Meet Sarah Carpenter, the Data Scientist Powering DUPR
In the world of pickleball, the DUPR rating system has become the universal language of skill—a number that connects players, fuels competition, and tracks progress. But behind this powerful algorithm is a brilliant mind that understands the game from every angle: Sarah Carpenter, Lead Data Scientist at DUPR. Merging her expertise as a PhD-trained mathematician with her passion as a national champion collegiate player, Sarah is shaping how we understand competition, all while championing a more inclusive future for the sport.
From the Court to the Code: A Unique Career Path
Sarah (far right) with her UNC teammates (from left to right) Caitlin Lewis, Hunter Boyd, and Collin Shick.
Sarah’s path into pickleball began in 2019, playing with her father during visits home. “It took me a bit, but I finally built up the courage to take my dog, Annie, with me and try open play for the first time,” she recalls. That first step onto the court quickly turned into a passion. “I was hooked by the social aspect, the time outdoors, and the addictive aspect of recognizing a path toward improvement.”
Her love for pickleball grew through collegiate competition. While pursuing her PhD in Mathematics at the University of North Carolina, Sarah co-founded the UNC pickleball club alongside Hunter Boyd, Caitlin Lewis, and Collin Shick. Together, they made history, winning the first DUPR Collegiate National Championship in Austin, TX, in 2022. “Beating Utah Tech on a very cold November night in Austin was awesome!” she says.
It was during this time that a friend tipped her off to a job opening at DUPR. What began as a part-time position soon evolved into a full-time role as Lead Data Scientist, allowing her to merge her love of pickleball with her expertise in math.
The Art and Science of a “Fair” Rating
For Sarah, the work is a balancing act between data precision and player experience. “In most work meetings, I say something along the lines of, ‘As a data scientist, X is the best option we have, but as a player, Y is the best option I see,’” she explains. “We work to get the best of those two worlds as much as we can.”
Her week is split between algorithm development and broader business analytics, from marketing insights to product improvements. That process involves collecting user feedback, testing algorithmic changes, and measuring success by both predictive accuracy and player experience.
She explains that ratings shift for new players because “each match adds significant new information.” For experienced players, ratings stabilize unless an outcome is particularly surprising. This system is designed to reflect consistent performance, not just a single great day on the court.
Sarah is passionate about clearing up misconceptions. DUPR, she notes, is not a reward system where every win guarantees a rating increase, nor is it a measure of a player’s “best day.” “A player’s rating is their average or typical day,” she clarifies. “It’s about predicting where you fit in the competitive spectrum, not rewarding one win.”
Beyond Numbers: The Human Side of Data
Sarah with DUPR CEO, Tito Machado
Sarah sees her work as more than mathematics. She’s conscious of the emotional side of ratings, and how players interpret them, “Players can get pretty attached to their DUPR,” she says. “We encourage them to focus on programs and finding competitive matches–not obsessing over small changes.”
Sarah also occupies a rare space as a woman leading data science in a major sports company. “It has been an amazing opportunity, and I am super thankful to have it!” she says. “I have always loved both math and sports, so it is a dream come true.”
She hopes her visibility encourages others to follow their passions. “Leaning into your talents is huge, but so is hard work,” she advises. “Find your true, unique contributions of what you could provide to the sport… and go for it”.
Sarah credits mentors such as Jill Braverman, Chip Morgan, Tito Machado, and Kevin Kim for believing in her and supporting her growth at DUPR, and she is committed to paying it forward by fostering opportunities for her own team.
Shaping the Future of Pickleball Data
Looking ahead, Sarah sees DUPR becoming an even more vital hub for players. The vision includes filling “connectivity” gaps between isolated player groups, offering insights like mixed/gender subscores, and integrating with AI tools for shot-level analysis.
Sarah and her dog
She sees DUPR as becoming “the understood truth in pickleball” within the next decade–a trusted benchmark across recreational, collegiate, and professional play. “As we gather more data and refine the algorithm, DUPR will only get stronger,” she says.
On Court, in Mind
Does she ever think about her own rating while playing? “Funny question… while I wish the answer was no, I do unfortunately think about that sometimes,” she admits. But even those moments serve a purpose. “I do realize some valuable stuff while on court… that helps us refine the algorithm. So at the end of the day, I guess some of my on-court DUPR thoughts are beneficial after all.”
For Sarah, DUPR is not just a number–it’s a way to bring the sport she loves into sharper focus while building a more inclusive, connected, and competitive pickleball community.