Missouri Valley / Heart Of America

USTA League teams rally behind cancer survivor Kandice Thurman

Sydney Hamilton | August 11, 2025

Tennis is a sport you can play for life. On the court, tennis players enjoy the competition, camaraderie and exercise. Off the court, the tennis community supports each other, even through trying times.

Players like Kandice Thurman know this all too well. Thurman is a two-time cancer survivor—the most recent being in 2024. She credits her USTA League captain, Kathleen Fendler, and her teammates with motivating her to return to the courts.

“Kathleen was an awesome friend and captain, and she partnered with me at the beginning of the season because she told me she would be my legs until I could get them back,” Thurman said. “She was definitely my biggest supporter when I was coming back.

“I didn’t think I would feel the same way playing, but in all honesty, I feel better and just love being on the court and playing with awesome people. I know I’m really fortunate to be back out there.”

Lifelong Connection to Tennis

Thurman has played tennis on and off since her teenage years in small-town Claflin, Kansas. While she enjoyed the sport, her first love was volleyball, which she went on to play at Washburn University in Topeka. Fast-forward 25 years to 2019, and she decided to give tennis another try.

“My kids are involved in a lot of sports and my husband golfs, but I didn’t love golf. I needed some cardio in my life so I thought tennis might be a good fit,” Thurman said. “So, almost 25 years later, I went to Elite (Tennis and Wellness) to try it out and fell in love with the people and instructors. And now, here I am.”

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While her home club is Genesis in Overland Park, Kansas, Thurman drills and plays at several clubs throughout the Kansas City Metro area. She plays on multiple USTA League teams, participates in Tencap leagues, plays in a Monday league at Genesis Overland Park and makes time for Impact Team Tennis. Thurman noted Fendler is her main captain in the leagues she plays in.

However, back in August 2024, Thurman was hit with a shock diagnosis that sidelined her for several months. She felt a large lump behind her knee but didn’t think much of it, nor did her doctor or oncologist.

Thurman had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 27 and had been seeing an oncologist since then, as she is at a high risk for other cancers because of her treatment. After numerous appointments, an MRI revealed cancer in the form of myxoid liposarcoma.

Kandice Thurman and her USTA League teammates had a ball at nationals in Florida.

Kandice Thurman's tennis community provided a huge lift when she was diagnosed with cancer in the form of myxoid liposarcoma.

Kandice Thurman's 40 & Over 4.0 Women's team is set to compete in the Section Championships later this month.

Kandice Thurman's family members (Nate, Kimber and Kaptin) are all involved in sports.

Kandice Thurman and her USTA League teammates had a ball at nationals in Florida.
Kandice Thurman's tennis community provided a huge lift when she was diagnosed with cancer in the form of myxoid liposarcoma.
Kandice Thurman's 40 & Over 4.0 Women's team is set to compete in the Section Championships later this month.
Kandice Thurman's family members (Nate, Kimber and Kaptin) are all involved in sports.

“It was almost 15 years to the date when I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins,” Thurman said. “It was definitely a shock. But just like the first time I was diagnosed, I took it head-on with a positive attitude and with a huge support group. I did radiation all of March and had surgery in May. I thought I would get through surgery with a breeze and get right back on the court within a few weeks.

“God had other plans, and about a couple weeks into the first surgery, I was having major complications and was told I would need a second surgery in June. I had to accept the fact that I was going to be out for a while.”

Thurman likes to be doing something at all times—including working out and playing tennis—but had to take a step back to recover. She woke from her second surgery with a full leg brace that stayed on for more than a month.

“When I finally got the green light to start rehab, I was so excited because I made a goal that I would be back on the court by the end of August,” she said.

Encouragement Fuels Return

With the support of Fendler and Bridget Throm—the captain of another USTA League team on which Thurman plays—as well as her teammates, Thurman returned to the sport she loves. Steadily, and over time, she continued to build her strength and helped her teams progress to the next level of competition.

“I feel like every moment since coming back has been fun. I was very fortunate to get to go to nationals in Florida with Bridget Throm’s team in October,” Thurman said. “I played a few regular-season matches with my team, but I was unable to participate in districts and sectionals.

“They kicked butt through all of it and when she asked if I wanted to go, I almost felt like I didn’t deserve the spot. She and all my teammates were encouraging and said I should go, and so I did. We had so much fun, and we played some awesome tennis with a great group of women.”

Now, Thurman is looking forward to helping Fendler’s team try to conquer 40 & Over 4.0 League Section Championships, which take place Aug. 22-24 in Springfield, Missouri.

“This team not only has a lot of amazing players, but they are awesome women,” Thurman said. “I play with so many of them on the team and have been successful with all of them. I’m a competitor, but I also realize that life is short, and this is just a game. I want to enjoy my time on the court, and I definitely do with this group.”

If you’d like to join a USTA League team for a future season, visit this page to find out how you can get in on the fun.

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