Unaware of that but knowing about Billie Jean's demands for equal pay and treatment, 55-year-old former tennis champ Bobby Riggs (STEVE CARELL) challenges her to a tennis match to prove male dominance in the sport. Billie Jean declines the offer, but her rival, Margaret Court (JESSICA McNAMEE), takes him up on the challenge and loses badly, something that helps stroke his ego now that his wife, Priscilla (ELISABETH SHUE), has kicked him out of the house over his gambling addiction.

Seeing Bobby now claim to be the number one player in women's tennis, Billie Jean has no choice but to accept his challenge for a match between them. As she prepares for that and continues to play in Gladys' tournaments, she must not only contend with Bobby's showy chauvinism, but also her confusion about her sexual identity, what with both Larry and Marilyn still being in her life.