A new Pittsburgh group called Sistas Who Pickleball is making space for Black women to enjoy the fast-growing sport of pickleball. Led by Toni Benn, the group brings together players of all skill levels to learn, connect, and create a welcoming community through regular meetups and games.
A Space for Inclusion
Sistas Who Pickleball was founded by Toni Benn, a 28-year-old originally from Los Angeles, California. She created the group after noticing a lack of diversity on the courts in Pittsburgh. Benn started playing pickleball in 2022 and quickly wanted to build a community where more Black women could feel included.
“I just didn’t see a lot of people who looked like me. My initial thought was [that] we need to get something going, there needs to be a community built around this.” – (Benn)
She first discovered pickleball while on a trip to Italy and was drawn in by how fun and social the sport was. She believes it’s easier to start playing than many other sports.
“It was just a random Tuesday … [they] found some people to play with, and they were having a good time.” – (Benn)
“You don’t need, in my opinion, all of these classes. It’s a very social sport where you can go to a court … and just get in and go play.” – (Benn)
“It goes back to the points that I mentioned earlier. You can watch YouTube videos. The rules can be a bit complicated, but the game itself is simple. You don’t need this great strength or speed to play.” – (Benn)
Building a Community
Toni Benn has hosted several gatherings where people come to learn the basics of pickleball. She says these events are welcoming and focus on helping beginners feel safe and supported.
“I found it very challenging to go in spaces where I could go as a novice, where I could go be vulnerable, be nervous, be anxious.” – (Benn)
While the group is focused on creating a safe space for Black women, it is open to others who are respectful of that space. The age of participants ranges widely, with members in their 20s to their 60s.
“[It’s] the excitement and joy that people walk away with at the end of the session. As working adults, when you leave the university space… it’s very hard to find a community. It’s hard to make friends, and meet people with similar interests.” – (Benn)
Personal Connections
One of the regular participants is 67-year-old Robin Lipscomb from Shadyside. She joined after hearing about the group from a friend connected to Toni Benn.
“They all have [a] really good sense of humor and are funny. I’ve met so many interesting people.” – (Lipscomb)
She used to play tennis and now enjoys pickleball, although an upcoming knee surgery is currently limiting her playing time.
“I’m going to schedule surgery for October because I have a couple of friends that I watched go through the surgery, and they are back to playing pickleball. Now that they did it smoothly, I’m ready.” – (Lipscomb)
Looking Ahead
The group often meets at The Pickleball Warehouse, and Toni Benn hopes to see more members playing regularly. She wants Sistas Who Pickleball to grow into a steady group with layers of leaders and players.
“I would love for it to be different tiers of people that can easily go into the group, organize, and they go. It would be great if people could also find friends to hang out with outside of [just] pickleball. It’s really great building those communities.” – (benn)
Benn believes the fun and connection people feel after playing keeps them coming back.
News in Brief: Sistas Who Pickleball
Sistas Who Pickleball, founded by Toni Benn in Pittsburgh, creates a welcoming space for Black women to learn and enjoy the fast-growing sport. The pickleball group emphasizes inclusion, community, and fun while meeting regularly at local courts. Participants say the group helps build friendships and boosts confidence through play.
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