Adams was attending Orange Coast College, and a middle distance track athlete, when she first tried racquetball at age 19.
[2] In the first half of the 1980s, Adams had a fierce rivalry with Heather McKay[3] that helped to establish the women's pro racquetball tour.
[4] Adams was the dominant women's professional racquetball player after McKay moved back to her native Australia in 1985, and was undefeated in the 1985-86 season.
[6] Adams's relationship with Carson developed into a romantic one and they married in 1982, but that only lasted to 1986, yet they were able to continue working together as player and coach.
[7][8] Adams had serious health concerns beginning in December 1987, which was when she began having symptoms of multiple sclerosis that eventually led to her retirement in 1991.