Kelley (far right) with her First State Squash team at the 2026 SEA Team Nationals

February is Black History Month in the United States–a month honoring the achievements, culture and history of Black people and the African diaspora. US Squash and the College Squash Association are celebrating by sharing stories and profiles of squash players and coaches in the U.S. squash community who have created a legacy and inspired others to follow in their footsteps.

At twenty-six years old, Makyla Kelley has already blazed her own trail in squash. The Chicago native picked up the sport as a middle schooler in the MetroSquash program, where she fell in love with the game and developed into a college-caliber player for St. Lawrence. Kelley, a Sociology major and Sports Studies & Exercise Science and Art/Art History minor, captained the Saints squad for two years, played in the top three and earned Rookie of the Year, All Liberty League, Liberty League Honor Roll and CSA Scholar-Athlete honors.

For the last four years, Kelley has served as the first Director of Squash at First State Squash–Wilmington, Delaware’s Squash and Education Alliance program founded in 2016–where she works with nearly 100 kids.

Kelley spoke with US Squash about her journey from student to coach, the importance of Black History Month and setting the example for her students.

When did you first learn about squash?

I was introduced to the sport in 2010. My middle school was partnering with Metro Squash and had a field trip opportunity for everyone to go to in downtown Chicago [at the U.S. Open in Millenium Park]. I just wanted to miss school, who doesn’t want to miss school and then go on a field trip? We went to the venue and they had a glass squash court outside. One of the players was Jonathon Power. I was like ‘I am so sold’.

I tried out my first year and didn’t make the team, but did the following year. As I grew through the sport, I had hand-eye coordination because of basketball and the fitness was there. But I wondered if there was a different level of squash. Is it professional? Is there a higher level? I didn’t see it at the beginning until I had my first female coach, Emma Charlton. She impacted me a lot in squash because she’s an amazing player. She was the first person that helped me get to know the sport and to build courage in myself in the sport. She was basically my mentor the whole time and took me everywhere with her.

What were your early years like at MetroSquash and how did it influence you?

I went to Cartagena, Colombia with MetroSquash and I never thought in the world that I would go there. My mom got involved, my family got involved, my grandfather came to one of the matches. He didn’t know what squash was, he thought it was tennis and called me ‘Mini Serena’ the whole time in one of my tournaments. It was just the whole family aspect about the sport and the community that it wasn’t just being competitive. It was about the camaraderie regardless of skill level. It was just a big family. And that’s really why I continued in the sport because their encouragement. My family, my coaches and my friends made me want to improve and see what the next level is—not just middle school but bronze, silver, gold tournaments, college, career-wise to see what it looks like for the future. I can still picture seeing that glass court for the first time.

Kelley (center) with her MetroSquash team and coach Emma Charlton (far right) at SEA team nationals.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Black History Month means a lot to me. We have twelve months a year, but this one month we celebrate Black excellence. It’s recognition and appreciation for all the work that I and others have put in. I am one of the people that represents Black excellence by what I’m doing in a field that’s not very common for Black people generally, or Black women.

Every time Black History Month comes around, I think of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, I think of anybody in Black history in general. They’ve led this path so people can look up to them and follow their example. I see myself in them now, and I’m still growing. It’s just amazing.

Why is Black History Month important?

I am proud to be Black and to know that I can search up a lot of things about Black History Month that connects to me, not only just in sports but in the social realm. We can learn that ‘this was why this person made these steps because we weren’t able to have these rights.’ Or ‘We weren’t able to accomplish this, but now here’s the pathway of opportunities that are possible because this one person or this group of people have made this impact on a lot of people.’

I definitely wouldn’t have had a lot of the opportunities I have today back then. I can look back at history and say ‘I can vote for this’ or ‘we have this style because of this.’ I learn stuff every day, but around this month you really treasure and cherish those moments and think back on how far we’ve come.

Who are some of your Black role models, either within squash or outside of squash?

As I got older and learned more about what SEA was about and went to SEA tournaments, you’d see a lot of different people. I’d see some of the older girls, the high school girls and the top five and top ten players. Mawa Ballo looked just like me–she wore a hijab and dove all over the court. I remember seeing her first college match–she played at Conn College– when I was still in high school and she was an amazing squash player. To see her and older SEA girls and realize that I can actually go to college to play this sport. I watched them and thought ‘they’re moving, they’re playing faster.’

I went to camps with Khadijah Muhammad and she was five or six years older than me but was a really good player. I thought ‘wow, these girls are going to college to play squash, I can go to college to play squash.’ They made a big impact on me. Mawa was the coach at one of the camps I went to at Williams, the Beyond Walls camp. I remember to this day taking a picture with her because she was a celebrity in my eyes.

I remember being at my first CSA individuals and seeing players like Melissa Alves. I was stunned when I saw her play and the fact that she was a Black girl from France....

US Squash

Message History

Delivery option(s)