World Squash Day at the Steel Court
World Squash Day was founded by Alan Thatcher and a group of players to honor those in the squash community who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In its inaugural year, a U.S. team traveled to the U.K. for an international match — a gesture of friendship through sport. Since then, World Squash Day (WSD) has grown into a truly global celebration, still championed by its original founder, with clubs and players worldwide staging events to celebrate the sport and welcome new players to the court.
A Rainy Start, but the Game Goes On
The weather on WSD 2025 didn’t initially cooperate — light rain lingered throughout the morning, dampening hopes for the public “Bring a Friend to Play” sessions. But by afternoon, the skies cleared just in time for the day’s highlight: an exhibition match between World #65 Alina Bushma and World #83 Margot Prow — former Drexel University teammates now carving their paths up the PSA World Tour rankings.
Rising Stars on the World Stage
Originally from Ukraine, where she was national #1, Alina Bushma now resides in the U.S. and is a familiar face at the Steel Court. Sponsored by Maspeth Squash, she blogs about her PSA World Tour journey here.
Alina’s style is attacking, tenacious, and quick — her short grip gives her superb slice and control at the front, which she blends with pace and power to the back of the court. This year, she went unbeaten at the European Team Championships, took a game off Nele Gilis at the Squash on Fire Open, and narrowly lost to Lucy Turmel (World #29) after leading 2–1 at the Open Squash Classic just a week before WSD. Her steady climb in the rankings suggests a top-30 breakthrough is on the horizon.
On the opposite side stood Margot Prow, left-handed and equally ambitious. A Squash Pro at MSquash in Connecticut, she represents Bermuda, though her formative squash years were spent in the U.K. In 2025, she reached a career-high ranking of World #81, narrowly missing out on wins against Hollie Naughton (World #33) at the Pan American Games and Nour Heikal (World #41) at the Bermuda Open.
Margot’s signature weapons are her cross-court volley nicks and a deft attacking boast, often forcing lobs that set up her powerful volleys to finish rallies.
An Exhibition Worthy of the Pros
I had the pleasure of refereeing the match — and while billed as an exhibition, both players approached it with full professionalism. After introductions from Rob, the opening rallies set the tone: fast-paced, attacking squash of exceptional quality.
Alina raced to a 2–0 lead (11–5, 11–4) and maintained a narrow edge in the third, but Margot fought back superbly to force a tense 22–20 tiebreak. After several exchanged match and game balls, Alina finally broke through to seal the match 3–0 — a high-quality contest that kept spectators enthralled.
A Fitting Celebration of Squash
Over the past five years, the Steel Court has become a magnet for elite players including Mohamed ElShorbagy, Nick Matthew, Nathan Lake, Timmy Brownell, Laila Sedky, and Nicole Bunyan. Its unique outdoor glass setup replicates the conditions of a professional court, providing an excellent training and exhibition venue — and, on WSD, a spectacular backdrop for fans to watch world-class squash in the open air.
The day concluded with the traditional “hit with the pros” session, giving local players a chance to share the court with the stars. As always, Freddy’s incredible photography captured the energy and emotion of the day, while Rob — the ever-passionate Chief Squash Evangelist — orchestrated the event with trademark enthusiasm. Vera ensured everyone was well-fed and warmly welcomed, embodying the community spirit that defines Maspeth Squash.
Together, they made World Squash Day 2025 at the Steel Court another memorable celebration of the sport — one that perfectly captures squash’s unique blend of athleticism, camaraderie, and passion.
