In this week’s DIVA Dating Digest, we take a look at the relationship timeline of these tennis icons
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE VIA INSTAGRAM (@BILLIEJEANKING)
In the realm of sports and advocacy, few partnerships resonate as profoundly as the dynamic duo of Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss.
Renowned for her indomitable spirit and groundbreaking achievements on the tennis court, Billie Jean King stands as an iconic figure whose legacy transcends the boundaries of sport. As a trailblazer for gender equality, she etched her name in history with the legendary Battle Of The Sexes match, challenging societal norms and championing women’s rights.
Complementing Billie Jean’s trailblazing journey is the remarkable Ilana Kloss, an accomplished tennis player turned successful businesswoman and sports executive. Together, Billie Jean and Ilana have forged a formidable alliance, not only in their personal lives but also in the pursuit of social change.
But how did they fall in love? We look into this couple’s long-lasting relationship in this week’s DIVA Dating Digest.
1966: The couple meet for the first time
Let’s go back to Johannesburg in 1966. Billie Jean King was playing, and Ilana Kloss was just a ball girl at the time. In 2020 Ilana revealed more about their meeting story on the Women’s Tennis Association website. “We’d all fight to ballgirl for her – especially at the net where we’d get more work,” she wrote. “It was electrifying. She was a serve-and-volleyer and she was all-in. That’s something I’ve seen her be throughout her life — everything she takes on is 100%.”
1987: The pair begin a romantic relationship
After Billie Jean’s divorce from Larry King, the doubles pair soon became pretty loved up. Billie Jean had already come out publicly at this point after being outed by a previous lover in 1981.
2014: The couple co-founded the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative
Nothing screams power couple more than creating your own non-profit together. Billie Jean and Ilana set up the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative in 2014 to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Icons!
2018: The pair secretly get married
In true sapphic style, Billie Jean and Ilana got married in secret in 2018. In fact, we only found out they got married in 2021 when Billie Jean released her tell-all memoir All In. The wedding was officiated by former New York City mayor David Dinkins and only three people knew about the wedding at the time.
In her memoir, Billie Jean wrote: “Nobody threw rice or smashed wedding cake in the other’s face. One of the brides wore jeans and a lovely red scarf and the other had on a black shirt, a comfortable warm‑up suit, and pearls — ha! — a personal touch of glamour that Ilana still teases me about.”
Speaking with PEOPLE magazine before the release of the memoir, Billie Jean continued: “I felt very married to Ilana, whether I had a piece of paper or not. But I’d had a big problem with trusting and it meant a lot to show my trust in Ilana.”
In her memoir, Billie Jean even wrote: “Years from now, I never want anyone to question how much I was committed to you.” Couple goals for sure!
Feb 2024: Billie Jean and Ilana celebrate Valentine’s Day
With a smiling selfie, the pair still look as loved up as ever. Billie Jean wrote in her Instagram caption for Valentine’s Day: “My partner in life and in love. The journey means so much more because we’re walking it together. Happy Valentine’s Day, llana.”
DIVA magazine celebrates 30 years in print in 2024. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
