Damien Mudge will be inducted into the United States Squash Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The ceremony will occur at a special luncheon at noon at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center in Philadelphia.

Mudge, an Australian, came to the U.S. in 1998 to work at the University Club of New York. He soon launched a doubles career without precedent. Since the first professional tournament in 1938, no one has come close to dominating like Mudge. Over the next twenty years, he played on both walls and partnered with (in order) Kenton Jernigan, Gary Waite, Viktor Berg, Ben Gould and Manek Mathur. With a rare combination of speed, finesse and outright power, he won 142 pro titles, by far the most in history (no other player has topped 100). His record at individual tournaments was breathtaking: he captured seventeen Johnsons, fourteen North American Opens, ten Kellners鈥攁ll the way down to a dozen one-off tournament wins. He notched five undefeated seasons.

For more on Damien Mudge, you can read an in-depth cover profile by James Zug from the April 2020 issue of Squash Magazine:

The U.S. Squash Hall of Fame was founded in 2000 at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. In 2006 it moved to Yale鈥檚 Payne Whitney Gymnasium. After sixteen years in New Haven, it relocated back to Philadelphia in April 2022 when the elegant Peggy & Leo Pierce Family U.S. Squash Hall of Fame space opened at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center.

Heather McKay will be inducted into the United States Squash Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The ceremony will occur at a special luncheon at noon at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center in Philadelphia.

Heather McKay is inarguably the greatest woman squash player in history. An Australian, McKay had a career unbeaten streak of 640 consecutive matches. She won sixteen straight British Opens. In those sixteen British Opens she recorded 104 9-0 games. She captured the first two World Opens. From 1975 to 1985 she lived in Toronto. She and her husband Brian worked at the new Toronto Squash Club, a seventeen court (fifteen hardball singles, one softball singles, one doubles) facility. Brian was the manager; Heather was the coach鈥攑erhaps the first woman in the world to work full-time as a squash teaching professional.

McKay had a colossal impact on squash in North America. She won the 1976 Canadian National Singles. She won the first three Bancroft Opens, as well as the 1978 Viva International and the 1979 National Singles.

Her initial foray to the U.S. was in January 1977 when she flew to New York to headline the inaugural Bancroft. It was the first time an American women鈥檚 squash tournament had offered prize money. 鈥淗er racquet, body and mental control are supreme,鈥� wrote Bobby Lehman after the seminal tournament, 鈥渁nd she could be counted on time and again to quell any hope that her opponents might have.鈥� Total prize money was $6,500; McKay walked away with $2,000, the largest payday she would ever get in squash. (The winner鈥檚 prize of the first British Open in 1974 was 拢50; her last British Open in 1977 earned her 拢100; the World Open in Brisbane in 1976 netted her $2,000 Australian.)

McKay was a global celebrity and her appearances in the States gave American squash an enormous boost. She also captured two U.S. National Doubles titles (playing the left wall with Barbara Savage), rejuvenating that tournament.

To learn more about Heather McKay, you can read an in-depth profile by James Zug last summer for .

The U.S. Squash Hall of Fame was founded in 2000 at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. In 2006 it moved to Yale鈥檚 Payne Whitney Gymnasium. After sixteen years in New Haven, it relocated back to Philadelphia in April 2022 when the elegant Peggy & Leo Pierce Family U.S. Squash Hall of Fame space opened at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center.

Morris Clothier will be inducted into the United States Squash Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The ceremony will occur at a special luncheon at noon at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center in Philadelphia.

Clothier is considered the greatest amateur right-wall doubles player in U.S. squash history dating back to the invention of doubles in 1907. He was National Doubles champion in 1993, 1994 and 1995 (with Jon Foster), 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 (with Erik Vlcek) and 2002 and 2005 (with Gary Waite). Only one player in men鈥檚 doubles history, Hall of Famer Diehl Mateer, has ever won more National Doubles titles. Clothier also won the National Mixed with Joyce Davenport in 1993 and the Canadian National Doubles in 1996 and 2001 (with Vlcek) and in 2007 (with Scott Stoneburgh).

