Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour
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
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
2019-2020 (Tier 1 and Grand Slam Events)
Event | Champion | Runner Up | Semi Finalists | Quarterfinalists | Doubles Champions | Finalists |
Paola Longoria Experience[5] San Luis Potosí, Mexico |
15-13, 15-6 |
12-15, 15-10, 11-7 |
||||
Chesapeake Open[6] Virginia Beach, Virginia |
7-15, 15-12, 11-4 |
15-6, 15-11 |
||||
US Open Racquetball Championships[7] Minneapolis, Minnesota |
15-5, 15-7 |
15-13, 15-12 |
||||
LPRT Turkey Shoot[8] Lombard, Illinois |
15-2, 15-6 |
4-15, 15-10, 11-7 |
||||
Christmas Classic[9] Laurel, Maryland |
15-3, 12-15, 11-8 |
12-15, 15-11, 11-4 |
||||
LPRT Florida[10] Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
15-6, 15-12 |
15-14, 15-14 |
||||
Sweet Caroline Open[11] Greenville, South Carolina |
15-5, 15-6 |
15-5, 15-12[12] |
||||
Boston Open[13] Marlborough, Massachusetts |
15-8, 15-3 |
15-10, 15-12 |
||||
Battle of the Alamo San Antonio, Texas |
Cancelled due to COVID-19 | |||||
Teamroot.com Classic Overland Park, Kansas |
||||||
Season Summaries (Tier I and Grand Slam Events)
Season | Wins | US Open winner |
2019-20 | ||
2018-19 | ||
2017-18 | ||
2016-17 | ||
2015-16 | ||
2014-15 | ||
2013-14 | ||
2012-13 | ||
2011-12 | ||
2010-11 | ||
2009-10 | ||
2008-09 |
Rankings
Season ending top 10 rankings
Rank | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ||||
2 | ||||
3 | ||||
4 | ||||
5 | ||||
6 | ||||
7 | ||||
8 | ||||
9 | ||||
10 |
Rank | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13[14] | 2013-14[15] | 2014-15[16] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | |||||
2 | |||||
3 | |||||
4 | |||||
5 | |||||
6 | |||||
7 | |||||
8 | |||||
9 | |||||
10 |
Rank | 2005-06[17] | 2006-07[18] | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | |||||
2 | |||||
3 | |||||
4 | |||||
5 | |||||
6 | |||||
7 | |||||
8 | |||||
9 | |||||
10 |
Rank | 2000-01[19] | 2001-02[19] | 2002-03[20] | 2003-04[19] | 2004-05[21] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | |||||
2 | |||||
3 | |||||
4 | |||||
5 | |||||
6 | |||||
7 | |||||
8 | |||||
9 | |||||
10 |
- 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.[22]
Rank | 1995-96[23] | 1996-97[23] | 1997-98[23] | 1998-99[23] | 1999-2000[23] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | |||||
2 | |||||
3 | |||||
4 | |||||
5 | |||||
6 | |||||
7 | |||||
8 | |||||
9 | |||||
10 |
- Note - Marcy Lynch and Anita Maldonado tied for 4th in 1995-96.
Rank | 1990-91[24] | 1991-92[24] | 1992-93[24] | 1993-94[24] | 1994-95[23] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | |||||
2 | |||||
3 | |||||
4 | |||||
5 | |||||
6 | |||||
7 | |||||
8 | |||||
9 | |||||
10 |
- Note - Toni Bevelock and Molly O'Brien tied for 7th in 1992-93.
