Equity issues - women and girls

How to improve equity in the sport of tennis

But it’s not just about the money, it’s about the belief. A sponsor like Mercedes to make that long-term commitment - long-term being the operative word - means there’s a belief there, an emotional connection that this is going to help them, this is going to help us, this is a real team effort and that’s what gets me so excited personally.

“CoachHer is more than a program, it’s a catalyst for change. The collaboration between USTA Southern and WeCOACH shows what’s possible when organizations intentionally invest in women and align around a shared vision of equity and opportunity,” Lopez said. “It’s inspiring to witness participants not only grow as coaches but also become advocates

“Having a space for girls and women to build healthy connections and be empowered through sport is so important and life-changing. The more we show up unapologetically in these spaces, the more we make room for growth and change while challenging and breaking limiting beliefs and biases. Girls Forward not only embodies its vision, but it is

This work sheds light on the subtle but systemic forms of oppression within tennis, offering crucial insights to inform the challenging but necessary process of cultural change within the sport.

Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 2025, 33, 1-12 https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2025-0115
© 2025 University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG)

I think it was Helen Mirren who commented that she should have said “fuck you” much more often. Indeed. Every woman should.

Equity doesn’t mean sameness — it means fairness adjusted for historical and structural imbalance. And just like in sport itself, progress comes from teamwork.

“Coalitions create change because they are able to transform individuals’ awareness into collective action through building consensus.”

-Dr. Caroline Heffernan

Equity isn’t a destination, it’s a continual practice.

The very skills once dismissed as “soft” are now recognized as indispensable: empathy, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and the ability to build trust across divides.