If you’ve spent time in the pickleball world online, chances are you’ve come across Audrey Banada—better known as Pickleballmama. But simply calling her an influencer doesn’t capture the full picture.

Audrey is a former All-American tennis player, a professional pickleball competitor, a coach, and an entrepreneur. Most importantly, she’s a mom raising three young athletes inside the sport she unexpectedly fell in love with.

Her story isn’t just about competition. It’s about family, community, and a perspective on pickleball that goes far beyond the scoreboard.

From All-American Tennis to Pickleball

Before pickleball entered her life, Audrey Banada had already built an impressive athletic résumé. At the University of Miami, she became one of the most successful players in program history, finishing her collegiate career holding the record for most wins in both singles and doubles.

One of the defining moments of her college career came when Miami upset the top-ranked University of Florida team expected to win another national championship. Banada clinched the doubles point—and later the deciding singles match.

The competitive instincts were always there, but pickleball didn’t immediately capture her attention. She was first introduced to the sport while visiting her family in Florida. At the time, she was living in Maryland with her husband and three children—her youngest was just one-year-old.

At first, it felt like little more than a casual backyard game. That changed when she returned to Florida and saw high-level players competing nearby.

“I wanted to play with them,” she recalls.

That moment—the pull to compete again—was the spark.

Why Pickleball Stuck

Like many former tennis players, Banada had experienced the physical wear of high-level competition, including shoulder issues and multiple ankle surgeries.

Pickleball offered something different. The smaller court placed less strain on the body, the learning curve was fast, and competitive opportunities were easy to find.

But the real appeal went beyond the game itself.

Her sons were nine and twelve at the time, and Audrey began to realize pickleball could become something they shared as a family. That realization changed the trajectory of everything that followed.

The Family Behind Pickleballmama

What began as casual games quickly evolved into a lifestyle. The Banada household soon had nets set up in the carport, games happening in the basement, and pickleball constantly playing on television.

Then came the turning point. When her oldest son AJ decided he wanted to pursue the sport seriously, the family committed fully—training, traveling, and eventually transitioning to homeschooling to support the schedule.

Not long after, Selkirk Sport stepped in to sponsor the journey.

Her younger son MJ followed, choosing pickleball over travel baseball. Her daughter, meanwhile, has grown up around the courts, absorbing the sport almost by osmosis.

Throughout it all, Banada’s husband, Alex, has remained a steady presence, helping support the family’s pursuit.

For the Banadas, pickleball isn’t simply a sport. It has become a shared experience that defines much of their daily life.

The Rise of Pickleballmama

Interestingly, Banada never set out to build a pickleball media presence.

After moving from Miami to Maryland, she initially planned to transition into online health coaching. Then pickleball entered the picture.

Her early content was experimental—short comedy videos, voiceovers, and casual posts documenting what she and her children were learning as they navigated the sport together.

Then a tutorial explaining the swing volley unexpectedly went viral. From there, the Pickleballmama platform began to grow.

Today her content blends coaching insights, tournament experiences, and an honest look at what life inside competitive pickleball really looks like.

What resonates most with her audience is a simple message she often shares with parents: your kids don’t have to be separate from your journey. Bring them with you.

Lessons Beyond the Court

For Banada, pickleball has become something of a classroom—not just for her children, but for herself.

The lessons are straightforward but powerful:

Dedication matters
Success is earned
Being a good partner matters, even when things aren’t going well

Faith and family remain at the center of everything.

Banada is also candid about something many athletes struggle to acknowledge. After competing at high levels in both tennis and pickleball, she understands her role is evolving.

“It’s not about me anymore,” she says.

Her focus has shifted from pursuing her own results to supporting her children as they build their own paths within the sport.

The Reality Behind the Highlights

There was also a moment that forced the family to reassess their relationship with the game.

After a difficult 2025 season, the pursuit of professional pickleball began to feel isolating. The joy that originally drew them into the sport started to fade.

That experience reshaped Audrey’s perspective.

Professional pickleball, she realized, is not the destination for most players—and it doesn’t need to be. Most people come to the courts for something simpler: connection, improvement, and community.

A Return to Open Play

That realization is guiding her next chapter.

Her focus is returning to the part of pickleball where the culture of the sport truly lives—open play.

Not rankings, not titles, not chasing status—just people showing up, playing together, and enjoying the game.

Audrey is currently building a creative project around that idea, developing character-based pickleball personalities, beginning with plush keychains that represent the different types of players you see at open play.

The concept isn’t about merchandise. It’s about helping players feel seen, bringing more fun into the sport, and reminding people why they started playing in the first place.

Because at its best, pickleball is about friendships, laughter between points, and the shared moments that happen between games.

A Family Legacy in the Making

The Banada family is also building something beyond the court.

Her daughter recently launched Rally Riah Co., a pickleball bracelet and jewelry brand that began as a way to stay engaged during tournaments.

What started as a small project has grown into an entrepreneurial venture, teaching lessons in creativity, work ethic, and financial literacy.

In many ways, it reflects the broader philosophy behind Pickleballmama. Pickleball isn’t just a game. It’s a platform for building experiences, relationships, and opportunities.

Why Pickleballmama Matters

As pickleball continues its rapid growth, much of the attention remains focused on professional tours and prize money.

But Audrey’s story highlights a different side of the sport—one grounded in family, community, and the everyday players who make up the vast majority of the game.

Pickleball, at its core, isn’t about going pro. It’s about showing up, playing together, laughing with new friends, and building memories that last far beyond the final score.

And that’s exactly what Pickleballmama represents—a reminder that the best part of the sport isn’t how far you go in it. It’s who you bring with you.

Pickleballmama: Building a Family, a Brand, and a Movement in Pickleball