Rank | 1985-96[24] | 1986-87[24] | 1987-88[24] | 1988-89[24] | 1989-90[24] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | |||||
2 | |||||
3 | |||||
4 | |||||
5 | |||||
6 | |||||
7 | |||||
8 | |||||
9 | |||||
10 |
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[24] | 1981-82[24] | 1982-83[24] | 1983-84[24] | 1984-85[24] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | |||||
2 | |||||
3 | |||||
4 | |||||
5 | |||||
6 | |||||
7 | |||||
8 | |||||
9 | |||||
10 |
Most years in top 10
Rank | Player | Years |
1. | 21 | |
2. | 19 | |
3. | 16 | |
4. | 12 | |
4. | 12 | |
4. | 12 | |
7. | 11 | |
7. | 11 | |
8. | 9 | |
8. | 9 | |
8. | 9 | |
8. | 9 | |
8. | 9 | |
8. | 9 | |
Players ranked #1 at season's end
Years ended No. 1 | ||
1. | 10 | |
2. | 7 | |
3. | 6 | |
4. | 4 | |
4. | 4 | |
6. | 3 | |
6. | 3 | |
8. | 1 | |
8. | 1 |
- 1980-81:
Heather McKay - 1981-82:
Lynn Adams - 1982-83:
Heather McKay (2) - 1983-84:
Heather McKay (3) - 1984-85:
Lynn Adams (2) - 1985-86:
Lynn Adams (3) - 1986-87:
Lynn Adams (4) - 1987-88:
Lynn Adams (5) - 1988-89:
Caryn McKinney - 1989-90:
Lynn Adams (6) - 1990-91:
Michelle Gilman - 1991-92:
Jackie Paraiso Gibson - 1992-93:
Michelle Gould (2) - 1993-94:
Michelle Gould (3) - 1994-95:
Michelle Gould (4) - 1995-96:
Michelle Gould (5) - 1996-97:
Michelle Gould (6) - 1997-98:
Michelle Gould (7) - 1998-99:
Jackie Paraiso (2) - 1999-2000:
Jackie Paraiso (3) - 2000-01:
Cheryl Gudinas - 2001-02:
Cheryl Gudinas (2) - 2002-03:
Cheryl Gudinas (3) - 2003-04:
Cheryl Gudinas (4) - 2004-05:
Christie Van Hees - 2005-06:
Rhonda Rajsich - 2006-07:
Rhonda Rajsich (2) - 2007-08:
Rhonda Rajsich (3) - 2008-09:
Paola Longoria - 2009-10:
Paola Longoria (2) - 2010-11:
Rhonda Rajsich (4) - 2011-12:
Paola Longoria (3) - 2012-13:
Paola Longoria (4) - 2013-14:
Paola Longoria (5) - 2014-15:
Paola Longoria (6) - 2015-16:
Paola Longoria (7) - 2016-17:
Paola Longoria (8) - 2017-18:
Paola Longoria (9) - 2018-19:
Paola Longoria (10)
References
- "Video". CNN. October 29, 1984.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2003-08-02. Retrieved 2003-08-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Racquetball Magazine article
- https://web.archive.org/web/20050824155731/http://ladiesproracquetball.com/ 2005 WPRO website
- http://wprotour.com/documents/Rock_And_The_Role.pdf WPRO Press Release
- "Women's Singles LPRT Pro Single Elimination - Racquetball - The 2019 Paola Longoria Experience". www.r2sports.com. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- "Women's LPRT Draw". www.r2sports.com. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- "Women's Singles LPRT Pro Main Single Elimination - Racquetball - 2019 UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championship". www.r2sports.com. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- "LPRT Turkey Shoot". R2 Sports. R2 Sports. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- "2019 LPRT Christmas Classic". R2 Sports. R2 Sports. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- "LPRT Florida Pro-Am - Singles Draw". R2 Sports. R2 Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- "2020 Sweet Caroline - Singles". R2 Sports. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- "2020 Sweet Caroline - Doubles". R2 Sports. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- "2020 Boston Open". R2 Sports. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- "LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour" (PDF). Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- "LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour" (PDF). Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- "LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour". Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2006-07-03. Retrieved 2006-07-03. Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
- "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-09. Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
- "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2003-02-14. Retrieved 2003-02-14. Ladies Professional Racquetball Association
- https://web.archive.org/web/20030720144454/http://ladiesproracquetball.com/ Ladies Professional Racquetball Association
- "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2005-08-26. Retrieved 2005-08-26. Ladies Professional Racquetball Association
- Racquetball magazine, July–August 2001
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2003-06-07. Retrieved 2003-06-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Women's International Racquetball Tour
- "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2003-06-07. Retrieved 2003-06-07. Women's Professional Racquetball Association
- "2010-11 Schedule". Archived from the original on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
External links
- "Official Website". Retrieved 2010-04-26.
- International Racquetball Tour