Billie Jean King was a co-founder and the face of the original World Team Tennis league (1974-1978), which launched just months after her historic exhibition win over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973.  King’s husband at the time, Larry King, was a co-founder and team owner (Golden Gaters), alongside Dennis Murphy who was involved in the launch of the American Basketball Association and the World Hockey Association.

Material from this league is pretty rare these days, despite the fact that some of the biggest stars of sport (particularly the women’s game) moonlighted in WTT during the mid-1970′s:

==Key Players==

• Bjorn Borg (Cleveland Nets)
• Jimmy Connors (Baltimore Banners)
• Chris Evert (Phoenix Racquets & Los Angeles Strings)
• Evonne Goolagong (Pittsburgh Triangles)
• Ilie Nastase (Hawaii Leis & Los Angeles Strings)
• Martina Navratilova (Boston Lobsters)
• John Newcombe (Houston E-Z Riders)

World Team Tennis also provided the first entry into professional sports ownership for future Los Angeles Lakers and Kings owner Dr. Jerry Buss (Los Angeles Strings) and future New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft (Boston Lobsters).

Franchise List: