A new documentary, Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story, now streaming on Max, tells the story of how the sport of pickleball quickly grew into a national phenomenon. Directed by Ashley Underwood and written by Craig Coyne, the film explores how this once little-known game became a professional sport with star investors and global attention.
Pickleball is often compared to tennis, but is played with paddles and a light, plastic ball. It has become popular because it’s easy to learn and fun for people of all ages. According to USA Pickleball, over 18,000 new courts were added in the U.S. last year, bringing the total to 68,458.
In San Antonio, Texas, the sport has taken off. The Parks and Recreation Department has added new public courts, including one that opened on April 23 at the Walker Ranch Senior Center. Others were recently built at Heritage Neighborhood Park and Piazza Italia Park. More courts are planned with $1.5 million from the 2022–2027 Bond Project.
“Pickleball continues to grow in popularity in San Antonio, and we’re adding more courts in response to public feedback,” said Connie Swann, marketing manager at San Antonio Parks and Rec.
“We’ve recently added courts at Walker Ranch Senior Center, Heritage Neighborhood Park and Piazza Italia Park.” – (Connie Swann)
The Birth of a Professional Sport
The documentary doesn’t just look at the sport’s popularity — it focuses on how pickleball became professional in just a few years. Ashley Underwood and Craig Coyne began filming in late 2021, before the sport rose in popularity.
“We actually started filming this back in November 2021 … so, I think we were a bit ahead of the curve.” – (Ashley Underwood)
She explained that they chose to show how the professional side of the sport was born — something that rarely happens in real time. Craig Coyne compared the story to a dramatic play, full of twists and power struggles.
“It became this earnest, quixotic quest to bring this thing to life and to give it a bigger stage. And then it became this Shakespearean tragedy [with] rivals and revenge and ego and all sorts of themes at play.” – (Craig Coyne)
Ashley Underwood added that, like the Gold Rush, many different people got involved — from serious entrepreneurs to people looking to make quick money.
“You get all these characters who come out of the woodwork. You have your legitimate entrepreneurs and ambitious people who are going to be successful, [and] you have your con men.” – (Ashley Underwood)
Tennis vs. Pickleball, and Olympic Hopes
Craig Coyne explained that pickleball is fun and easy to enjoy with others. Unlike some sports, it doesn’t matter if you’re young or old — anyone can join in.
“You’re missing fun! Unlike with most sports, you can have fun with anyone. You can have a child and a grandparent on the court at the same time and still have a competitive game. It’s unique in that respect.” – (Craig Coyne)
As more public courts are built, some tennis players are frustrated when pickleball takes over tennis courts. Coyne said this has caused both positive and negative reactions in communities.
“It’s brought communities together and torn communities apart at the same time. I think it’s a complicated relationship between tennis [players] and pickleball [players].” – (Craig Coyne)
Ashley Underwood shared her view that the two sports are very different in culture.
“[The sports] are culturally very different. Pickleball is all-inclusive, and tennis has a bit more of an air of elitism to it.” – (Ashley Underwood)
The film also touches on how big investors are seeing pickleball as a great opportunity. Celebrities like Tom Brady and LeBron James have bought teams. One owner, Marc Lasry, paid around $100,000 for his team, which is now worth $10 million.
“As a former hedge fund person, I look for things that are undervalued,” said one of the league owners in the documentary, according to Underwood. So, will the sport ever make it to the Olympics? Craig Coyne is optimistic.
“If I had to bet right now, I would bet that it’ll be in the Olympics.” – (Craig Coyne)
News in Brief: A Pickleball Story
Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story shows how a fun backyard game turned into a fast-growing professional sport. With new courts popping up nationwide and celebrity team owners joining in, the sport’s rise seems unstoppable. The film is now available to stream on Max.
ALSO READ: From Backyard to Big Leagues: Discover Pickleball’s Rise in Dreambreaker Documentary