NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Former Smith College tennis player Miranda Gibson has continued her work in the sport well beyond her collegiate career, serving as a coach with the Black Girls Tennis Club and as a 2026 United States Tennis Association Eastern Ambassador.
Gibson grew up in ballet, lacrosse and tennis, and captained both the varsity lacrosse and tennis teams during her high school career. She was recruited to Smith as a lacrosse player, arriving on campus as the COVID-19 pandemic kept the program from full-contact work. Facing those limitations, Gibson picked her racket back up.
She met with head tennis coach Caitlyn Lawrence and began hitting with members of the team in her spare time. The following fall, Gibson formally joined the tennis program, competing at No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles. By her junior season, she helped lead the Bears to their first NEWMAC tournament appearance in more than a decade.
Her relationship with Lawrence connected her to one of the first joint events between the USTA and Jack and Jill of America, a leadership organization for Black mothers and their children. As Gibson continued to volunteer with the USTA, she was introduced to the Black Girls Tennis Club through Caira Walker.
At a USTA Eastern event held near the US Open grounds, Gibson said she saw more community around the sport than she ever had before. While she was helping a young player with her serve, Walker approached her with an invitation to join BGTC.
"That day was so special," Gibson said. "I didn't gravitate towards that young girl for any reason besides pure, loving care for the sport. I really care about community work and wanting to teach a young Black girl my sport that I love. If I didn't do that, Caira wouldn't have seen me."
Through her work with the Black Girls Tennis Club, Gibson continues to build and hold space for Black girls in tennis.
Read more on Gibson's story on the Black Girls Tennis Club Substack: https://blackgirlstennisclub.substack.com/p/a-racquet-a-community-a-calling
About Smith Athletics
Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information, log on to GoSmithBears.com and follow the Bears on Facebook and Instagram.
