Who is a Woman Squash Player?

By Jennifer Gabler

This article could read as the history of a squash icon. But the difference is that this icon is still playing and capturing national championships today. Joyce Davenport, who won her first National Singles Championship in 1965 (she has over fifty national titles), is continuing to write her squash history by winning national age group and open events. But Joyce is not simply a squash story, she is an amazing all-around athlete who played tennis at Wimbledon and says she is very tempted to play national or international level tennis in the coming years. And her professional life has been anything but one-sided, including helping to buildup one of the first public squash clubs into a major center of squash activity in Philadelphia.

Joyce Davenport
Joyce Davenport

Joyce grew up playing at the Cynwyd Club outside of Philadelphia, coached by Norm Bramall who had a history of turning out national women’s champions. She went to Mount Holyoke to focus on academics rather than athletics. Mount Holyoke did not have squash, but as a freshman Joyce was sent to England by the USSRA to play No. 1 on the U.S. Women’s Squash Team that competed in the Wolfe-Noll competition (U.S. vs. England team competition). This six-week tour was her introduction to the international softball game, and she experienced top level coaching and competition.

Joyce’s professional life has been multi-faceted. After college, she spent three years teaching high school social studies in inner city Philadelphia. She moved in 1969 to San Francisco and became manager of a placement agency. At the time, she was both the national singles and doubles champion, but in the Bay Area there were no squash clubs that welcomed women players. One club in Berkeley told her that if she would agree to run a clinic then they would let her on the courts to play. Joyce didn’t stand for this unequal treatment, and dropped out of squash for the six years she lived in California.

Joyce decided to change careers and headed back east in 1976 to attend Villanova Law School. She picked up her squash racquet again after her California layoff and began playing as a 34-year-old. To finance law school she taught squash at the Berwyn Squash Club and was also a tennis pro. She quickly was back playing the pro hardball singles circuit and became a consistent top-10 player when Barbara Maltby and Alicia McConnell were at the top.

After law school, she worked on a political campaign and as an attorney for an intellectual property firm. At the same time, the Berwyn was experiencing financial trouble and had virtually closed its doors. Eventually the owners of the Berwyn Club persuaded Joyce to become the manager and she stayed on as part everything—owner/manager/pro. She introduced many new tournaments and helped make public squash a vital part of the Philadelphia squash scene. After Berwyn Squash was sold, she worked as a retail broker for Morgan Stanley. She is now semi-retired but is still teaching squash.

Joyce believes that post-college women are more likely to keep playing squash in the long run if they keep their hand in the game. “They can play less and be less fit but still really enjoy the game. They can alter their style of play to less retrieving and more offense and have the fun of developing more shots. If they can find playing partners they enjoy because of their style of play or compatibility they are more likely to keep playing. Even practicing without keeping score can make it more fun and productive. Playing other sports can help with cross-training and avoiding burnout.”

Joyce is weighing her competitive options going forward. She would like to qualify for the newly formed Women’s Doubles Squash Association (“WDSA”) tour, which she finds is a fun group of women who are very inclusive and play well. She likes the women’s doubles game and believes it will be a great promoter of the women’s game in general. She believes doubles is a really good way for post-college players to stay involved in squash since it requires less fitness and is more social than singles play.

Women’s Featured Events
Jan. 16-18
Liberty Bell Open
Berwyn, PA

Mar. 13-14
U.S. Masters Squash Championships (Open Age Division)
Hartford, CT

May 15-17
The Hyder Invitational
New York, NY

Apr. 17-19
U.S. Skill Level Championships
King of Prussia, PA