Growing up in Philadelphia, Clothier was a top singles player. For five years he played on the varsity at Haverford School, which at the time was the top interscholastic team in the nation. He went 90-6, with all six losses coming against collegiate teams. He was inducted into the Haverford School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023 and the 1982-83 team, which he led, was inducted in 2006.

At Franklin & Marshall, Clothier played No.1 all four years and was a first team All American each season. He compiled a career record of 54-15 and led the Diplomats to a No.2 ranking in 1987. He was inducted into the F&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992 and the 1984-85 Dips men鈥檚 squash team, which recorded first-ever victories over Yale and Princeton, was inducted in 2025. Clothier captained both the Haverford and F&M teams. Twice Clothier reached the semifinals of the National Singles.

Off the court, Clothier has been a pivotal figure for the past thirty years. He was a longtime chair of the 黑料不打烊 Doubles Committee, helped found the National Parent & Child Championships and played a central role in the development of the pro doubles tour. In 2008 黑料不打烊 honored Clothier with its highest annual award, the President鈥檚 Cup.

The U.S. Squash Hall of Fame was founded in 2000 at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. In 2006 it moved to Yale鈥檚 Payne Whitney Gymnasium. After sixteen years in New Haven, it relocated back to Philadelphia in April 2022 when the elegant Peggy & Leo Pierce Family U.S. Squash Hall of Fame space opened at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center. With the additions of Clothier, McKay and Mudge, there will be seventy-four members of the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame.

Morris Clothier, Heather McKay and Damien Mudge will be inducted into the United States Squash Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The ceremony will occur at a special luncheon at 12pm ET preceding the finals of the 2026 U.S. Open at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center in Philadelphia.

The three are among the best to ever walk onto a squash court. Australia鈥檚 Heather McKay is considered the greatest woman squash player in history by virtue of winning a record sixteen British Opens. She was based in Toronto for a decade and from there had a remarkable impact on squash in the U.S. She won three U.S. national titles as well as all the earliest professional women鈥檚 tournaments in the States and was a role model as the first woman to work full-time as a teaching pro. Mudge, also from Australia, captured a record 142 pro doubles tournaments, playing on both walls with an unprecedented combination of power and finesse. Clothier, from Philadelphia, won nine National Doubles titles with three different partners and for the past quarter century has played a pivotal role in guiding squash doubles.

鈥淭his class embodies the excellence and legacy of the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame,鈥� said Mollie Marcoux Samaan, 黑料不打烊 CEO. 鈥淗eather McKay鈥檚 playing record remains one of the best of all time, and her influence as an early leader of women鈥檚 squash professionals in the U.S. cannot be understated. Morris Clothier and Damien Mudge represent the best of the squash doubles community. A top player and national champion, Morris impacted the sport as much off the court as a visionary and leader, imbuing his love of the game with future generations. Damien was simply the best and set a new standard for how squash doubles can be played at the highest level. We look forward to celebrating these remarkable inductees together with the squash community this fall.”

The U.S. Squash Hall of Fame was founded in 2000. It opened at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia then in 2006 moved to Yale鈥檚 Payne Whitney Gymnasium. After sixteen years in New Haven, it relocated back to Philadelphia in April 2022 when the elegant Pierce Family U.S. Squash Hall of Fame space opened at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center. With the additions of Clothier, McKay and Mudge, there will be seventy-four members of the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame.

鈥淢orris, Damien and Heather are representative of what makes squash so special,鈥� said James Zug, Jr., Chair of the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame Committee. 鈥淭hey are national champions who inspired the country with their ability, passion, sportsmanship and grit. They have had an exceptional impact on the history of squash in America.鈥�

The 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will benefit the U.S. Squash Foundation. Please stay tuned for ticketing, patronage, and ways to support this historic event, which will be released separately.

Learn more about the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame on ussquash.org/hall-of-fame.

