Billie Jean King Cup 2025: Teams, players, schedule and everything you need to know

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The Billie Jean King Cup returns! The Tennis Gazette shares all the important information about the competition.

Eight countries from around the world will compete to win the biggest team event in women’s professional tennis this week.

The tournament, named after one of the greatest sportswomen of all time, was designed to inspire the current and future generations of female tennis stars.

Here is everything you need to know about the Billie Jean King Cup, from the teams and players to the schedule and how to watch.

• READ MORE: Former world number two set to play for the first time since Wimbledon after injury comeback at the Billie Jean King Cup

Where and when is the Billie Jean King Cup?

The 2025 Billie Jean King Cup will take place between Tuesday, September 16, and Sunday, September 21.

All matches will be played on the main court at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena in Shenzhen, China.

Billie Jean King Cup teams and players

There are eight teams at the Billie Jean King Cup, made up of the host nation, defending champion, and six qualifying countries.

• China (host nation)
• Italy (defending champion)
• Spain (qualifier)
• Ukraine (qualifier)
• Kazakhstan (qualifier)
• United States (qualifier)
• Great Britain (qualifier)
• Japan (qualifier)

Each team consists of four or five players and one captain. The United States have one of the strongest lineups at the BJK Cup:

• Jessica Pegula
• Emma Navarro
• McCartney Kessler (replacing Madison Keys)
• Hailey Baptiste
• Taylor Townsend
• Lindsay Davenport (Captain)

Billie Jean King Cup schedule

The Billie Jean King Cup format involves four quarter-finals, two semi-finals, and a final, all to be played within six days.

How to watch the Billie Jean King Cup

Fans in the United States can watch television coverage of every match from the Billie Jean King Cup on Tennis Channel or live streams on Fubo.

Billie Jean King Cup predictions

The Tennis Gazette writers have predicted who will win the Billie Jean King Cup and how the United States team will fare in Shenzhen.

Matthew Johns: The USA have not won the BJK Cup since 2017, but they are by far the standout team for me from the last eight this year. They have the full package: star singles players in Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, lots of depth, and a fantastic doubles specialist in world number one Taylor Townsend. Hard to see anyone beating them, but watch out for dark horses, Ukraine!

Lee Clarke: It’s hard to look beyond Team USA, being brutally honest. They go into this tournament looking strong, and in Lindsey Davenport, they have a captain who has won some of the game’s biggest prizes, with that mentality likely to be key at this event. Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro are both top 10 players, whilst the likes of Hailey Baptiste and Taylor Townsend are both bang in form.

George Patten: Italy will arguably head to Shenzhen as favorites to defend their Billie Jean King Cup title, led by two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini. Many have suggested that Team USA will provide the Italians with their toughest challenge, as Lindsay Davenport has selected a strong squad that includes singles star Jessica Pegula and doubles number one Taylor Townsend. Look out for Ukraine, though, who have an underrated team, spearheaded by the experienced Elina Svitolina. The side have missed out on qualification for the last few years and won’t want to let what may be a rare opportunity slip through their fingers. With doubles specialists Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok completing the lineup, don’t be surprised to see the Ukrainians spring an upset or two in China.

Peter Lynch: The USA have named a very strong team for this year’s event, and with a very strong captain also in Lindsay Davenport, I can see them going all the way. They do, however, have a tricky test first up against Kazakhstan.