Sloane Stephens to Receive USTA Foundation’s ‘Serving Up Dreams’ Award
July 9, 2026
PURCHASE, N.Y., July 9, 2026 – The USTA Foundation announced that 2017 US Open Champion, Olympian, entrepreneur and philanthropist Sloane Stephens will be honored with the Serving Up Dreams Award at its annual Opening Night Gala on Sunday, Aug. 30, at the US Open.
The Serving Up Dreams Award recognizes individuals dedicated to advancing the USTA Foundation’s mission of using the powerful combination of tennis, education, and mentorship to prepare young people from under-resourced communities for the life challenges they will face, both on and off the court.
Stephens is one of the most accomplished American tennis players of her generation. After becoming only the fifth American woman in the Open Era to win the US Open and reaching a career-high WTA ranking of No. 3, Stephens has become a passionate advocate for education, equity, and community impact through the Sloane Stephens Foundation. With three locations in Compton, Calif., Fresno, Calif., and Miami Gardens, Fla., the Sloane Stephens Foundation is part of the USTA Foundation’s national network of organizations that use tennis as a tool to help young people from under-resourced communities live their best life stories.
Established in 2013 when she was just 20 years old, the Sloane Stephens Foundation works to empower young people and families through education, wellness, and sport – offering programs that provide them with a blend of academic enrichment, mentorship, mental health support, and athletic training. In 2025 alone, the Sloane Stephens Foundation served 7,500 young people through 1,500 hours of tennis, education, and life skills programming. The South Florida chapter was also designated as one of the first USTA Foundation Community Impact Hubs, an initiative that expands access to school and family play opportunities, coach training, and investment in courts.
Stephens has been nationally recognized for her impact off the court, most recently being named as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Philanthropy and was honored with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award at the 2025 ESPY Awards for her work with the foundation.
“The game of tennis has changed my life and opened up a world of possibilities for the next generation,” Stephens said. “Ensuring more young people have access to the sport and the opportunities it can provide is so important to me. Through the Sloane Stephens Foundation, we use tennis as a vehicle to help young people build confidence, develop life skills, ensuring every child feels supported, valued, and empowered to pursue their dreams. When we invest in kids, create opportunities, and build communities that believe in them, there’s no limit to what they can accomplish.”
Stephens also founded an award-winning, sustainable self-care brand inspired by her family. Additionally, as an investor in a global women’s basketball league and a cofounder of a sports and entertainment startup, she continues to champion mental health, diversity in sports, and youth empowerment, building a legacy of excellence, advocacy and impact.
“Sloane is a powerful inspiration who continues to use her platform to grow the next generation of leaders,” said USTA Foundation CEO Ginny Ehrlich. “From her grace on and off the court to her business acumen in the boardroom, she is a shining example that with dedication and confidence, anything is possible – a core lesson that’s taught every single day through the Sloane Stephens Foundation. We are proud to honor her with this year’s Serving Up Dreams Award and we look forward to the profound impact she will continue to make in the lives of young people.”
To learn more about the USTA Foundation, please visit ustafoundation.com and follow @USTAFoundation on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.