]]> /2026/06/morris-clothier/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:45:29 +0000 /?p=68347 Clothier is considered the greatest amateur right-wall doubles player in U.S. squash history. From Philadelphia, he was National Doubles champion in 1993, 1994 and 1995 (with Jon Foster), 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 (with Erik Vlcek) and 2002 and 2005 (with Gary Waite). Only one player in men鈥檚 doubles history, Hall of Fame Diehl Mateer, […]]]>

Clothier is considered the greatest amateur right-wall doubles player in U.S. squash history. From Philadelphia, he was National Doubles champion in 1993, 1994 and 1995 (with Jon Foster), 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 (with Erik Vlcek) and 2002 and 2005 (with Gary Waite). Only one player in men鈥檚 doubles history, Hall of Fame Diehl Mateer, has ever won more National Doubles titles. Clothier also won the National Mixed with Joyce Davenport in 1993. Clothier has been a pivotal off-court figure for the past thirty years. He was a longtime chair of 黑料不打烊 Doubles Committee, helped found the National Parent & Child Championships and played a central role in the development of the pro doubles tour. In 2008 黑料不打烊 honored Clothier with its highest annual award, the President鈥檚 Cup.

McKay聽is arguably the greatest woman squash player in history. She won three U.S. national open championships: the National Singles in 1979 and the National Doubles in 1984 and 1985 (with Barbara Savage). An Australian,聽McKay聽won the British Open聽sixteen聽straight times in the 1960s and 1970s. From 1975 to 1985 she lived in Toronto, working as one of the world鈥檚 earliest full-time female squash teaching professionals.聽McKay聽was a global celebrity; when she came to New York and entered and won the first-ever women鈥檚 pro singles tournaments in U.S., it gave American squash an enormous boost.

Mudge is the best squash doubles player in squash history. He captured 142 professional doubles tournaments across North America, the highest in squash history (Hall of Fame Gary Waite is second on the list with 79). Originally from Australia, Mudge was dominant on both walls for two full decades, combining blistering speed with unparalleled finesse and movement. He won a record seventeen Johnsons and fifteen North聽American Opens and had five undefeated seasons. He worked as a teaching pro at the University Club of New York for twenty-one years until his retirement in 2021.

黑料不打烊 inducted Julian Illingworth and Latasha Khan into the United States Squash Hall of Fame at a special luncheon before the finals of the 2024 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships Saturday, October 26, at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center.

Illingworth won the National Singles nine times, reached world No. 24 and earned three medals at the Pan American Games. Khan won the National Singles seven times, reached world No.18 and earned three medals at the Pan American Games.

The induction ceremony featured tribute videos for both inductees with contributors including friends, family, teammates and coaches. View both tribute videos below.

Read more about the inductees and ceremony here.

Latasha Khan Tribute Video

Julian Illingworth Tribute Video

黑料不打烊 inducted Julian Illingworth and Latasha Khan into the United States Squash Hall of Fame at a special luncheon before the finals of the 2024 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships Saturday, October 26, at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center.

Illingworth won the National Singles nine times, reached world No. 24 and earned three medals at the Pan American Games. Khan won the National Singles seven times, reached world No.18 and earned three medals at the Pan American Games.

Sandy Tierney, the chair of the board of 黑料不打烊, welcomed a large crowd of friends, fans and family to the gala luncheon at the Ganek Family Champions Deck at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center. William Louis-Marie, the CEO of World Squash, spoke about how 黑料不打烊, founded in 1904, was the oldest of all the national federations that make up World Squash.

