Billie Jean King, No. 1 tennis player in the world and tireless advocate for women’s equality, would earn 39 Grandslam tennis titles, triumph over Bobby Riggs at the Battle of the Sexes, be voted one of the 25 most influential people of 1981, earn the medal of freedom from Obama at the White House in 2009, and champion inclusivity for all.

Even so, there was one battle that was harder to win and would almost destroy her in the process. If she could win it though, it would give her the greatest prize of all, the gift to be herself.