NEWS

The USPA Women’s Committee acknowledge the many female influences throughout the polo community by annually recognizing and awarding one outstanding woman within the sport. The award is not just for players. Members of the USPA Women’s Committee feel polo is not only about the players but those who support and help grow polo. The committee encourages USPA Members to nominate women they feel have served as role models—women whose selflessness, passion and drive have contributed to the sport for the greater good of the polo community.

Past recipients include:
2016: Lezlie Hiner
2017: Sunny Hale
2018: Cindy Halle
2019: Dawn Jones
2020: Erica Gandomcar-Sachs
2021: Robin Sanchez
2022: Hope Arellano

The Louise Hitchcock Woman of the Year significantly advances the mission of the USPA, as well as the Women’s Committee—to encourage and increase the participation of women in all aspects of the USPA, to improve the standard of women’s polo throughout the United States and to facilitate the communication and networking of women in polo all over the world.

The award’s namesake, Polo Hall of Famer Louise Eustis Hitchcock was the wife of 10-goaler Thomas Hitchcock Sr., and mother of the great Tommy Hitchcock Jr. Mrs. Hitchcock. was a born leader and visionary and awardees receive a bronze miniature in her honor. According to the Museum of Polo, “Louise Eustis Hitchcock was a passionate poloist long before women became equal to men on the field, and her legacy in the sport surpasses that of most men […] Her turf was the Aiken Preparatory School and the Meadow Lark Club where she coached and inspired future polo stars, themselves today members of the Polo Hall of Fame. Few can be credited with producing as much polo excellence as Louise Hitchcock.”

Nominations are now open for the 2023 Woman of the Year Award to the entire USPA membership and close Thursday, April 11.