Kevin Klipstein, the president and CEO of 黑料不打烊, gave the keynote address at the luncheon. He acknowledged the members of the 黑料不打烊 board in attendance: Carey Anderson, Will Carlin, Chris Gordon, Todd Harrity, Nick LePore and Kara Kardon. He talked about the present status of squash in America and how respecting and revering the past is integral to its future. He spoke about the unprecedented achievements of Illingworth and Khan. 鈥淚t was all the more remarkable,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ecause they reached greatness in an era where they didn鈥檛 have the same support system in place today.鈥�

After a delicious meal, the chair of the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame committee, James Zug, spoke. He acknowledged the many squash luminaries from around the world at the luncheon, including LePore who was one of the founders of the Hall of Fame in 2000. Five U.S. Squash Hall of Famers were at the luncheon: Joyce Davenport (inducted in the class of 2011), Ned Edwards (2003), Anil Nayar, (2018), John Nimick (2006) and Michael Pierce (2015).

Everyone stood for a moment of silence in honor of those four members of the Hall of Fame who had died since the last induction in April 2022: Len Bernheimer (inducted in 2012), Jack Herrick (2011), Sam Howe (2002) and Ann Wetzel (2003). 鈥淭hese beloved leaders, coaches, mentors and champions,鈥� Zug said, 鈥渁re friends who are deeply missed.鈥�

Zug spoke about the historical significance of Illingworth and Khan鈥檚 career. He talked about how the West had developed independently from the East for much of the twentieth century and that a merger of sorts started in the 1970, highlighted by Portland, OR hosting the 1979 National Singles. 鈥淭hat was the first national championship hosted west of the Mississippi River,鈥� he said. 鈥淭oday is the end of a forty-five year journey that started at that tournament. 黑料不打烊 truly has become a national organization. Latasha and Julian are the first American-born players who didn鈥檛 grow up in the East Coast to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.鈥�

Celebratory videos were screened as introductions to both inductees. Speaking about Khan were Paul Assaiante, Will Carlin, Linda Elriani, Azam Khan, Shabana Khan, Laura Massaro, Madeline Perry, Suzie Pierrepont and Alison Waters. Speaking about Illingworth were Assaiante, Chris Gordon, Gilly Lane, Mark Lewis, Brian Mathias, Josh Schwartz, Chris Walker and Gareth Webber.

After her enshrinement, Khan thanked her family for their support: Yusuf Khan, her father and famous coach in Seattle; her sister and fellow national champion Shabana Khan; her brother and former Team USA member Azam Khan; and her sister Shanaz MacGregor. She thanked all her friends and rivals on the world tour. 鈥淒o whatever makes you happy,鈥� she said.

After his enshrinement, Illingworth thanked his family, including his father who introduced him to squash and his mother who flew with him to junior tournaments. He thanked his coaches, including Khalid Mir in Portland and Gareth Webber and Dave Talbott at Yale. 鈥淚 had a great support system and felt loved,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 liked games where I can figure things out, mastering the craft. Squash was about being able to live in the moment, to play with emotion and passion. I was lucky to have mentors who believed I was special, who believed in my potential, who allowed me to make mistakes.鈥�

The U.S. Squash Hall of Fame was founded in 2000 at a gala dinner at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia during the World Squash Doubles Championships. In 2021 it was relocated from Yale University to the Peggy & Leo Pierce U.S. Squash Hall of Fame at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center. With the additions of the Julian Illingworth and Latasha Khan, there are now seventy-one members of the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame.

Pictures from the ceremony are available on the . A recording of the ceremony and tribute videos will be available in the coming weeks.

(1973- )
Latasha Khan was one of the most dominant players in U.S. squash history. A four-time national junior champion, the Seattle native captured the National Singles seven times: in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; over a twenty-year period, she reached the finals seven more times, an extraordinary record of achievement in the national championship. Khan was a full-time touring professional for eighteen years, playing in an American women鈥檚 record total of 248 pro events. She had an attacking, all-court game, using finesse, tactical awareness and precise power to push herself to victory. She won ten pro titles and reached world No.18. Khan was on Team USA at the World Teams in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010 and earned two golds and a silver at the Pan American Games in 2003 and 2007. Off the court, Khan was chair of the women鈥檚 pro tour, helping lead them to an historic merger with the men鈥檚 tour in 2015.