Centre Court at IGA Stadium has seen its fair share of champions—Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Steffi Graf, Rafael Nadal, Martina Navratilova, Ivan Lendl... Over the decades, it’s been the setting for career-defining triumphs, dramatic comebacks, emotional farewells and intense battles that have thrilled (and sometimes crushed) Montreal’s famously tennis-savvy crowds. From legends etching their name in history to rising stars breaking through, it’s hallowed ground for greatness.
Just weeks ahead of the 2025 National Bank Open presented by Rogers, Centre Court played host to a different kind of tennis moment. Not a clash but a conversation between two high-profile athletes and sports leaders: hockey superstar Laura Stacey of the Montreal Victoire and French soccer icon Marinette Pichon, sporting director of the Montreal Roses.
They came together to reflect on their journeys, the evolution of women’s sports and the road still ahead. Both are featured speakers at the UNMATCHED Gender Equity in Sports Conference presented by National Bank on August 6.
Their message? Visibility creates possibility.
From invisible to unmissable
For Stacey and Pichon, the path to elite sports began on rinks and fields where girls were barely visible. “I had to get a special derogation to play with boys,” Pichon recalled of her childhood outside Paris. “People had to fight for me to even be allowed to play. Back then, there were no clubs, no organized leagues for girls.”
Stacey had a similar experience growing up in suburban Toronto. “I started playing hockey when I was three or four, but I had to play with the boys because girls’ teams didn’t exist. It wasn’t until I was in high school that girls’ hockey started to become more visible and accessible.”
But those early challenges never held them back. Instead, they were among the defining moments that fueled their drive. “When you don’t see anyone like you on the ice or the field, it’s hard to dream big,” Stacey explained. “Watching the Canadian women’s hockey team win gold at the 2002 Olympics on TV—that was the first time I felt I could be that someday. That visibility changed everything.”
Pichon added, “Today, there are more resources, more teams and, most importantly, more respect for women’s sports. We have professional leagues, TV time and growing fan bases. It’s no longer a question of if girls can play, but how far they can go.”
Progress but not parity
There’s no doubt women’s sports have made tremendous strides. The launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) in January 2024 delivered long-overdue infrastructure and recognition, and the new Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s very first professional women’s soccer league, is rapidly gaining real momentum, attracting top talent and rallying passionate fan communities.
“Every year, we’re making progress,” Stacey said. “It’s important to zoom out and realize how far we’ve come, even if there’s still work to do. We’re at a pivotal moment. Hockey, soccer, basketball, tennis, they’re all thriving in new ways. That’s really exciting.”
Pichon agreed, emphasizing that it’s not just infrastructure that’s evolving, it’s the athletes themselves. “Women are speaking louder than ever. We’re role models for future generations, and we want to inspire the next generations of Staceys and Pichons! That’s the fight.”
Tennis lessons
For Pichon and Stacey, tennis has long set the standard for gender equity and serves up lessons other sports are still catching up to.
“Tennis has had a major impact on hockey and the creation of the PWHL,” Stacey explained. “Billie Jean King is a huge factor, not just with investment but with her leadership. She urged us to stay united and helped us build something sustainable by sharing what worked in tennis. That influence has been massive.”
Pichon knows the fight is ongoing. “I admire the tennis players who continue to demand equality in prize money, media coverage and access. Tennis has consistently been one of the strongest sports for women who are standing up for their rights as elite athletes. I certainly applaud that.”
Stronger together
While they come from different sports and generations, Marinette Pichon and Laura Stacey share an unwavering dedication to solidarity.
“We need to support one another across women’s sports,” Stacey said. “What happens in soccer or tennis helps us in hockey and vice versa.” Pichon nodded emphatically in agreement. “The fight for equality isn’t a solo effort. It’s something we do together.
Serving goals
It wasn’t all business on Centre Court. Laura Stacey and Marinette Pichon may be champions for progress and equity, but the tone shifted to something a little lighter—and inevitably a little more competitive—when it came time to compare their stick handling and dribbling skills and volley about their sports (and tennis, of course).
On each other’s sport
- Laura: “I played soccer my whole childhood. It was definitely my number two after hockey. I’m a big outdoors person. I love being in the sun with the people I love, and that’s exactly what you get to do in soccer. Just seeing how much the sport has evolved, especially in Canada, is pretty amazing.”
- Marinette: “I’m envious that you can play any time. In hockey, the fans are always there, the lights, the atmosphere… that’s not something we always get in soccer. That indoor energy, I love it! And the fans screaming your name? That made me fall in love with hockey!”
The gear game
- Marinette: “Oh, those jerseys! I want Laura’s! Not the shorts, but I love the jersey!
Taking a page from tennis titans
- Laura: “I’d want Serena’s power, for sure. She showed that strength is beautiful. And also the mental resilience tennis players have. I mean, you’re out there alone, no teammates and no coaches. You make a mistake, it’s on you. I’ve played tennis for fun and let me tell you, I start blaming my racquet and throwing it around real quick when things don’t go my way!”
- Marinette: “I’d pick Steffi Graf. Her patience, the way she stayed calm and in control of the match from the back court. That ability to get inside her opponent’s head. That’s real strength.”
Tennis memories that stuck
- Marinette: “Today, playing against Laura Stacey!”
- Laura: “One of my favourite memories is watching Aryna Sabalenka at the NBO in Toronto last year. We were in the front row, right behind the serve. The power and spin coming off her racquet was insane! I’d watched tennis before but never that close. It was unforgettable.”
UNMATCHED to make it’s Montreal debut
Taking place on August 6 during the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, the first UNMATCHED conference in Montreal will emphasize the critical role of allies and solidarity in driving sustainable transformation in women’s sports.
