Women Leading the Way in Pickleball: Top female players like Simone Jardim, Catherine Parenteau, and Anna Leigh Waters have become well-known figures in the rapidly growing pickleball fans. This sport has experienced a noticeable boost in popularity, particularly among women. Despite this growth, there remains a notable lack of female representation in leadership positions. Kaitlyn Kerr, known as “The Pickleball Chick,” points out that this difference reflects a broader trend in sports and business, where women are few in number in top roles.
Barriers to Success
Signs of Progress
However, all is not lost. The presence of inspiring figures like Anna Leigh Waters, Simone Jardim, and Catherine Parenteau shows that progress is being made. These players not only excel on the court but also serve as role models for the next generation of female athletes.
Increasing women’s participation can enhance sportsmanship and create a supportive atmosphere, ultimately sustaining the growth of pickleball.
Creating Opportunities
The lack of women in pickleball can be addressed by creating more opportunities for skill development and leadership roles. Kaitlyn Kerr serves as a strong example of this potential. Although she began her pickleball journey relatively recently, she has quickly made a name for herself in the sport.
She founded a successful brand, joined a Major League Pickleball ownership group, and is actively promoting the growth of women’s pickleball. Her story shows how passion and dedication can lead to success.
A Tennis Icon’s Take
Recently, former tennis legend Maria Sharapova took a day to explore pickleball. Reflecting on her experience.
“I was initially quite surprised by how different everything felt about pickleball. I thought there would be more similarities. But I guess there’s no such thing as ‘enough’ power.”-(Maria Sharapova)
Sharapova also highlighted the unique challenges of pickleball, saying,
“I will definitely use a lot of that strength that I had in my tennis career. But there’s a new skill set around hitting the short balls in the kitchen.”
“All these new terms that I’m becoming familiar with have been a very entertaining journey. But overall, yeah, I think there are a few elements of tennis that you can bring in, but I’d say I was surprised at how different it felt.”-(Maria Sharapova)
On the business side, Sharapova recognized the growth of the sport.
“On the business side, it’s definitely growing, and how could it not? The engagement across the country is extremely high. You can see why people are really having fun with it.”-(Maria Sharapova)
Concluding her thoughts, she said,
“We’re seeing so much more consistency in the women’s game and that has been really refreshing.”-(Maria Sharapova)
News in Brief: Women Leading the Way in Pickleball
Top female pickleball players like Simone Jardim, Catherine Parenteau, and Anna Leigh Waters are gaining recognition as the sport experiences rapid growth. Despite their success on the court, women remain few in number in leadership positions, as highlighted by Kaitlyn Kerr, known as “The Pickleball Chick.”
Barriers such as discrimination and a lack of opportunities continue, but progress is clear. Kerr’s rise, along with insights from tennis legend Maria Sharapova, shows the developing sport of women’s pickleball, showing the importance of support and opportunity for future leaders in the sport.
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