Dria Rushing Pickleball Trailblazer Wisconsin: Dria Rushing, also known as “Big D,” is a competitive pickleball player and coach based in Wisconsin. She may be the state’s only Black certified pickleball coach. Known for her powerful two-handed backhand, Rushing is using her growing platform to make pickleball more inclusive across the state.
Dria Rushing began playing pickleball in 2022 after years of experience in basketball, softball, and tennis. Within a year of picking up the paddle, she was playing in high-level tournaments. She has competed even in all-male pro-level events and doesn’t mind the lack of diversity.
“I am not afraid to fill those shoes as long as they are comfortable,” Rushing said. “They are pretty snug right now.”
From Player to Coach
Rushing’s strong skills on court led to coaching requests. In 2023, she earned her first certification and is now working on a second. She teaches both kids and adults at Premier Pickleball Club & Complex in South Milwaukee and with the parks and rec departments in Sussex and Oconomowoc. She will also coach at The Picklr in Menomonee Falls.
“Teaching was always part of my spirit,” Rushing said. “It just naturally comes to me.”
To help make the sport more open, she is starting a nonprofit called Transpire. The group will offer workshops and help create a Black pickleball athletic group. The goal is to build an alcohol-free, welcoming space for players of color, women, and people with disabilities.
“Just have inclusive spaces that build friendships and community,” she said.
A Lifelong Love for Sports
Rushing grew up active. Her parents both played basketball, and her mom played tennis. She first played basketball but added softball and then tennis during middle school. Tennis made the biggest impact because she liked the individual challenge.
“The responsibility of winning was up to me and me alone,” she said.
Music and Pickleball
While studying visual arts and graphic design at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Rushing explored her love for music. Her family, especially her mom and grandfather, introduced her to DJing. She also plays drums, piano, and bass guitar and has performed with bands.
“I dabble,” she said.
She started DJing as DJ Drip Sweat, and now her flexible work allows her to travel for both music and pickleball. A trip to buy a tennis racket in 2021 introduced her to pickleball. A local coach invited her to play.
“They showed me no mercy,” Rushing recalled. “They were smashing balls past me left and right. I just didn’t have the touch. I didn’t understand the strategy. After that, I said, ‘Yeah, this can’t happen again.’”
Rising Through the Ranks
Rushing started using Facebook groups to find pickleball matches across the state. She said Milwaukee’s north side lacks pickleball courts, making access harder.
“There’s tennis courts, but pickleball was hard to find,” she said.
In 2022, she placed second in both women’s and mixed doubles at her first high-level tournament in Michigan. That performance pushed her into semi-pro status. She focused on singles and earned third place in the 2023 Windy City Classic by the National Pickleball League.
She also placed third and first in the Semi Pro Pickleball League in Madison in 2023 and 2024, and she competed in the Minor League Pickleball National Championship last year.
Her main goal is to become the top women’s singles player in Wisconsin and beyond.
“I say there are a lot of people who love to play with me,” Rushing said. “And there are a lot of people who don’t like to play against me ― except those who love a challenge.”
Paving the Way for Others
Dria Rushing’s journey from athlete to DJ to coach shows how one person can make a difference. She is changing the face of pickleball in Wisconsin, building spaces where all players can feel welcome. Her dedication to the game and to her community is setting a strong example for the sport’s future.
News in Brief: Dria Rushing Pickleball Trailblazer Wisconsin
Dria Rushing, a DJ and athlete known as “Big D,” is Wisconsin’s only known Black certified pickleball coach. She plays at a high level and is creating a nonprofit to bring more people of color into the sport. She coaches across southeastern Wisconsin and hopes to grow inclusive pickleball spaces statewide.
ALSO READ: Age Is No Match: La Crosse Pickleball Club Honors Inspiring 88-Year-Old Trailblazers at Legacy Night