The UNMATCHED: Gender Equity in Sports Conference celebrated its fifth anniversary earlier this month with its inaugural edition coming in 2022 several months before Tennis Canada, in partnership with National Bank, unveiled the Game. Set. Equity. commitment.
During the first conference, Billie Jean King took the stage as the keynote speaker and proclaimed that a women’s professional hockey league was needed. Jayna Hefford was in the audience that day. Fast forward two years when it was Hefford’s turn to moderate an UNMATCHED panel about the birth of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Today, she’s the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations for the league.
UNMATCHED has allowed people to connect in a safe space to move the gender equity in sports conversation forward in each individual’s work environment, no matter what sector they come from.
“I've watched the conference grow into a space where we can celebrate how far we've come while still being honest about the work that remains. That's a difficult balance to strike, and I think it's part of what makes UNMATCHED so impactful,” said Terri Temelini, Director Women and Girls Advancement at Tennis Canada. “What also stands out is the incredible legacy of the voices we've brought together over the past five years. We've welcomed tennis icons and trailblazers, while also expanding the conversation to include leaders from across sport and beyond. Those perspectives have challenged us, inspired us, and helped shape the evolution of the conference, all while staying rooted in tennis' longstanding leadership in advancing opportunities for women and girls.”
This year’s theme “Architects of the Next Era of Canadian Sport Equity” came through thanks to the newly established Equity Lab designed to spotlight the next generation of leaders advancing equity in sport. Three emerging organizations were able to contribute directly to the conference through collaborative sessions, dedicated spaces and integrated presentation moments.
“I think it creates a different dynamic when people feel like they're contributing to the conversation rather than simply participating in it,” Temelini explained. “The Equity Lab gave grassroots leaders an opportunity to share their experiences, learn from one another, and help shape the day. My hope is that everyone left feeling like they belonged, that their voices mattered, and that they had a role in advancing this work.”
Attendees appreciated the chance to network and the pace of the content throughout the day They liked the variety in the voices and how their stories built on each other. One of Temelini’s favourite 2026 moments came during the solutions sessions about designing for women.
“Having Melissa Clark, HOK's Regional Leader of Sports, Recreation + Entertainment, share the renderings of the new Toronto Tempo practice facility brought the research to life,” Temelini said. “We often talk about the importance of designing more inclusive spaces for women and girls in sport, but seeing those principles reflected in a physical environment made the conversation tangible. It gave people the opportunity to visualize what that looks like in practice, and I think that added a really powerful dimension to the content.”
So, after building awareness, strengthening partnerships, and expanding the network of organizations advancing equity in sport, what comes next for UNMATCHED and Game. Set. Equity. as Tennis Canada prepares to offer equal prize money at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers for the first time in 2027? For Temelini, she wants to continue building on the solid foundation that has been put in place.
“Equal prize money is a transformational milestone for tennis in Canada, and it's something we're incredibly proud of,” said Temelini. “It reflects years of intentional work and a belief that women and girls deserve the same opportunities to succeed and be celebrated in our sport. While it is a major achievement, we know it's not the final destination. There are still meaningful opportunities to strengthen pathways, increase representation, and create environments where women and girls can fully participate and excel. Our focus is on building on this momentum and continuing to move the work forward.”
