International Tennis Hall of Fame member Pam Shriver recently celebrated the return of her trophies, which had been stolen from a car during her evacuation from her home due to the ongoing wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area. Shriver expressed her relief and curiosity about the journey of her cherished trophies by stating, "It was an interesting chapter. I wish the trophies could talk. I would like to have known where they've been."

Shriver, who is renowned for her impressive accomplishments in tennis, including winning 21 Grand Slam doubles championships—almost all in partnership with the legendary Martina Navratilova—was also a gold medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics and a holder of 111 doubles titles. The retired athlete, who now works as a television commentator and coach, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

During the evacuation, mandated for residents due to the fire hazards, Shriver temporarily relocated to a hotel. Unfortunately, while there, her car, containing personal belongings and decades-old family photos, was stolen. Although the car remains missing, Shriver received good news about her trophies approximately ten days later when they were mysteriously returned. The trophies were left in boxes outside the hotel.

Shriver explained that the trophies were hidden at the back of the car, making them invisible from the windows. She speculated that they may not have held any value for the thieves, leading them to discard the trophies instead of the more conventional items in the car. The good news was conveyed to her through a phone call from the hotel manager, and a detective subsequently collected the trophies to examine them for fingerprints before returning them to Shriver.

The assortment of trophies Shriver received included five U.S. Open women's doubles trophies, earned in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1991, as well as a bowl from the U.S. Tennis Association, which she earned as the singles runner-up in 1978 at the tender age of 16. Reflecting on her amateur achievements at that age, she shared, "I got no money, no trophy, some flowers." Additionally, the trophies encompassed four French Open doubles trophies from the years 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988, in partnership with Navratilova. Alongside her tennis accolades, Shriver humorously noted the inclusion of an award she received for being honored as the most improved golfer at Brentwood Country Club in 2001.

This incident not only reflects the resilience of Shriver but also highlights the challenges faced by residents affected by natural disasters. Despite the scare of losing irreplaceable mementos, Shriver now has her treasured trophies back, allowing her to relive and celebrate her remarkable career in tennis.