In the seventies we had to make it acceptable for people to accept girls and women as athletes. We had to make it okay for them to be active. Those were much scarier times for females in sports.

to the Fed Cup championship in 1996 and helped Lindsay Davenport Gigi Fernández and Mary Joe Fernandez capture Olympic gold medals. King won the title in Richmond; however one week later King lost in the semifinals of the tournament in San Juan. ) Three weeks later at the US Open King retired from her fourth round match with Julie Heldman while ill and suffering from the oppressive heat and humidity.

The Fed Cup Award of Excellence was bestowed on King in 2010. In 1972 King was the joint winner with John Wooden of the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award and was one of the Time Persons of the year in 1975.