World · North America · 1 hr ago
University of Maryland suspends tennis club over racist tournament imagery
The University of Maryland suspended its club tennis team after it sent racist imagery to rival teams before a fall tournament at the College Park campus.
The university said the material included a graphic depicting Ku Klux Klan hoods and targeted Black people.
Howard University was among the teams that received the material and said the image evoked white supremacy and racial violence.
Maryland apologized to those who received it, and its tennis club forfeited all its tournament matches.
Howard still competed and reached the semifinals of the silver draw.
The university referred the matter to campus police and is investigating, while Howard said it would remain engaged with Maryland as the investigation proceeds.
The University of Maryland suspended its tennis club after finding that it had sent racist imagery to rival teams before a fall tournament.
The university said the material included a graphic containing racist imagery targeting Black or African American people.
The graphic reportedly depicted Ku Klux Klan hoods and appeared in materials emailed to other university tennis clubs.
The club forfeited its matches at the tournament it hosted on the College Park campus.
Howard University’s club team competed in the tournament and called for further accountability.
- Who
- The University of Maryland tennis club and rival university teams, including Howard University’s club team.
- What
- Maryland suspended its tennis club after it distributed tournament materials containing racist imagery. The club forfeited its matches.
- When
- The imagery was discovered on Saturday before the weekend tournament. The article was published on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- The tournament was held at the University of Maryland’s College Park campus.
- Why
- The university said the club distributed material with racist imagery targeting Black or African American people.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Maryland club emailed program materials to other university tennis clubs in the region.
University Recreation and Wellness officials discovered the imagery, according to the university.
Maryland suspended its tennis club, which forfeited its matches at the event.
Howard University issued a statement saying it would remain engaged with Maryland as its investigation proceeded.
- Club
- Maryland Club Tennis
- Tournament location
- College Park campus
- Imagery
- Graphic reportedly depicting Ku Klux Klan hoods
- Affected team
- Howard University club tennis
- Club consequence
- Suspended; matches forfeited
What people are saying
The Maryland Club Tennis student organization distributed programming material with a graphic containing racist imagery targeting people who are Black or African American.
The imagery is a recognizable symbol of white supremacy, organized hate and violence,
true accountability has yet to come.
There is no place for racism, intimidation, or imagery rooted in hatred and racial violence in collegiate athletics, on our campuses, or anywhere in our society.







