Basketball Star Swaps the Court for Pickleball Net: Jenna Bandy shows the essence of a multi-talented athlete. A former collegiate basketball player at Cal State Monterey Bay, Bandy has since built a massive following on Instagram and YouTube, where her sports-centric content captivates millions. She also boasts a Guinness World Record for the farthest football thrown into a target by a female, an astounding 90 feet.
“I love sports. I’m just such a competitive spirit, and it’s molded me into who I am today. Without sports, I’d be bland and boring. I don’t know where I’d be without sports.” – (Jenna Bandy)
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Discovering Pickleball During the Pandemic
With her extensive sports background, it’s no surprise that Bandy has taken to pickleball. Her introduction to the sport came during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though racket sports had never been part of her repertoire.
“I came to love pickleball during COVID, but surprisingly I’ve never played tennis. I played a little bit of ping pong growing up, but pickleball was completely new for me.” – (Jenna Bandy)
Despite her lack of experience, Bandy became instantly hooked.
“Pickleball is the perfect mesh of finesse, power, IQ, skill, and agility. It’s just a perfect sport. I’m addicted to it, and it’s something that I could play for the rest of my life.” – (Jenna Bandy)
Translating Skills Across Sports
Bandy’s background in basketball gives her an edge on the 20×44 pickleball court, particularly with footwork.
“I use lateral movements I picked up that translate over to pickleball.” – (Jenna Bandy)
Her signature move? A powerful overhead shot.
“I feel like my overhead for pickleball is insane. I feel like people don’t expect a girl to have that kind of power when it comes to having an overhead. I think I got that power from football.” – (Jenna Bandy)
Currently rating herself as a 4.0 player, Bandy is confident she could reach the 5.0 level with consistent play.
“But if I played constantly, I could hit that 5.0 level.” – (Jenna Bandy)
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The Bigger Picture: Connecting with Fans
Beyond playing, Bandy integrates pickleball into her social media presence, sharing both hilarious moments and insights into her personality.
“I play golf, football, basketball, softball, and I throw pickleball in there because I love it. People love it. And it’s taking off in the sports world, so I want to be a part of it.” – (Jenna Bandy)
Bandy’s connection to the sport extends to meeting pros and participating in events like the Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Pickleball Showdown. She draws inspiration from players like Tyson McGuffin, whose charisma resonates with her expressive nature.
“I think it’s so much more marketable when you have that personality and you are giving that charisma and you’re being expressive on the court. That’s how I am when I play all my sports, and people relate to you when they can see your humanity. We’re not just athletes, we’re actual humans who’ve been working so hard. We have these emotions and we’re unafraid to be expressive.” – (Jenna Bandy)
News in Brief: Basketball Star Swaps the Court for Pickleball Net
Jenna Bandy, a former college basketball star turned social media influencer, has embraced pickleball as her latest athletic passion. Introduced to the sport during the pandemic, Bandy quickly fell in love, citing its perfect blend of finesse, power, and agility.
With skills improved from basketball and football, she brings unique strengths to the pickleball court, including an impressive overhead shot. A self-rated 4.0 player, Bandy shares her pickleball journey with fans online, while advocating for personality and relatability in sports.
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