The first-ever Congressional Pickleball Match will be held Thursday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with lawmakers from both parties taking part. Eleven temporary courts have been set up for the event, which is part of a larger weekend of pickleball activities.
Lawmakers Take the Court
Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, who helped start a bipartisan Senate pickleball caucus, is an honorary co-chair of the event. She was responsible for recruiting members of Congress to play.
“I’ve played tennis my entire life, which is how I myself got into pickleball,” Senator Shelley Moore Capito said. “I find it’s an easy way to network or work across the aisle.”
Congressional Sports for Charity, the group that organizes the Congressional Baseball Game, partnered with the Trust for the National Mall to set up the match.
“Over the last three years, the National Mall of Pickleball has brought together thousands of players of all ages and backgrounds,” Catherine Townsend, president and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall, said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to kick off this year’s event with a Congressional Pickleball Match.”
Pickleball Gains Fans in Congress
Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas, who once competed in mixed martial arts and played college tennis, is one of the sport’s biggest advocates.
“I gotta be honest, as a former mixed martial arts fighter, I was skeptical and was like, I don’t know if you’re gonna have me out here playing something called ‘pickleball,’” Representative Sharice Davids said.
Although the House pickleball caucus ended after the 118th Congress, Representative Sharice Davids continues to play with fellow members at the Capitol gym.
“[Talking on the floor] could be strong bipartisan efforts to get stuff done,” Representative Sharice Davids said. “It could be strong bipartisan efforts to get some pickleballing done.”
Representative Jake Ellzey of Texas, another co-chair, also joined the match.
“I don’t play basketball,” Representative Jake Ellzey said. “I stink at basketball. I’ve got bad knees. But I grew up playing tennis, and so going to the gym here in the morning, there’s always somebody up for playing. … It’s a great way to get a little bit of exercise.”
He explained that Ryan Thompson, founder of Congressional Sports for Charity and former chief of staff to Representative Ron Wright, asked him to play.
“And if you’ve got an opportunity to raise money, having people make fun of your athletic skills, I’m all for it,” Representative Jake Ellzey said.
Event Details and Goals
The match is a ticketed event, with seats priced at $15. Proceeds will go to the Trust for the National Mall and charities supported by Congressional Sports for Charity. Other pickleball games scheduled from Friday to Sunday are free to attend.
Members of Congress will compete in pairs, with the winning duo crowned “King of the Hill.” Senator Shelley Moore Capito said she is unsure who might win.
“I don’t know the other House players, so we’ll have to see how they’re going to divide us up,” Senator Shelley Moore Capito said. “But we’re just going out to have fun.”
Representative Sharice Davids added that she plans to give her best effort.
“Is there any other way to operate?” she said.
What It Means
The event highlights the growing popularity of pickleball in the United States and shows how the sport is becoming a bridge between lawmakers. It mixes fun with fundraising and could become another long-standing tradition on the National Mall.
News in Brief: Congressional Pickleball Match National Mall
The National Mall will host the first Congressional Pickleball Match on Thursday, with lawmakers including Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Representative Sharice Davids, and Representative Jake Ellzey competing. Organized by Congressional Sports for Charity, the event raises funds while celebrating the fast-growing sport’s role in bringing people together.