Pickleball in Cuba didn’t start with permanent courts or national funding. It started with borrowed paddles, improvised spaces, and a development model built to meet communities where they already were. At the center of that growth is Carlos López, whose work is shaping how the sport takes root across the island and beyond.

Pickleball for Paws is turning rallies into real-world impact. Founded by Grace Lopez, the initiative brings the pickleball community together to raise funds that help families cover unexpected pet medical costs and keep pets where they belong—at home.

Toss & Spin has built a different kind of pickleball activation model by prioritizing play, access, and real experiences over logos and hype.

An initiative in India is expanding access to pickleball for deaf and differently abled students, showing how inclusive pathways can shape the future of the sport.

Court shortages aren’t a lack-of-interest problem—they’re a design problem. Here’s how Emerald Valley Pickleball Foundation is building community courts that work for players now and hold up long-term.

Pickle Latino is showing what real pickleball growth looks like. Built by beginners, powered by community, and fueled by music and open play, this Atlanta group is turning local courts into packed, welcoming spaces.

Chicken N Pickle didn’t treat community impact as a side project. Through its Our Hearts Are Local™ initiative, the pickleball venue built giving back directly into daily operations, reinvesting more than $1.5 million into local communities in 2025 alone. From adaptive sports and nonprofit partnerships to nationwide volunteer efforts, their model shows what’s possible when pickleball spaces are designed to serve more than just the game.

Susan Swern is heading to Africa with more than paddles and balls. Through Operation PaddleLift™, she’s helping deliver pickleball equipment to communities where the sport is growing fast but access to gear remains a barrier. The mission is simple: remove obstacles and put equipment directly into the hands of players ready to build something bigger.

College pickleball may look male-dominated from the outside, but women across the country are stepping into leadership roles, reshaping campus clubs, and turning courts into communities where they can actually belong.

Pickleball is taking off across Asia and it’s already changing what the sport looks like for women in the U.S. From travel opportunities and community-building to Olympic momentum and global visibility, this boom isn’t happening “over there.” It’s shaping the future of the game right here, right now.

In pickleball, inspiration doesn’t come from a distance. Sometimes it comes from a quick autograph, a short conversation, or a few shots on court with a pro. For young players like JZ and Micah, those moments become the spark that turns curiosity into commitment—and make pickleball feel like a sport they can truly belong to.

After a staircase wake-up call in her late 40s, Sarah Bowman rebuilt her health, reclaimed her identity, and discovered a passion that now drives her daily: senior pro pickleball. At 55, she’s stronger, faster, and more purpose-driven than ever—and she’s using her journey to help other women find connection, confidence, and community through the sport.

It started with a cracked slab and a Google search. Now, FEP Pickleball Club is a sanctuary where kids trade screens for paddles and community comes first. We sat down with Tamy Arboleda to trace the journey from a backyard in Portoviejo to the NJP Celebration—celebrating a place where every player belongs and the game is always more than a score.

Across the country, veterans are discovering how pickleball helps them heal, connect, and rebuild community. These veteran-led programs prove the sport’s true power goes far beyond the court.

From local tournaments to lessons and community events, the California Pickleball Association (CAPA) is uniting players across the state—and redefining what pickleball in California looks like.

At 19, Miami’s Brooke Revuelta became the youngest pro to join the Armed Forces Entertainment pickleball tour—sharing the game with U.S. troops across the globe.

Behind every great pickleball shot is paddle innovation—and few people know this better than Chuck Vietmeier. As Senior Product Manager at United Pickleball Paddles, he’s helped shape the evolution of ProXR, PaddleTek, and Boundless paddles. From cores and dwell time to grip design, Chuck shares insights on what makes a paddle truly great and where technology is heading next.

From Kentucky to Oregon, small towns are converting vacant spaces into pickleball hubs—boosting community connection, local business, and a whole new sense of belonging.

The first-ever Special Olympics Georgia Pickleball Invitational is coming to Suwanee on November 16. Led by Coach Karla Blaginin and The Happy Hitters, the event blends competition, community, and inclusion — proving that pickleball is as much about heart as it is about skill.

Kim Prough didn’t plan on leading a pickleball movement in South Hadley, MA. She just wanted to play. Now she’s organizing clinics, driving petitions, winning grants, and making sure new players have an easier time getting on court.