Tennis legend Billie Jean King profiles 11 of today's pioneering women and nonbinary athletes in this inspiring nonfiction book based on exclusive interviews that will empower athletes and sports fans ages 12 and up.
Billie Jean King made history in her 1973 ""Battle of the Sexes"" tennis match against Bobby Riggs. She proved women athletes were as capable, determined, and worth watching as men. Now, she highlights the trailblazing women and nonbinary athletes of today who are proving the same thing every time they play.
In See It To Be It, readers will learn about superstars athletes like tennis player Naomi Osaka and WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark, as well as players on the rise, such as Paralympic swimmer McKenzie Coan and Kendall Coyne Schofield of the gold medal-winning US Olympic hockey team. Based on exclusive interviews and featuring never-before-published photos, this electrifying book shares true stories that will energize young athletes and prove that legends aren't just born, they're made-both on and off the playing field.
Athletes profiled are Caitlin Clark (basketball), Diana Flores (flag football), Kendall Coyne Schofield (hockey), Midge Purce (soccer), Asjia O'Neal (volleyball), Kelsie Whitmore (baseball), Amit Elor (wrestling), McKenzie Coan (swimming), Nikki Hiltz (track), Chelsea Gray (basketball), and Naomi Osaka (tennis).
By:
Billie Jean King,
Liz Robbins
Imprint: Calkins Creek
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Weight: 567g
ISBN: 9781662681448
ISBN 10: 1662681445
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 11 August 2026
Recommended Age: From 12 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
English as a second language
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: Caitlin Clark, Basketball: “Pressure Is a Privilege” CHAPTER 2: Diana Flores, Flag Football: “You Have to See It to Be It” CHAPTER 3: Kendall Coyne Schofield, Ice Hockey: “Ask for What You Want and What You Need” CHAPTER 4: Midge Purce, Soccer: “Relationships are Everything” CHAPTER 5: Asjia O’Neal, Volleyball: “Perspective is Priceless” CHAPTER 6: Kelsie Whitmore, Baseball: “You Define Yourself” CHAPTER 7: Amit Elor, Wrestling: “Be a Problem Solver” CHAPTER 8: McKenzie Coan, Swimming: “Celebrate Our Differences” CHAPTER 9: Nikki Hiltz, Track: “Champions Adjust” CHAPTER 10: Chelsea Gray, Basketball: “Starts with Integrity” CHAPTER 11: Naomi Osaka, Tennis: “Know Your History” ACKNOWLEDGMENTS BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCE NOTES PICTURE CREDITS
Billie Jean King is a sports icon and best-selling author. She has dedicated her career to fighting for equality and advancing opportunities for women and other marginalized groups in sports. Her efforts, for which she received a Presidential Medal of Freedom, have increased education, access, and empowerment for all athletes. She is the author of All In- An Autobiography, among other books. Visit billiejeanking.com.
Reviews for See It To Be It: Eleven Champions Leading Women's Sports Today
""Revered professional tennis player King and sports journalist and author Robbins highlight a new generation of women athletes. King interviewed 11 elite athletes and their caregivers and coaches, showing curious readers what drives the pros...These women excel in a broad range of sports, such as basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, wrestling, swimming, and tennis, and the challenges they’ve faced include physical disability (Paralympic gold medalist in swimming Coan has osteogenesis imperfecta) and racial marginalization (soccer star Purce established the Black Women’s Player Collective, and Japanese world champion tennis player Osaka, whose father is Haitian, spoke out about systemic racism)... King offers her own unique insights into professional athletes’ psyches, and the interviews show how critical early support is to their success. A winning tribute to remarkable achievements.""—Kirkus Reviews ""This colorful collection of short biographies offers a wide range of women currently involved in professional sports... I’m a huge admirer of King’s, and the amount of good she has done for women’s sports is beyond incredible. It’s particularly noteworthy that she stops to focus on the struggles and accomplishments of other women in sports. Robbins writes engaginly about the different women, there are lots of photos, and the source notes at the back of the book are very complete. This would make a great gift for a young athlete.""— Ms. Yingling Reads (Edelweiss review)
