The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour is the latest name for the women's professional racquetball tour. It features the world's best players and several events each season - running from September to May - that are mostly played in the USA.
History[edit]
Women's professional racquetball has existed since the 1970s but the women's pro tour began in 1980, when the Women's Professional Racquetball Association (WPRA) was created.[1] The tour was run by International Management Group, and did well in the early 1980s in part due to the great rivalry between Lynn Adams and Heather McKay. The WPRA lasted until 1994, when the Women's International Racquetball Tour (WIRT) was created.
In 2000, the United States Racquetball Association (USRA) took over administration of the WIRT, and renamed it the Ladies Professional Racquetball Association (LPRA). This led to significant growth under the supervision of the USRA, which had a three year plan for the LPRA.[2]
In 2005, the players took over control and ownership of the tour, and again it was reorganized and rebranded as the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization.[3] Shannon Feaster, a former player and marketing executive, served as the WPRO Commissioner from February 2006 to May 2011, when she stepped down to focus on her family. Gigi Rock was then hired as the new commissioner in July 2011.[4]
In 2012, the players decided to reorganize and created the LPRT with T. J. Baumbaugh as President and Andy Kulback Deputy Commissioner. Kulback resigned in October 2016.
Current season[edit]
2023-2024 (Tier 1 and Grand Slam Events)[edit]
Event | Champion | Runner Up | Semi Finalists | Quarterfinalists | Doubles Champions | Finalists |
KWM Gutterman World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships Highlands Ranch, Colorado August 10-13, 2023 | Paola Longoria 13-15, 15-3, 11-5[5] | Montserrat Mejía | Alexandra Herrera
Brenda Laime | Samantha Salas
Natalia Mendez
Gabriela Martinez
Erika Manilla | | |
2023 LPRT Turkey Shoot Lombard, Illinois November 16-19, 2023 | Maria Jose Vargas 15-9, 15-5[6] | Erika Manilla | Montserrat Mejía
Paola Longoria | Alexandra Herrera
Brenda Laime
Natalia Mendez
Kelani Lawrence | Alexandra Herrera
Montserrat Mejía 12-15, 15-5, 11-9[7] | Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas |
31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Millersville, Maryland December 9–11, 2022 | Maria Jose Vargas 15-8, 15-7[8] | Montserrat Mejía | Paola Longoria
Cristina Amaya | Alexandra Herrera
Samantha Salas
Kelani Lawrence
Gabriela Martinez | Alexandra Herrera
Montserrat Mejía 15-10, 15-8[9] | Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas |
Arizona Open Tempe, Arizona January 12–14, 2024 | Maria Jose Vargas 15-5, 15-12[10] | Alexandra Herrera | Paola Longoria
Erika Manilla | Angélica Barrios
Montserrat Mejía
Gabriela Martinez
Brenda Laime | Alexandra Herrera
Montserrat Mejía 15-9, 15-4[11] | Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas |
Boston Open Marlborough, Massachusetts March 1–3, 2024 | Paola Longoria 8-15, 15-11, 11-8[12] | Montserrat Mejía | Maria Jose Vargas
Alexandra Herrera | Cristina Amaya
Kelani Lawrence
Angélica Barrios
Brenda Laime | Natalia Mendez
Maria Jose Vargas 8-15, 15-10, 11-4[13] | Alexandra Herrera
Montserrat Mejía |
Battle at the Alamo San Antonio, Texas April 25–28, 2024 | Maria Jose Vargas 15-12, 8-15, 11-7[14] | Montserrat Mejía | Alexandra Herrera
Paola Longoria | Kelani Lawrence
Gabriela Martinez
Jessica Parrilla
Samantha Salas | Alexandra Herrera
Montserrat Mejía 15-7, 15-10[15] | Michelle Key
Carla Muñoz |
Sweet Caroline Open LPRT Open Greenville, South Carolina May 17-19, 2024 | Maria Jose Vargas 15-12, 7-15, 11-10[16] | Paola Longoria | Alexandra Herrera
