The Howe Cup will return to New York City for the first time in eight years and the nineteenth time in the tournament’s ninety-year history as the top seeded NY Fab Five defeated Philadelphia’s Pheisty Phive 5-0 in the final Sunday, November 10, at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia.
300 women competed on teams of five players across four divisions in the ninetieth edition of the Howe Cup, the United States’ largest annual women’s squash tournament. 112 players competed on fifty-six doubles pairings in the MPD doubles held alongside the Howe Cup–the largest women’s doubles event held over the course of the season.
View all results on the Howe Cup tournament page and MPB Doubles tournament page. Live stream replays will be available Monday, November 11, on the US Squash Youtube channel. Tournament photography is available on the US Squash Smugmug page.
The NY Fab Five entered the A draw as the top seeds, and pulled off a perfect run to the title without dropping a single match. Despite the 5-0 scoreline, the final proved to be a difficult test against Philadelphia’s Pheisty Phive. No. 1 Min Jie Teh, No. 3 Sidney Maxwell and No. 4 Katherine Lynch all pulled through four and five-game wins to seal the title.
“We’re so excited to bring the Howe Cup back to New York City,” said Lynch, the NY Fab Five captain. “We worked really hard to put together the best team possible. It’s just such an amazing weekend of women’s squash, and I’m happy that we were able to showcase the New York talent here in Philadelphia. It’s been a special weekend. Everyone’s so welcoming and warm, and nice and fun. Last night everyone from ages 14 to 75 were on the dance floor together.having a great time. The sportsmanship was so good from everyone. It was such a wholesome, wonderful weekend for women’s squash.”
For a third straight year, the B division was decided between New York City and Boston-based teams. The top-seeded NYC Big Nick Energy edged defending champions and two seeds Boston Queen B’s in close 3-2 final.
The C division title will remain in the pacific northwest, but moves from Seattle to Portland, Oregon after MAC Attack made a surprise run to the title. The Multnomah Athletic Club-based team upset the top two seeds on their way to the title, defeating top seeds NYC Aces in the semifinals and two seeds NYC Lob Mob in the final.
Boston earned a title in the D Division in another close 3-2 final as the Boston D Racquettes defeated the NYC Racquettes.
The MPB Doubles saw Baltimore’s mother-daughter tandem Patricia & Casey Wong top the A division against New York City’s Joanne Schickerling and Howe Cup champion Min Jie Teh.
Philadelphia-area teams won both the B and C titles: Ninca Abdullah & Ella Watson claimed the B title, while Julia Pierce & Rebecca Guenther captured the C title. Buffalo’s Ann Wolney & Anne Denman will take the D title back to upstate New York after fulfilling their top seeding.
