In a gesture of monumental generosity and investment in the future of women’s squash in the United States, the Desai Family–Kay, Rohit, Vanya and Sunil–have named the U.S. Women’s Championships, the nation’s premier competition for the top American squash players.
The Desai Family has been on the forefront of the pursuit of parity at the highest level of squash in the U.S. for the past decade. The Desai Family created a new women’s trophy in perpetuity, which was presented for the first time in 2017. Sunil Desai had attended the 2015 Nationals in Charlottesville, and was inspired by the clear difference in size between the men’s S.L. Green trophy and women’s Sears Challenge Cup. The new trophy was custom-made out of silver and stands at more than two feet tall.
In naming the U.S. Women’s Championships, the Desai Family join Stephen L. Green, who has supported the S.L. Green U.S. Men’s Championships for more than four decades.
Before the final of the 2025 U.S. Women’s Championship final between world No. 4 Olivia Weaver and world No. 9 Amanda Sobhy, Kay spoke of the family’s commitment to sportsmanship and excellence. Read her full remarks below:
Rohit and I are delighted to be here this evening to watch this exciting match between Amanda and Olivia. Thank you all for being here as well.
Squash has been an important part of our lives for over half a century. Fred and Carol Weymuller introduced us to squash in the late 1960s at the Heights Casino, long before our children started playing in their storied junior program, which US squash has celebrated as the original and model junior squash program.
It was a program of which we are both particularly fond and proud. Carol and Fred, who were subsequently inducted into the US Squash Hall of Fame, developed many exceptional players, including national champions Alicia McConnell and Will Carlin, both of whose parents were good friends of ours. I understand that Alicia, also inducted into the US Squash Hall of Fame, still holds the record (seven) for most consecutive women’s national championships, a record unlikely to be broken now due to the greater number of women playing at the top level.
More importantly than talent and effort, however, Fred and Carol always emphasized sportsmanship and character in their players, including our children, who had competitive success on the court as well.
Notably, our daughter Vanya won multiple junior championships and a national collegiate championship and both Vanya and Sunil earned All American honors in the 1990s. Beyond a doubt, however, the value of sportsmanship and character were the primary life lessons they both received from Carol and Fred. I will note that both of today’s finalists have each previously won this Championship and each have received formal recognition for sportsmanship.
When Sunil alerted us to the disparity in the US Squash Women’s National Championship Trophy after he had watched the 2015 award presentation, we were pleased that our family could offer a solution. While Sunil led the project, it was indeed a family effort and took nearly two years to complete. Given the recently announced inclusion of squash in the 2028 Olympic Games, we believe this fulfillment of the Title IX expectations of equal pay and recognition for men and women in all sports is a beacon for all women and girls who are squash players.
This will be the first time Rohit and I have been able to attend. We look forward to presenting the trophy to the winner of the 2025 U.S. Women’s National Championship.
