The book explores the high-profile 1977 legal battle in which Richards successfully sued the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for the right to compete in the women’s draw of the US Open, a story that dominated headlines.

Richards, an ophthalmologist who had previously competed as a male amateur player, sought legal representation from Roy Cohn to challenge the USTA’s requirement that she prove she was 'genetically female' to participate in the professional women's tour.

Kliegman notes that while the court ruling was a landmark moment for Richards personally, the decision was limited in scope, as the author states: 'Obviously, clearly, it was very significant for Renée. But the decision was limited to her.'

The author, who is trans and non-binary, conducted multiple in-person interviews with the 92-year-old Richards while researching the project, alongside reviewing autobiographical materials and transcripts from a previously unpublished memoir project that provided deep insight into her life.

A notable aspect of the biography is its exploration of Richards’s current views, as she now advocates for restrictions on trans athletes in women’s sports, marking a significant shift from the position she held during her 1977 lawsuit.

Kliegman describes this evolution as a point of tension, noting that Richards believes trans women should not compete in women’s sports if they have undergone male puberty, citing concerns over potential physiological advantages over cisgender peers.

The book also details the early life of Richards, who was born Richard Raskind in New York City. Raskind was a talented tennis player who served in the Navy and practiced medicine before undergoing a sex-change operation in 1975.

During her professional tennis career, Richards achieved a peak singles ranking of No. 20. Her 1977 US Open appearance saw her lose in the first round of the singles draw to the defending Wimbledon champion, Virginia Wade.

In the doubles competition that same year, Richards and her partner Betty Ann Stuart reached the final, where they were defeated by the formidable pair of Martina Navratilova and Betty Stöve, marking a high point in her professional career.

The biography highlights the support Richards received from tennis legend Billie Jean King, who played a pivotal role in helping her gain acceptance among other competitors on the professional tour after initial hesitation from the wider tennis community.

Kliegman explains that King initially sought medical advice to better understand the situation before meeting with Richards, eventually deciding to support her inclusion by playing doubles alongside her, which the author describes as a crucial moment of validation.

Following her retirement from professional tennis, Richards transitioned into a career as a coach, most notably working with Martina Navratilova in a partnership the book describes as successful, though occasionally marked by a bumpy dynamic between the two.

Richards also returned to practicing ophthalmology for a long and distinguished career, with a list of clients that included the prominent sports and politics journalist Keith Olbermann, demonstrating her professional success outside of the tennis court.

The book also touches upon the personal challenges faced by Richards, including the 2019 death of her son, Nicholas, who died by suicide at the age of 47. Kliegman notes that this tragedy remains a raw and painful subject.

Kliegman made the editorial decision to use birth names and pronouns when discussing Richards’s early life as Raskind, a choice made in consultation with Richards to accurately reflect her personal history and the evolution of her identity.

The author acknowledges that this approach deviates from modern journalistic standards but argues it was necessary to fully depict the complex journey Richards experienced, allowing the reader to understand the push and pull between the two identities.

Reflecting on the current climate, Kliegman suggests that the discourse surrounding trans athletes today is marked by a level of hostility that exceeds what Richards encountered during the 1970s, despite the progress made in societal awareness since that era.

The project serves as both a historical account of a significant sports milestone and an examination of the ongoing debates regarding inclusion and fairness in competitive athletics, framed through the lens of Richards's unique and often contradictory life.

Richards remains active in the sport, with Kliegman noting that she continues to participate in regular social tennis activities at her local golf club, maintaining the connection to the game that served as a lifeline throughout her life.