Rebecca Falkner Axelrod named executive director of USTA Heart of America
March is Women’s History Month, and we’re excited to make a historic announcement about an outstanding woman returning to our district. Former collegiate tennis player Rebecca Falkner Axelrod has been named executive director of USTA Heart of America!
Originally from Kansas City, Rebecca is excited to return to her roots as she hits the ground running in her new role. “I’m very excited to come back to KC,” she said. “It’s a full-circle moment, since I started playing tennis in this district and now I am in charge.”
Rebecca has dedicated much of her life to growing the game of tennis and is a champion for adaptive sports in her role on the USTA National Adaptive Committee. She has master’s degrees in Sports Administration and Leadership from Augustana University and in Sports Law and Business from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.
While she was in the Phoenix area pursuing one of her degrees, Rebecca was active with nonprofit ACEing Autism, where she serves on the Board of Directors, and Programs for After School Success, or PASS, for short. Rebecca’s focus on philanthropy recently earned her the 2023 USTA Southwest Community Tennis Volunteer of the Year Award.
In her new role as executive director, Rebecca plans to dedicate her efforts toward growing the game of tennis in our district through several different avenues. “I’m excited to continue growing and advocating for the sport through leagues, tournaments, [diversity, equity, and inclusion] DEI, juniors, community development, and more.”
Please join us in welcoming Rebecca back home to Kansas City and USTA Heart of America! We’re thrilled she’s decided to join us, and we can’t wait to see the impact she makes on tennis in the communities we serve.
To learn more about Rebecca Falkner Axelrod, please read this article from USTA National.
Related Articles
-
![Visit the Oak Park Pride page]( "Longtime Oak Park High School girls' tennis coach Tana Stock received a 2025 USTA Heart of America award.")
Oak Park PrideJune 23, 2026After 40 years leading Oak Park High School tennis, Tana Stock was recognized as USTA Heart of America High School Coach of the Year for her lasting impact on players. Read More -
![Visit the Love Takes Court page]( "The Level 1 USTA National Husband and Wife Championships are coming up in Overland Park. Get to know two local competing couples: Noah Axelrod and Rebecca Falkner Axelrod as well as Andy and Sonya Muller.")
Love Takes CourtJune 17, 2026Two local couples share how tennis shaped their relationships as they prepare to compete in the 2026 USTA National Husband and Wife tournament in Overland Park. Read More -
![Visit the Sibling State Sweep page]( "USTA Heart of America high-performance juniors Micah and Eli Ward both won their respective Kansas 6A state championship.")
Sibling State SweepJune 09, 2026Siblings Micah and Eli Ward captured Kansas 6A singles state titles, adding another chapter to a family tennis legacy built on hard work and sportsmanship. Read More
Sign up for our Newsletter
Download the USTA App
