At the age of sixteen, she joined the Belmont Club in Philadelphia, where she played with Margarette Ballard and Bertha Townsend.

The event was played on the outdoor grass courts of the Philadelphia Cricket Club and started on 27 September.

Hansell, playing in a full, over-draped skirt with long sleeves and her customary red hat, won her opening round against Jessie Harding while losing just one game.

The final against Laura Knight was a one-sided affair, which Hansell won in straight sets to become the first U.S. women's champion.

[a][2][3][4] According to a report she "employed sidearm serves, sliced ground strokes and never, but never went to the net".