The World Team Tennis (WTT) league launched in 1974 as a revolutionary, co-ed alternative to the traditional pro tennis circuit, aiming to transform a polite individual sport into a high-energy team spectacle. Founded by tennis icon Billie Jean King alongside Larry King, Dennis Murphy, and Jordan Kaiser, the league upended conventions by introducing a unique format where men and women competed together on equal footing for city-based franchises. WTT captured immediate attention by implementing fan-friendly innovations, including a simplified, no-ad scoring system, multicolored courts, and an atmosphere that actively encouraged roaring crowds, heckling, and team camaraderie.

During its initial 1970s run, the league attracted some of the biggest icons in tennis history, with legends like Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, Björn Borg, and Evonne Goolagong Cawley suiting up for teams like the New York Sets and Los Angeles Strings. Despite generating significant buzz, star power, and a loyal following, WTT faced intense friction from traditional tennis federations—particularly the French Open, which banned participating players—and struggled under the weight of heavy financial losses and franchise instability. Although the original league folded after the 1978 season, its pioneering spirit left a lasting legacy, proving the massive commercial appeal of mixed-gender professional sports and permanently altering the way tennis could be packaged as fast-paced, accessible entertainment.

WTT TENNIS TEAM MERCH

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