy and shared lessons shaped by her upbringing and decades in professional sports.
King, 82, spoke about the approach her parents took when raising her and her brother Randy, who went on to play professional baseball for more than 10 years. One detail, she said, made a lasting impression.
"They never asked us if we won," King recalled.
She explained that whether her parents picked them up after games or greeted them at home, the question was never about results. Instead of asking about victories or losses, they focused on how the day went overall. King noted that many parents instinctively ask children if they won, which can unintentionally place pressure on young athletes.
According to King, research shows that many children around the ages of 10 or 11 stop playing sports because they feel unable to meet their parents' expectations. She believes this pressure can take away the joy of participation and growth.
Rather than emphasizing outcomes, King encouraged parents to ask open-ended questions such as what their child enjoyed, what they learned, or what they felt they did well. She credited her parents for allowing her and her brother to figure things out on their own and said that kind of support is often missing today, as many parents tend to hover.
King's advice is informed by a remarkable career. She won 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles and mixed doubles and dominated women's tennis throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Her influence extended beyond the court, most notably in 1973 when she defeated Bobby Riggs in the highly publicized Battle of the Sexes, a match that became a defining moment in the fight for gender equality in sports.
Off the court, King helped found the Women's Tennis Association and was instrumental in achieving equal prize money at the U.S. Open. She has continued to advocate for inclusion, equity and LGBTQ+ visibility.
In a previous interview with PEOPLE, King recalled realizing as a child that professional sports opportunities were largely closed to girls. That moment helped shape her lifelong mission to expand access, especially for women and marginalized communities.
"Everyone has something to offer," King said, emphasizing the importance of creating space for all voices.
