The small island nation of Barbados — off the coast of Puerto Rico and Venezuela — is most commonly known for its stunning beaches and vibrant culture. But one thing it is definitely not recognized for is the sport of squash.
Graduate student Meagan Best of Virginia women’s squash is on track to change that perception with her dazzling play on the court — inspiring squash players everywhere.
Hailing from Barbados, Best has been playing squash since before she was born. Literally.
“I actually like to say I started squash in the womb, because my mom … started playing while she was pregnant with me,” Best said. “And then from the time I was born, able to walk, I would go to the courts and try swinging as a baby.”
After playing squash casually in her younger years, Best’s ascension to greatness began. At the junior level, she racked up 15 Barbados Junior National titles, catching the eyes of scouts. She would then leave her country to attend boarding school in Connecticut for the last two years of her high school education. But being so far away from where she grew up required some adjustment — after all, it was an entirely new social environment, climate and academic setting. Best relied on her parents as motivation to get through these difficult changes in her life.
“I always say, I do what I do here for them,” Best said. “I know I can see them living through me, because I'm basically living the dream that they wanted to do. I do this for them. It's always been for them.”
Despite challenges adjusting to a new culture, Best never faltered on the court, quickly becoming her country’s most dominant force in competition. At the 2019 U.S. Junior Opens, she collected three bronze medals and one silver. Later at the 2019 Junior Pan American Championships, she earned a silver medal in the individual competition and a gold medal in the mixed doubles.
All this success on the national stage caught the attention of the Cavaliers’ Coach Mark Allen, who convinced her to join Virginia to continue her academic and athletic career.
But then the pandemic arrived. COVID-19 prevented Best from competing in her first year at the University. Yet when the 2021-22 season rolled around, she showed why she deserved to be the leading star of one of college squash’s elite teams.
In just her first season, she earned a CSA First-Team All-American spot — the first Virginia player to receive the honor. She repeated that feat in her next two seasons, along with two conference player of the year awards.
Despite these collegiate accomplishments, Best’s greatest career highlights are her dominance while representing her country on the international circuit — including Barbados’ first medals at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Yet, breaking down perceptions of what a squash player looks and plays like is the true victory, according to Best.
“I think it was quite unprecedented that a Barbadian player was even in the final of the U.S. Open, so for me to be in the final and then win it, especially as a colored athlete as well within the squash world,” Best said. “I think that held a lot of weight.”
Since before she was born, the odds were stacked against her to become a squash star. Squash has historically been known as a sport for old, white men and has been predominantly white in recent memory. The sport itself was even founded at the Harrow School — a prestigious boarding school in England. Additionally, squash players are more likely to be from a wealthy socio-economic background, not from an island nation with limited resources.
The systemic challenges faced by playing a sport like squash were evident, even when Best was young.
“It’s a very white sport, even in Barbados, so it was definitely hard," Best said. "I was one of the kids that they would just kind of brush aside, and didn't really want to hear from. [They] thought I was kind of annoying.”
In the face of these obstacles, Best continued forward, relying on her skill on the court to do the talking. Whether she is competing for the Cavaliers or Barbados, her story is a truly inspiring one. It paves the way for people of all backgrounds to compete in the sport that they love, without feeling like they need to fit a certain mold — something that Best believes can be achieved with faith in oneself.
“It's really about honing in on who you are as a person, if you just become confident and self-assured with who you are, you really won't need to care about what others are saying about you,” Best said. “I think it's very important that you build that foundation, and then you know nothing. You kind of feel unstoppable.”
Although squash may not be the most popular, accessible or understandable sport, what Best is doing, and what she has done, is extremely special. In her final season, a season in which Virginia has been solid, but not amazing — losing the MASC championship, but setting themselves up for the future with great young talent — Best has been the brightest spot on the team. The Cavaliers still have some games to play, providing some chances to see Virginia’s finest in action.
Best, being a graduate, has limited time left with the Cavaliers, creating an extra feeling of importance for her final matches. Despite her career coming to an end, she will be more than fine wherever she ends up, thanks to her strong mentality.
“You know, it's just a new chapter,” Best said. “And just like how I've done everything else in my life, I'm gonna just be myself and try my best at whatever it is.”
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