In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8 and this year’s theme of ‘Give to Gain’, Tennis Canada is proud to support organizations like Black Girls in Tennis, a powerful initiative that is fostering a brighter future for women and girls in our sport.
Black Girls in Tennis (BGIT) was born from a simple but powerful realization that something was missing. Founded by Jacqueline Ngondo, who learned the game from her father at just three years old, BGIT grew out of her lifelong love of tennis and her desire to see more women on the court. When she noticed the lack of community and representation in the spaces she played in, she decided to create the environment she wished existed. What began as a personal observation has grown into a movement where tennis serves as more than just a sport. It is a space for women to stay active, build confidence, form meaningful friendships, and thrive both on and off the court.
BGIT originated in Edmonton and has since expanded to Calgary and Winnipeg. In 2025, the Calgary Tennis Society, headed by Patrick Thomas, was awarded one of the Game. Set. Equity. Community Tennis Grants and he allocated funding to the Calgary chapter to pay for coaching fees and indoor court time to expand its reach. This crucial funding means that BGIT can host sessions year-round in different clubs and develop new women coaches who can share their knowledge and passion with participants.
“When I attended the first session and I saw the number of women that showed up, I was quite impressed and I thought it was something that would really fit within Game. Set. Equity.,” Thomas explained.
Yosabeth Agonafer leads the Calgary chapter of Black Girls in Tennis which hosts bi-weekly one-hour sessions for women between the ages of 20-35 featuring lessons, rallies, and games. Most sessions wrap with a social gathering that includes refreshments. This post-workout hang is often the hook that keeps retention rate high.
Research shows girls are motivated by having fun with friends, being active, and developing their skills. It helps keep them in the game and that’s why it’s an area of focus of the Game. Set. Equity. commitment to build a strong foundation to grow tennis in Canada at the grassroots level by awarding community tennis grants to programs, such as BGIT, that promote the involvement of self-identifying girls and women in every aspect of the game.
“Being part of Black Girls in Tennis has meant more to me than I expected. It is not just about learning the game, it is about connection,” said Deborah Ampong, a BGIT participant. “I have made friends who encourage me, celebrate me, and push me to grow. Tennis finally feels like something I look forward to bi-weekly.”
Given the age range of the BGIT participants, Agonafer is confident that they will eventually introduce their kids to tennis, adding another building block to the ecosystem of players she is currently forming.
“Some of them already have kids and are looking for ways to get them into tennis and the ones who don’t yet, when they start families, they’ll be the ones putting a racket in their children’s hands,” Agonafer explained.
Now that a successful roadmap that is easily replicable has been outlined, the goal is to bring BGIT to Halifax and Vancouver in 2026 to introduce even more women to tennis and eventually open the door for them to lead, to innovate, and to have a lasting impact on the growth of the sport that started as a can’t-miss social engagement.
Learn more about the Game. Set. Equity. Community Tennis Grants presented by National Bank and how they are creating new opportunities for women and girls to thrive in sport.
Learn more about Black Girls in Tennis and the Calgary Tennis Society.
Images courtesy of Black Girls in Tennis
