Exclusive: Our Interview with Mary Steenburgen 🎬

Plus why some players improve faster, a growing pickleball community in Mexico, and more.

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Empower Pickleball
July 23, 2026

It’s been a big week for pickleball.

Sure, it was another MLP weekend, and there’s been plenty of chatter about trades, standings, and match results. But the biggest story this week isn’t happening on the courts.

Across the country, Apple TV’s newest comedy, The Dink, held early screenings ahead of its official premiere tomorrow—and we were lucky enough to get an early look.

Who doesn’t love a good sports comedy? Happy Gilmore. Dodgeball. Talladega Nights. And now… one about pickleball? Honestly, this couldn’t be better for the sport.

So naturally, a lot of this week’s newsletter is centered around The Dink. We sat down with Academy Award winner Mary Steenburgen, watched the movie, and have everything you need to know before it officially lands on Apple TV tomorrow.

Will you be watching The Dink this weekend?

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NEWS

The Dink Is Finally Here

When Hollywood announced a movie about pickleball, many players had the same reaction: Please don’t make us the punchline. According to Kim Bastien, The Dink does exactly the opposite. The film delivers plenty of laughs, but at its heart is a story about friendship, purpose, and the unexpected ways pickleball changes people’s lives.

Ahead of the Apple TV premiere, Kim sat down with Academy Award winner Mary Steenburgen, who shared how she fell in love with pickleball long before filming began—and why the sport has become such an important part of her own life.

💡 Why It Matters: The Dink celebrates the reasons so many people fall in love with pickleball, making it a movie players are likely to see themselves in.

👉 Read the full interview with Mary Steenburgen and see why The Dink feels different.

TIPS & TRICKS

Why Some Players Improve So Much Faster Than Others

Have you ever wondered why some players seem to get noticeably better every few months while others stay at the same level for years? According to Senior Pro Gina Cilento, the difference has very little to do with natural talent.

The players who improve the fastest practice with intention. They drill instead of relying on games, train with a purpose, and use every session as an opportunity to build one specific skill rather than trying to win.

💡 Why It Matters: Players who improve quickly don't rely on talent alone. Intentional practice and consistent habits can help you build skills that carry into every match.

👉 See the habits that help players improve faster.

EDUCATION

Your Partner Might Be the Hardest Part of Doubles

There’s a running joke that if your marriage survives mixed doubles, it’ll survive anything. While that’s funny, the truth goes well beyond couples. Every doubles partnership comes with its own mix of communication, trust, expectations, and personalities.

Whether you’re playing with your spouse, a close friend, or someone you just met, your partnership shapes every game. The way you communicate, respond to mistakes, and support each other has just as much influence on the outcome as the shots you hit.

💡 Why It Matters: Great doubles teams don’t happen by accident. Small changes in communication and expectations can make every game more enjoyable—for you and your partner.

👉 Learn what makes great pickleball partnerships work.

COMMUNITY

One Player. One Country. One Growing Pickleball Community.

Some of pickleball’s biggest growth stories aren’t happening only in the United States. Across Mexico, players like Mariana Fortes are helping introduce more people to the sport while representing their country on the international stage.

After representing Mexico internationally in karate, Fortes will now represent her country at the 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam. She hopes her success encourages more players to pick up a paddle and show what’s possible as pickleball continues to grow throughout the country.

💡 Why It Matters: Every new pickleball community starts with people willing to invest their time, talent, and passion into helping the sport grow. Mariana is helping write that story in Mexico.

👉 Meet the player helping shape the future of pickleball in Mexico.

🤝 Pickleheads Is Powering USA Pickleball Leagues

USA Pickleball recently named Pickleheads its Official Technology Partner for Recreational Play, expanding on the platform’s role as the Official Court and Game Finder.

  • What’s new: USA Pickleball leagues, ladders, and round robins across the country are running on Pickleheads this summer

  • For players: live standings, matchups, and court assignments right in the app, so less time at the whiteboard and more time on the court

  • The payoff: competitive, balanced games every session, whatever your level

The leagues run on Pickleheads’ league management tech, built with the player experience in mind.

  • $55 Million Mansion Comes With a Rooftop Pickleball Court 🏡 A newly listed waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale is turning heads with its rooftop pickleball court, infinity pool, and luxury amenities. The six-bedroom estate is one of the city’s most expensive homes ever listed.

  • This Pickleball Tournament Bans Paddles 🍳 A Kansas fundraiser for child abuse prevention is challenging players to ditch their paddles and compete with items like frying pans, tote lids, and notebooks. The most creative “paddle” will even take home a prize.

  • Study Finds Pickleball Helps Combat Loneliness ❤️ A Florida State University professor says pickleball’s greatest impact may be its ability to bring people together. Research shows the sport helps older adults build friendships, reduce loneliness, and strengthen their sense of community.

Ngoc Nguyen: The Strategist Shaping Pickleball in Entertainment & Philanthropy

What does it take for a sport to break into the mainstream?

This week on 99% Pickleball, entertainment strategist and Global Pickleball Federation board member Ngoc Nguyen joins Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado to discuss everything from Hollywood and celebrity involvement to global growth. She also shares an inside look at The Dink, the new pickleball comedy premiering on Apple TV on July 24, and why mainstream entertainment could become one of pickleball's biggest growth opportunities.

From celebrity pickleball events with Katy Perry's Firework Foundation to expanding the sport around the world, this conversation explores how entertainment, philanthropy, and community can help shape pickleball's future.

📺 Watch it on YouTube
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Lob Everything, Darling

I’ll admit it—I laughed when I saw VolleyBird’s new Darling Collection. The hats and visors feature playful sayings like “Lob Everything, Darling,” “Ace It, Darling,” and “I Called That Out, Darling,” giving female athletes a fun way to show a little personality without saying a word.

They’re equal parts classy and cheeky, and based on the early response, I’m clearly not the only one who thinks they’re fun. Several styles have already started selling out.

Interested in having your event listed? Reach out to us and let’s chat!

Have something happening at your courts?

The wins, the drama, or the moments that stick with you—we’d love to hear it.

If people are talking about it, it’s probably worth sharing.