Montserrat Mejia | Carla Muñoz
Natalia Mendez
Gabriela Martinez
Kelani Lawrence | Alexandra Herrera
Montserrat Mejía 15-10, 15-4[17] | Natalia Mendez
Maria Jose Vargas |
LPRT Battle at the Beach - Season Finale Chesapeake, Virginia June 6-9, 2024 | Paola Longoria 15-5, 15-10[18] | Alexandra Herrera | Montserrat Mejía
Maria Jose Vargas | Brenda Laime
Kelani Lawrence
Natalia Mendez
Carla Muñoz | Alexandra Herrera
Montserrat Mejía 15-5, 15-9[19] | Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas |
Season Summaries (Tier I and Grand Slam Events)[edit]
Season | Wins | US Open winner |
2023-24 | Maria Jose Vargas (5), Paola Longoria (3) | - |
2022-23 | Montserrat Mejía (5), Paola Longoria (3), Alexandra Herrera, Gabriela Martinez | Paola Longoria |
2021-22 | Paola Longoria (6), Alexandra Herrera (2), Gabriela Martinez | Paola Longoria |
2020-21 | Paola Longoria (2), Montserrat Mejía | No event due to COVID-19 pandemic |
2019-20 | Paola Longoria (7), Maria Jose Vargas | Paola Longoria |
2018-19 | Paola Longoria (9), Maria Jose Vargas | Paola Longoria |
2017-18 | Paola Longoria (7), Samantha Salas, Maria Jose Vargas | Paola Longoria |
2016-17 | Paola Longoria (10), Frédérique Lambert, Samantha Salas | Paola Longoria |
2015-16 | Paola Longoria (11) | Paola Longoria |
2014-15 | Paola Longoria (10), Maria Jose Vargas (2), Rhonda Rajsich | Paola Longoria |
2013-14 | Paola Longoria (12) | Paola Longoria |
2012-13 | Paola Longoria (11) | Paola Longoria |
2011-12 | Paola Longoria (7), Rhonda Rajsich | Paola Longoria |
2010-11 | Paola Longoria (5), Rhonda Rajsich (4), Samantha Salas (1) | Rhonda Rajsich |
2009-10 | Paola Longoria (5), Rhonda Rajsich (2), Cheryl Gudinas (1) | Rhonda Rajsich |
2008-09 | Paola Longoria (4), Rhonda Rajsich (4), Kristen Walsh Bellows (1) | Paola Longoria |
2007-08 | Rhonda Rajsich (5), Cheryl Gudinas (3), Paola Longoria, Christie Van Hees | Rhonda Rajsich |
2006-07 | Rhonda Rajsich (5), Christie Van Hees (3), Kerri Wachtel, Angela Grisar | Christie Van Hees |
2005-06 | Christie Van Hees (3), Rhonda Rajsich (2), Cheryl Gudinas (2) | Christie Van Hees |
2004-05 | Christie Van Hees (4), Cheryl Gudinas (2), Rhonda Rajsich | Cheryl Gudinas |
2003-04 | Cheryl Gudinas (6), Christie Van Hees (2), Rhonda Rajsich | Rhonda Rajsich |
2002-03 | Cheryl Gudinas (9), Jackie Paraiso (2), Kerri Wachtel | Cheryl Gudinas |
2001-02 | Cheryl Gudinas (5), Jackie Paraiso (2), Rhonda Rajsich | Kerri Wachtel |
2000-01 | Cheryl Gudinas (9), Jackie Paraiso (2), Christie Van Hees (2), Rhonda Rajsich | Christie Van Hees |
1999-2000 | Jackie Paraiso (4), Cheryl Gudinas | Jackie Paraiso |
1998-99 | Jackie Paraiso (7), Christie Van Hees | Jackie Paraiso |
1997-98 | Michelle Gould (4), Marci Drexler | Michelle Gould |
1996-97 | Michelle Gould (10), Jackie Paraiso, Cheryl Gudinas | Michelle Gould |
1995-96 | Michelle Gould (9) | - |
1994-95 | Michelle Gould (3), Marci Drexler | - |
1993-94 | Michelle Gould (6), Marci Drexler | - |
1992-93 | Michelle Gould (4), Marci Drexler | - |
1991-92 | Michelle Gould (2), Jackie Paraiso (2), Malia Bailey (2), Toni Bevelock | - |
1990-91 | Michelle Gould (5), Lynn Adams (2) | - |
1989-90 | - | - |
1988-89 | Caryn McKinney (4), Lynn Adams (2) | - |
1987-88 | Lynn Adams (4), Caryn McKinney, Marci Drexler | - |
1986-87 | Lynn Adams (6), Caryn McKinney (2), Marci Drexler (2) | - |
1985-86 | Lynn Adams (7) | - |
1984-85 | Lynn Adams (8), Vicki Panzeri | - |
1983-84 | Heather McKay (7), Lynn Adams (5) | - |
1982-83 | Lynn Adams (6), Heather McKay (3), Shannon Wright | - |
1981-82 | Lynn Adams (6), Heather McKay (4) | - |
1980-81 | { Heather McKay (3), Shannon Wright (2), Lynn Adams | - |
Note: The US Open began in 1996.
