Wai: From Hong Kong to Lynchburg, a Journey of Faith and Found Family

Yee Ching 'Candy' Wai's tennis journey began on the bustling courts of Hong Kong and has since carried her across continents, cultures, and competitions. Now a standout at Liberty, she's learned that family isn't always defined by blood and that faith can be found in unexpected places.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Candy picked up a racket at six and never looked back. "My brother started playing tennis first," she said. "My dad had a friend who taught beginners. He wanted us to try out different sports. My brother and I were pretty good; we chose tennis as our path."

From those early lessons, tennis became more than a hobby—it was a passport to new opportunities and new worlds. At 16, Candy made her first major move, leaving home behind to chase a better future.

Hong Kong was in the midst of political turmoil when Candy decided to leave. "It was a politically tough time in Hong Kong at that time, lots of people were moving away," she said. "Some of my family decided to move to England at the same time, I thought it might be a chance for me to get away from this environment and start a new life somewhere else."

England offered a different culture, climate, and approach to the sport. Practices were technical and focused on skill development, which laid an important foundation for her game. Still, she knew she wanted more—more competition, more growth, more opportunity. That drive eventually pointed her toward the United States. After a year, she struck out on her own, determined to keep pursuing tennis while building a life in a new country.

Wai arrived in Texas through an opportunity at Tyler Junior College, it was there that she discovered the kind of family she'd been searching for. "I met my non-blood related aunt and uncle in Tyler, Texas, they have been incredible to me," she said. "They brought me into the family, I was a stranger to them and they just treated me like family. They showed me how you don't have to be related by blood to be family."

They took her to church, cheered for her at matches and supported her in ways that went beyond tennis. "It's the little things that they did for us, they just treated me like I was their daughter," she said. Their kindness and consistency helped Candy feel grounded for the first time in years.

Candy's tennis career took off at Tyler, where she developed under a head coach, Dash Connell, who believed in her. "He was the reason why I chose TJC to begin with," she said. "He was such a happy person, very positive, and he gave me lots of confidence. It was just a nice, encouraging environment to be in."

Her results matched her growth—she earned ITA JUCO Freshman and Sophomore of the Year honors—and soon she was ready for the next challenge. Connell left to coach for Liberty after Wai's freshman season, but the two would reunite at the Division I level a year later. The move from junior college to Division I was a big leap, but one she embraced.

"Obviously, JUCO and D1, there's a huge difference there, level-wise," she said. "I was expecting to have to adapt a lot and improve a lot to catch up. The team culture was different, the motivation and ambition seen on each player was very different compared to JUCO."

At Liberty, she found a team that matched her drive. "Everyone's encouraging and kind," she said. "Everyone wants to win the conference very badly. The whole team is stubborn in the sense that they will never give up, they will just keep on fighting and fighting. That's what motivates me to get better for them as well."

Her faith journey began to take shape in Lynchburg, too. "I grew up in a non-religious family," she said. "Then I went to the States, met my aunt and uncle, got to go to church, little things that happened to me on the way to Tyler, that made me start thinking about, okay, maybe there is a God out there."

Faith is woven into Liberty's tennis program, and that's helped Wai continue to grow mentally and spiritually. "We pray after each practice to show our gratitude for the ability given by God," she said. "That helps with our mental side as well, to know that our ability comes from God. That puts less stress on us."

She's still learning and exploring, but her perspective has shifted. "I'm still in the process of learning, but leaning more towards the side where there's, everything happens because God has a plan for us," she said.

With a full year under her belt and a strong team returning, Candy is ready to step into a leadership role. "I hope that I can provide the younger ones with any sort of support that they need to hopefully be a role model, which leads everyone to achieve our goal of getting a conference ring."

For Wai, tennis has always been about more than winning matches. It's been a way to find belonging, purpose, and strength—no matter where life takes her. From Hong Kong, to England, to Texas and now Lynchburg, she's learned how to adapt, how to believe, and how to lead.

"Everything happens because God has a plan for us," she said. And as she looks ahead to her senior year, Candy Wai is ready to keep fighting—on and off the court—for the people and the purpose she's found along the way.

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Wai: From Hong Kong to Lynchburg, a Journey of Faith and Found Family

Players Mentioned

Candy Wai