Pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the past three years, with its rise extending to The University of Southern Mississippi.
The sport has seen a 311% increase in participation over that period, reaching an estimated 19.8 million players nationwide in 2024. There are now approximately 15,910 pickleball courts across the country.
Often described as a mix between tennis, badminton and ping pong, pickleball is played with plastic paddles and a hard Wiffle ball.
As the sport’s popularity continues to grow, more pickleball clubs have formed across the country. Southern Miss joined the trend in 2024 with the addition of the Golden Eagle Pickleball Club.
Students at Southern Miss say the sport offers a new way to stay active and build friendships.
Graduate student Anna Grace Dillard, who has played for four months, said she discovered pickleball through friends in her hometown and appreciates the sport’s sense of community and sportsmanship.
“We played a game after and it was really cool to see how the cross-court dinks transposed into a game and I was able to do it,” Dillard said.
Freshman Joseph Ortega, who has a tennis background, said he enjoys the smaller court size and the lower physical demand compared to tennis.
“He was giving us pickleball training. There was like 7/11 and dinking, and it was funny to me because it was the first time I’ve ever seen someone actually coach pickleball,” Ortega said. “And I was like, wait, people do this?”
Ortega said he has noticed a shift in the availability of pickleball equipment over the past few years.
“Now when I go, there’s a whole row of pickleball paddles and balls and it’s like, that’s how big the sport is growing,” Ortega said. “It’s growing rapidly and everyone is enjoying it.”
He recommends that beginners learn by playing with experienced players, friends, or by joining school or local clubs.