Rankings[edit]
Season ending top 10 rankings[edit]
- Note - Christie Van Hees announced she was retiring at the end of the 2000-01 season, and was omitted from the season ending rankings despite winning two tournaments that season and being in the finals of two others. She certainly would have been in the top 10 that season.[29]
- Note - Marcy Lynch and Anita Maldonado tied for 4th in 1995-96.
- Note - Toni Bevelock and Molly O'Brien tied for 7th in 1992-93.
Rank | 1985-96[31] | 1986-87[31] | 1987-88[31] | 1988-89[31] | 1989-90[31] |
1 | Lynn Adams | Lynn Adams | Lynn Adams | Caryn McKinney | Lynn Adams |
2 | Caryn McKinney | Caryn McKinney | Caryn McKinney | Lynn Adams | Michelle Gilman |
3 | Marci Drexler | Marci Drexler | Kaye Kuhfeld | Toni Bevelock | Caryn McKinney |
4 | Vicki Panzeri | Molly O'Brien | Marci Drexler | Marci Drexler | Toni Bevelock |
5 | Terri Gilreath* | Vicki Panzeri | Molly O'Brien | Kaye Kuhfeld | Kaye Kuhfeld |
6 | Bonnie Stoll* | Kaye Kuhfeld | Jackie Paraiso | Molly O'Brien | Malia Bailey |
7 | Molly O'Brien* | Terri Gilreath | Vicki Panzeri | Dottie Fishl | Molly O'Brien |
8 | Sandy Robson* | Marcy Lynch | Liz Alvarado | Jackie Paraiso | Jackie Paraiso |
9 | Fran Davis | Chris Evon | Toni Bevelock | Cindy Doyle | Dottie Fishl |
10 | Trina Rasmussen | Jackie Paraiso | Cindy Doyle | Marcy Lynch | Chris Evon |
Note: In the 1986-85 season, Terri Gilreath and Bonnie Stoll tied for 5th and Molly O'Brien and Sandy Robson tied for 7th.
Rank | 1980-81[31] | 1981-82[31] | 1982-83[31] | 1983-84[31] | 1984-85[31] |
1 | Heather McKay | Lynn Adams | Heather McKay | Heather McKay | Lynn Adams |
2 | Lynn Adams | Heather McKay | Lynn Adams | Lynn Adams | Vicki Panzeri |
3 | Shannon Wright | Shannon Wright | Shannon Wright | Shannon Wright-Hamilton | Terri Gilreath |
4 | Marci Greer | Marci Greer | Laura Martino | Janell Marriott | Caryn McKinney |
5 | Karin Walton-Trent | Peggy Gardner | Vicki Panzeri | Vicki Panzeri | Marci Drexler |
6 | Peggy Gardner | Laura Martino | Janell Marriott | Terri Gilreath | Janell Marriott |
7 | Laura Martino | Terri Gilreath | Marci Greer | Laura Martino | Heather McKay |
8 | Linda Prefontaine | Rita Hoff | Terri Gilreath | Caryn McKinney | Liz Alvarado |
9 | Francine Davis | Jennifer Harding | Peggy Gardner | Marci Greer | Diane Bullard |
10 | Janell Marriott | Vicki Panzeri | Heather Stupp | Brenda Barrett | Cindy Baxter |
Most seasons in top 10[edit]
Players ranked #1 at season's end[edit]
| Seasons ended No. 1 | |
1. | Paola Longoria | 13 |
2. | Michelle Gould | 7 |
3. | Lynn Adams | 6 |
4. | Cheryl Gudinas | 4 |
4. | Rhonda Rajsich | 4 |
6. | Heather McKay | 3 |
6. | Jackie Paraiso | 3 |
8. | Montserrat Mejía | 1 |
8. | Maria Jose Vargas | 1 |
8. | Caryn McKinney | 1 |
8. | Christie Van Hees | 1 |
References[edit]