1887-1898 Wissahickon Cup for the United States National Lawn Tennis Association U.S. National Women’s Singles Championship Challenge Trophy

The first U.S. National Women’s Singles Championship was held in 1887 and featured seven participants. Played at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, this championship was an offshoot of the 1886 Chestnut Hill Tennis Club Ladies Open. In 1887, Ellen Hansell defeated Laura Knight, 6-1, 6-0. In 1891, Ireland’s Mabel Cahill became the first international player to win the championships. In its ten-year tenure, the Wissahickon Cup was awarded to Ellen Hansell, Bertha Townsend, Ellen Roosevelt, Mabel Cahill, Aline Terry, Helen Hellwig, and Elisabeth Moore, before Juliette Atkinson won a third time, retiring the trophy in 1898.

“We did, now and then, grip our overdraped voluminous skirt with our left hand to give us a bit more ‘limb’ freedom when dashing to make a swift, snappy stroke…but lacking in force and great strength of the modern girl.” – Ellen Hansell