Former tennis legend Billie Jean King reveals one parenting mistake that pushes kids to quit sports early

Billie Jean King is still teaching the sports world powerful lessons, even at 82. This time, the tennis legend shared advice that every parent of a young athlete needs to hear. While speaking on SiriusXM’s LIFT, Billie Jean King explained one simple thing her parents did that helped shape her long, successful career.

Her message was clear, honest, and deeply personal, and it focused more on love and support than on winning trophies.During the Jan. 9 episode of LIFT, a SiriusXM show that features conversations with extraordinary women, Billie Jean King spoke about growing up in a sports-focused home and how her parents handled pressure the right way. She said her parents never asked her or her brother, Randy King, if they won their games.

Instead, they asked kinder questions that made sports feel safe and fun. That simple habit, she said, made all the difference and is something many parents today often forget.

Billie Jean King explains why parents should stop asking kids if they won

While talking on LIFT, Billie Jean King clearly explained her biggest advice to parents of young athletes. She said, “They never asked Randy or me if we won. If they picked us up in the car, or when we walked through the door at home, they didn’t say, ‘Did you win?’” Instead, her parents would ask, “What kind of day did you have?” or “What did you do well?”She explained that many children quit sports around ages 10 or 11 because they feel pressure to live up to their parents’ dreams.

“Let the child figure it out,” King said. She also shared that she often sees parents “hover” too much today, which can take the joy out of sports. According to King, kids need space to learn, grow, and enjoy the game in their own way.Billie Jean King is one of the most significant people in tennis history, she is a 39-time Grand Slam champion. Her 12 Grand Slam singles victories in the 1960s and 1970s helped to propel women's tennis to prominence.

She won the historic "Battle of the Sexes" against Bobby Riggs in 1973, an event that altered public opinion of women in athletics.Off the court, Billie Jean King helped create the Women’s Tennis Association and played a major role in securing equal prize money in the U.S. Open. In a May 2024 interview with PEOPLE, she also spoke about a painful childhood moment when she realized girls had very few sports opportunities. That memory, she said, pushed her to fight for access and equality for women and LGBTQ+ people. “Everyone has something to offer,” she said, reminding parents and leaders alike that support matters more than results.