Maylee Phelps Bio
Maylee Phelps (born 4 December 2006) is an American wheelchair tennis player of Chinese descent who has quickly become one of the most promising young competitors in the international junior circuit. Residing in Portland, Oregon, she reached the junior World number one ranking in January 2023, a milestone that announced her arrival on the global stage. Her career highlights include Grand Slam doubles titles at the 2023 US Open and the 2024 French Open in wheelchair girls’ doubles, as well as a Parapan American Games women’s doubles gold medal.
Beyond her results, Phelps is recognized for her composure in high-pressure matches and her ability to compete against older and more experienced opponents. Her combination of technical skill, tactical awareness, and competitive mentality has drawn attention from coaches and tennis observers in the United States and abroad.
Early Life and Background
Maylee Phelps was born in China on 4 December 2006. She was adopted at the age of two and raised in the United States, growing up in Portland, Oregon, where she continues to live and train. Phelps was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects mobility and would later shape her introduction to wheelchair sports.
Her upbringing in a supportive family environment in Portland provided her with early access to adaptive sports programs. The local tennis community in Oregon, known for its strong adaptive and wheelchair sports offerings, played a significant role in her initial development. As a young athlete, Phelps showed a natural affinity for racket sports, drawn to the speed, strategy, and individual nature of tennis.
Her Chinese heritage and American upbringing have given her a unique bicultural identity that she has carried throughout her athletic career. The combination of cultural perspective and athletic determination has been a defining feature of her early years and continues to influence her approach to competition.
Path to Wheelchair Tennis
Phelps’ introduction to wheelchair tennis came through local adaptive sports programs in the Portland area. Her natural talent for the sport quickly became apparent, and she began competing in regional and national junior events at a young age. The structured environment of junior wheelchair tennis allowed her to develop her technical skills against peers of similar age and ability.
Her progression through the junior ranks was marked by consistent improvement and a growing reputation as a formidable doubles player. Phelps formed a particularly successful partnership with French player Ksénia Chasteau, with whom she would go on to achieve significant Grand Slam success. The duo’s complementary playing styles and strong on-court communication became a hallmark of their collaboration.
By early 2023, Phelps had climbed to the top of the junior wheelchair tennis rankings, reaching the World number one position in January of that year. This achievement represented the culmination of years of dedicated training and competitive experience, and it established her as a leading figure in the next generation of wheelchair tennis players.
Maylee Phelps Career
Junior Career (2021-2022)
Phelps began her competitive career in junior wheelchair tennis events, where she quickly established herself as a rising talent. Her early tournament experiences provided her with valuable match practice and helped her develop the competitive foundation necessary for higher-level competition. She competed in various junior events, steadily improving her world ranking through consistent performances.
During this formative period, Phelps focused on refining her technique and building the physical conditioning required for the demands of competitive wheelchair tennis. Her dedication to training and her natural aptitude for the sport set the stage for her breakthrough achievements in the following years.
Grand Slam Breakthrough (2023-2024)
Phelps’ first major Grand Slam title came at the 2023 US Open, where she partnered with Ksénia Chasteau to win the wheelchair girls’ doubles championship. This victory marked her arrival on the international stage and demonstrated her ability to perform at the highest level of junior wheelchair tennis. The US Open triumph was a defining moment in her young career.
The success continued in 2024, when Phelps and Chasteau won the wheelchair girls’ doubles title at the French Open, further cementing their status as one of the top doubles teams in junior wheelchair tennis. Their partnership proved to be a formidable force on clay courts as well as on hard courts, showcasing their versatility and tactical adaptability.
Also in 2024, Phelps competed at the Paris Summer Paralympics, representing the United States in the women’s singles event. Although she was eliminated in the second round, the experience of competing at the Paralympic Games provided her with invaluable exposure to elite-level senior competition and served as an important learning opportunity in her development as a player.
Parapan American Games Success (2023)
Phelps added another major title to her resume at the Parapan American Games, where she won the women’s doubles gold medal partnering with Dana Mathewson. This victory highlighted her ability to succeed in team competition and demonstrated her capacity to form effective partnerships with different players. The Parapan American Games gold represented a significant achievement in her career and underscored her growing reputation as a top doubles player.
Playing Style and Strengths
Phelps is known for her tactical intelligence and her ability to construct points effectively from the baseline. Her doubles play demonstrates excellent court coverage, strong communication with partners, and a willingness to take initiative at key moments in matches. Her competitive composure, particularly in high-pressure situations, has been a notable asset throughout her career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Phelps’ most significant achievements are her junior World number one ranking in January 2023, her Grand Slam doubles titles at the 2023 US Open and 2024 French Open with Ksénia Chasteau, her Parapan American Games women’s doubles gold with Dana Mathewson, and her participation in the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympics. These accomplishments have established her as one of the most promising young talents in wheelchair tennis.
Maylee Phelps Career Wins
Maylee Phelps has compiled an impressive list of victories in her young career, highlighted by Grand Slam titles in junior wheelchair doubles and a Parapan American Games gold medal. Her success has been concentrated in doubles competition, where her partnership with Ksénia Chasteau has produced multiple major titles.
Grand Slam Highlights
Phelps won her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open in wheelchair girls’ doubles, partnering with Ksénia Chasteau. The pair followed this success with a second Grand Slam title at the 2024 French Open, again in wheelchair girls’ doubles. These two major titles represent the cornerstone of her competitive achievements and demonstrate her consistency at the highest level of junior wheelchair tennis.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to her Grand Slam success, Phelps won the Parapan American Games women’s doubles gold medal with Dana Mathewson, adding a multi-sport Games title to her resume. Her participation in the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympics in women’s singles, where she reached the second round, marked her debut at the senior elite level of the sport.
Maylee Phelps Family
Family Background and Heritage
Maylee Phelps was born in China and was adopted at the age of two, after which she was raised in the United States. She has spoken about her Chinese heritage and her American upbringing, both of which have shaped her identity and her approach to life and sport. Her family has been a key source of support throughout her athletic career.
Personal Life
Phelps was born with spina bifida, a condition that has been a central part of her journey into adaptive sports. She lives in Portland, Oregon, where she trains and develops her game. Her personal life remains largely focused on her athletic development and her continued pursuit of excellence in wheelchair tennis.
2025 Season Performance
As of 2025, Maylee Phelps continues to build on her early career momentum, focusing on both singles and doubles competition on the international wheelchair tennis circuit. Having reached the junior World number one ranking and captured multiple Grand Slam doubles titles, she is now transitioning further into senior-level competition. Her experience at the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympics, where she competed in women’s singles, provides a foundation for continued growth in the years ahead.
With her established partnership with Ksénia Chasteau and her successful collaboration with Dana Mathewson in team events, Phelps has demonstrated her versatility across different formats and partnerships. The 2025 season is expected to feature continued participation in Grand Slam events and other major international competitions, as she works to refine her game and compete against more experienced opponents.
Her long-term trajectory points toward sustained competitiveness at the elite level of wheelchair tennis, with the goal of contending for titles at the Paralympic Games and major championships in the years to come. The combination of her proven doubles success and her developing singles game positions her as a player to watch in the coming seasons.