Most Women Are Gaining This From Pickleball

A little confidence, a little chaos, and a lot to be grateful for on the court.

Author

Empower Pickleball
November 20, 2025

I’m getting ready to spend some time with the in-laws again, and last time my FIL absolutely smoked me in singles. Hoping we sneak in some indoor pickle while I’m there… I’ve been practicing.

Have you ever noticed that when you go to an event or holiday and mention you play pickleball (or in my case, work in the industry), someone always knows a player and has a long, dramatic story to share? Yes, we get it. We love the sport too.

I’m genuinely grateful for this game, the people I’ve met, and the way it’s shaped my confidence level (and sure, my ego 😜). What are you thankful for when it comes to pickleball? Reply and let us know. Or keep scrolling to see how other women are finding their own version of gratitude on the court.

One quick heads up: there won’t be a newsletter next Thursday. Have a great Thanksgiving. We hope you don’t have to work off too much turkey, and maybe even sneak in a few morning games instead of the usual flag football or 5K.

TIPS & TRICKS

If Pressure Wrecks Your Game, Read This

Competing well takes more than clean thirds and solid hands—it takes a steady mind. Senior Pro Gina Cilento breaks down how she stays clear, grounded, and composed before and during matches, from her reset routine to managing nerves, pressure, and partner dynamics. If you’ve ever spiraled after one bad point (hi, all of us), this one hits home.


💡 Why It Matters: Your game only goes as far as your head lets it—this is how to keep it together when it counts.

OPINION & INSIGHTS

The Real Reason Women Keep Coming Back to the Court

For a lot of women, the court has become the place to rebuild confidence, find community, and feel strong again—especially during big life transitions. What starts as “I just need something for myself” turns into real growth: small wins, steadier confidence, friendships that hit at the exact right time, and a reminder that strength doesn’t have a deadline.

The impact goes far beyond play. Women are mentoring new players, leading groups, organizing rec play, and creating the kind of community they once needed. It’s gratitude in motion—and it’s reshaping the sport from the inside out.


💡 Why It Matters: If pickleball has shifted something in your life, you’re in good company—thousands of women feel the exact same way.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

How a Staircase Scare Turned Sarah Bowman Into a Senior Pro

Sarah Bowman didn’t discover pickleball in some cinematic “the universe called me” moment. She was out of breath on her own staircase at 49—and terrified of what that meant for her future. That moment pushed her into a slow, steady wellness rebuild that eventually led her to senior pro pickleball, coaching, podcasting, and a completely different life at 55.

Her story covers everything: leaving an abusive marriage, losing an identity tied to her kids’ sports, finding community in a rec-center pickleball class, and going from an “Amazon-special paddle” to nationally ranked senior pro.

It’s not a typical comeback story. It’s a reinvention story—and she’s still pushing.


💡 Why It Matters: Sarah’s path is proof that your best chapter might start long after you expected it to.

  • Indoor Courts Go Quiet in Palm Beach Gardens 💸 A $30M renovation should’ve been a win… except the city bumped nonresident pickleball fees from $3 to $15. Players bailed, courts emptied out, and even locals stopped showing up. The city says the higher fees are here to stay.

  • Pickleball Kingdom Expands to India 🇮🇳 The indoor-franchise giant just announced its first international move to launch Pickleball Kingdom India. With state-of-the-art indoor courts and big community goals, this is one of the largest global pushes we’ve seen from any U.S.-based pickleball brand.

  • California Town Pushes for a Permanent Pickleball Ban 🔇 Carmel-by-the-Sea is moving to make its temporary pickleball ban permanent after noise complaints from neighbors near Forest Hill Park. The city says it can’t enforce “quiet play,” residents are split, and players are fighting to keep at least a modified version of the sport alive.

  • Utah Tech Wins the First World Collegiate Championship 🏆 Utah Tech just made history in Dallas, going undefeated and claiming the first-ever collegiate world title against teams from India, China, Malaysia, Poland, and more.

This Limited-Release CRBN Paddle Is Nearly Sold Out

The CRBN limited-release Summit Edition of the TruFoam Waves paddle is almost sold out—and it’s no surprise. Only 1,000 were produced, each individually numbered, and the design stands out with mountain-inspired artwork, a Summit-white edge guard, grip band, and a matching special-edition cover.

Beneath the aesthetics is the same TruFoam Waves performance players rely on: power, control, and long dwell time. It’s a premium paddle built for players who want something rare and beautifully made.

Once the Summit Edition is gone, it’s gone.
Shop the Summit Edition by clicking here.

This Week on Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil

Gina and Neil aren’t sugarcoating a thing this week. They’re tackling the messy side of pickleball—the drama, the fallouts, the pro-level chaos, and the rec-court tension people pretend isn’t happening.

They’ve seen friendships crack, relationships implode, and reputations tank… all over the sport.

Their question to every player: What do you actually want to be known for?

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

Wearable Hydration Is a Thing Now

I’ve been eyeing up the Gx Sweat Patch, mostly because wearable hydration feels like something from the future. It tracks your sweat rate, how much fluid you actually lose, and even your sodium loss—then gives you personalized hydration recommendations through the Gx app. Basically: real data about how your body handles workouts, not another “drink more water” reminder.

It’s a single-use patch with hypoallergenic adhesive, meant for workouts where you’re actually sweating (looking at you, pickleball tournaments). The reviews are wild—people are using it for runs, training days, even 5Ks, and the post-workout breakdown sounds insanely detailed.

I’m very close to throwing it in my cart just to see what my numbers look like.

Would you try wearable hydration?

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