Ava Kalist
Ava Helen Kalist is a dynamic and accomplished American pickleball player from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Known for her impressive performances on both national and international stages, she has rapidly ascended the ranks in the pickleball community, earning recognition for her skill, dedication, and sportsmanship.
Early Life
Born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Ava Kalist faced early life challenges, being born two months premature and spending her first month in the neonatal intensive care unit at York Hospital.
Despite this, she showed resilience and a strong passion for sports from a young age. She began skiing at the age of five and played competitive soccer for ten years.
Her introduction to pickleball came at the age of 15, inspired by her grandparents. She quickly developed a love for the sport. Ava Kalist attended Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School, where she excelled academically, graduating summa cum laude. She was a member of both the National Honor Society and the National Honor Technical Society.
Family Life
Ava Kalist is the daughter of David and Lisa Kalist and has a younger brother named Charlie. Her family has supported her throughout her athletic journey. She enjoys spending time with her grandparents in Michigan, where her passion for pickleball began.
Ava Kalist is also an animal lover and has two dogs, Utah (a German Shepherd) and Rage (a Belgian Malinois), both of whom are competitive working dogs.
Career
Professional Achievements
Ava Kalist has earned many honors in her pickleball career:
She is a member of the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Next Gen National Team, which includes twelve of America’s top young professionals aged 16–23.
She is sponsored by Selkirk, a leading pickleball paddle manufacturer.
She has secured top placements in various APP tournaments across the U.S. and England, including first-place finishes in both women’s and mixed doubles.
She represented Team USA and clinched the winning doubles match in a victory over Team Europe at an APP event in Florida.
Tournament Highlights
Ava Kalist has delivered strong performances at many tournaments:
Gold in 5.0 19+ Mixed Doubles at the PPA Hertz National Championship 2022.
Silver and Bronze medals in Mixed Doubles and Women’s Doubles at APP NEXT GEN Kansas City 2022.
Gold in both Open Mixed Doubles and Open Women’s Doubles at the Montclair Pickleball Fall Championship 2022.
Gold in 5.0 19+ Mixed Doubles at the APP Philadelphia Open 2022.
Professional League Participation
In 2025, Ava Kalist was drafted 39th overall by the Southwestern Ontario Brewers in the Canadian National Pickleball League. As of the 2025 season, she has participated in five matches, achieving a 40% win rate. Her Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) is 5.274.
Net Worth
There is no publicly available information regarding Ava Kalist’s net worth. Details about her earnings or financial status have not been disclosed publicly.