Atlanta Pickleball Queens women’s Community: Suzanne Ockleberry, a resident of Atlanta, has turned her passion for pickleball into a growing group called the Atlanta Pickleball Queens, now with over 300 members. The group welcomes women of all skill levels and focuses on friendship, fitness, and fun as they celebrate National Pickleball Day on August 8.
The Rise of Pickleball and the Group’s Mission
Pickleball is quickly gaining popularity nationwide. In 2024, the U.S. saw 18,455 new pickleball courts, making up 27% of all courts. While the Atlanta Pickleball Queens are not focused on professional competition, they embrace the sport’s growth.
Co-founder Suzanne Ockleberry explained the group’s goal: “Most of the time with men on the court, when you’re playing like mixed doubles, the testosterone kind of takes over sometime… And so women can feel intimidated and we wanted a space where women could come play, enjoy themselves [and] connect with other women that they wanted to play with on a regular basis.”
A New Start for Audrey Davis
One of the group’s first members, Audrey Davis, moved to East Point after living in San Francisco. After her husband passed away six years ago, pickleball became a new source of joy and connection.
Davis recalled how she found pickleball at Sykes Park. “One Sunday evening, I was on my way home, but wasn’t really… I had recently lost my husband and wasn’t in a hurry to get home… I just drove through the park… A friend had previously told me about pickleball, and I was intrigued.”
She met players and quickly joined in. “Having met such a wonderful group of people, all ages, all ethnic groups… we just have such a good time… You’re working on your fitness with friends, old and new, and they become like family after a while.”
Growing the Atlanta Pickleball Queens
Ockleberry and Davis met at Sykes Park and began inviting women to join. The first meetup attracted two or three dozen players, and numbers grew quickly.
Davis said, “I mean it was just conversation, but I think it evolved into the Atlanta Pickleball Queens because it grew so fast.”
The group is free to join and offers training sessions for new players. Meetups often include food and merchandise sales to support the volunteer group.
“This is an opportunity for folks to get out and meet people, talk to people, play together, have fun,” Ockleberry said.
News in Brief: Atlanta Pickleball Queens women’s Community
Atlanta resident Suzanne Ockleberry founded the Atlanta Pickleball Queens, a group of over 300 women who play and connect through pickleball. Co-founder Audrey Davis found healing through the sport after personal loss. The group welcomes all skill levels and aims to foster friendship and fitness.
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