Monday, 02 June 2025

Helen Wills

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2025
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Tennis
Statistics: 19 Singles Titles
19 Singles Grand Slams
398-35 Singles Record
4 French Open Singles Titles (1928, 1929, 1930 & 1932)
8 Wimbledon Singles Titles (1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1935, & 1938)
7 U.S. Open Singles Titles (1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929 & 1931)
9 Doubles Titles
9 Doubles Grand Slams
2 French Open Doubles Titles (1930 & 1932)
3 Wimbledon Doubles Titles (1924, 1927 & 1930)
4 U.S. Open Doubles Titles (1922, 1924, 1925 & 1928)
6 Mixed Doubles Grand Slams
3 French Open Mixed Doubles Titles (1928, 1929 & 1932)
1 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Title (1929)
2 U.S. Open Mixed Doubles Titles (1924 & 1928)
6 Wightman Cups (1923, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1932 & 1938)
1 Singles Olympic Gold Medal (1924)
1 Doubles Olympic Gold Medal (1924)
Member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame
It can be argued that Helen Wills was the first mainstream female American athlete of note, but it can’t be disputed that Helen Wills was the first female sports icon in American history.

Rising through the ranks quickly, Wills (later known as Helen Wills Moody and Helen Wills Rourke) won her first U.S. Open in 1923 at 17. She continued to dominate the American tennis scene for years after, but when she went to France for the 1924 Olympics, Wills won Gold in both Singles and Doubles, and this, combined with her first of three Wimbledon wins, made her a star in Europe.

Known for her stoic demeanor on the court, Wills was impossible to read. That poker face and her natural athleticism made her a must-watch athlete and one of the first women to prove her strength in a competitive sport. Wills won 34 Grand Slam Titles and boasted a 158-match win streak, which was even more impressive considering that she never lost a set!

Any biography (even if it is brief) has to mention how Wills became an International celebrity and style icon. Her white visor, knee-length outfit, white stockings, and eyeliner distinguished her visually before she raised her racket. Everyone flocked to her, and the introverted Wills became a reluctant socialite. She was so famous that she graced the cover of Time Magazine twice.

If there is a blemish on her record, it is her loss to the French superstar Suzanne Lenglen in 1926 in a contest dubbed the “Match of the Century.” Lenglen turned pro shortly after, and Wills never did get a chance to avenge her loss, but as she was six years her junior at the time, it stands to reason that Wills likely would have scored the win at a future date.

We are proud to nominate Helen Wills for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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