virginia wade defeated betty stöve in the final, 4–6, 6–3, 6–1 in the final to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 1977 wimbledon championships. wade remains the last british woman to win a wimbledon singles title. chris evert was the defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to wade. this was the first time wimbledon seeded more than 8 players for the ladies' championship, increasing the number (for this year only) to twelve players. the number increased to 16 in 1978.