Rising Stars Program
The full path — not just the first step.
Applications are open for our 2026 Cohort NY players
Rising Stars removes the financial barriers that keep talented Black girls from competing at the highest levels of junior tennis. The path to college and professional tennis is expensive — tournament fees, cross-country travel, coaching, and rankings management. Most talent-identification programs cover the first step and leave families to shoulder the rest. Rising Stars closes that gap, funding the full journey so a player's progress is determined by her game, not her family's budget.
BGTC identifies the talent through our national network of coaches, chapters, and partners. Your investment makes sure she can go the distance.
How It Works
Each cycle, Rising Stars selects and invests in a cohort of promising young Black female players (ages 14–17) from the BGTC network.
1
Players are evaluated on competitive profile — UTR, rankings, tournament history — alongside drive, character, and the specific barriers standing between them and their next level.
2
Selected players receive tournament and development support, gear, and access to elite tennis moments through BGTC's partner ecosystem.
3
The cohort is revealed publicly during US Open Fan Week.
4
Rising Stars is a community, not just a grant. As a condition of the program, players give back — volunteering at BGTC clinics and events and mentoring younger girls coming up behind them. The girls we invest in become the representation the next cohort is looking for.
Your Investment Funds
Tournament Access
Entry fees and travel support for the sectional, national, and ITF junior events that build rankings and college exposure.
Player Development
Rankings and UTR assistance, coaching support, and guidance toward college tennis or a professional career.
Equipment & Gear
Racquets, strings, and on-court apparel through partners like Wilson and Luxilon.
College Pathway
Connection to BGTC's network of Black women in tennis and the broader HBCU community.
BGTC finds the talent. Your investment makes sure she can go the distance.
Applications are open for our 2026 Cohort NY players