Black Pickleball Dallas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit born from the heart—committed to moving bodies, uplifting minds, and building authentic community through the power of play. We create inclusive teams for all skill levels and strive to make pickleball accessible by providing paddles, lessons, apparel, and mentoring to those in need. Together, we grow, compete, and connect—on and off the court—with pride, purpose, and passion.
My Personal Pickleball Story
Life is Better With Pickleball
It was a sunny, beautiful day on April 25, 2020. I had just returned home from Costco, where I purchased flowers for my front and backyard. I love beautiful flowers, and I remember being excited about transforming my yard. The flowers were colorful, healthy, and, in my opinion, one of the best deals at Costco. I could already picture how beautiful everything would look once I finished.
I had no idea that within a few moments, my life would completely change.
I started working outside, cleaning the flower beds and preparing the yard. While handling a long roll of garden mesh, it caught a tree branch and suddenly knocked me off balance. I stumbled backward and landed hard on the flagstone surrounding our swimming pool.
In a split second, I broke my leg and shattered my right ankle on both sides and in multiple places.
Then I fell into the pool.
I will never forget looking down and seeing my foot twisted into a position that no foot should ever be in. The pain was unimaginable, but I also knew that I was in the water and had to get myself out. At that moment, there was no time to panic. I had to survive.
Somehow, with every ounce of strength I had, I made my way to the side of the pool. I tried to ignore the pain long enough to get myself to safety. I remember trying to straighten my foot because I knew something was terribly wrong.
Then I began screaming for help.
My husband was inside the house on a conference call and could not hear me. I screamed and screamed. Thankfully, one of his coworkers heard something and encouraged him to go check on me. When he came outside, he found me at the edge of the pool, injured, frightened, and barely able to move.
Emergency services were called, and I was taken to the hospital.
The doctors confirmed what I already feared. Both sides of my right ankle were shattered, my leg was broken, and I needed surgery.
The orthopedic surgeon on duty, Dr. McKellar, explained how serious my injuries were. He told me the surgery would be complicated and that there was a possibility I might never walk the same again. I could be left with a permanent limp.
Those are words you never expect to hear.
I remember looking at him and asking him to please operate on me as if I were his daughter or his wife. I wanted him to give me every possible chance of walking normally again.
The surgery was successful, but surgery was only the beginning.
I spent nearly a week in the hospital before returning home. Then came physical therapy—three to four times a week, during the height of COVID restrictions. I started in a wheelchair. Eventually, I moved to crutches. Then came the frightening and exciting moment of trying to walk again.
Every step mattered.
Things I had once taken for granted suddenly felt like victories. Standing was a victory. Taking a few steps was a victory. Walking across a room was a victory.
My husband was my rock through it all. He believed in my recovery and supported me every step of the way. He even hired a trainer to help me rebuild the strength in my leg and ankle. I began trampoline training to improve my muscles, stability, coordination, and balance.
One day, while walking through the building where I trained, I passed a court and saw four people playing a game.
I stopped and looked.
It looked a little like tennis, but the court was smaller. They had paddles, and they were hitting this bright neon-yellow ball back and forth. I had never really seen anything like it.
But what caught my attention most wasn't the paddle or the ball.
It was the people.
They were laughing.
They were moving.
They were having fun.
I remember looking at them with curiosity before continuing to the back of the building for my training session.
I didn't know it then, but I had just been introduced to something that would become an important part of my healing.
I had discovered pickleball.
As my recovery continued, pickleball kept showing up in my life. My husband and I went to Lifetime Fitness, where we unexpectedly ran into an old friend we hadn't seen in nearly twenty-five years.
Guess what he was doing?
Playing pickleball.
I watched.
And the more I watched, the more something inside of me said, "I can do that."
Now, I couldn't move very fast. I didn't have complete mobility. I was still recovering from an injury doctors once warned might permanently change the way I walked.
But something in me wanted to try.
My husband wasn't completely convinced at first. I understood his concern. We had been through a lot, and the last thing either of us wanted was another injury.
But I couldn't shake the feeling.
Eventually, we reconnected with our friends Gill and Deniece, who were avid pickleball players. They offered to teach us.
That was the beginning.
My first game was exciting, confusing, and probably not very pretty. I didn't know all the rules. I didn't completely understand the scoring. I was nervous.
But none of that mattered.
I was moving.
After everything my body had been through, I was standing on a court, holding a paddle, moving my legs and hitting a ball.
I felt alive.
For the first time in a long time, exercise didn't feel like rehabilitation.
It felt like fun.
Pickleball gave me something that physical therapy alone couldn't give me. It gave me another reason to keep pushing. It made me want to become stronger. I wanted to move faster. I wanted to improve my balance. I wanted to walk better. Eventually, I wanted to run again.
Most importantly, pickleball gave me hope.
The journey wasn't always easy.
As a beginner, I remember putting my paddle in the lineup and watching people remove theirs when they saw mine. They didn't want to play with the beginner.
That hurt.
There were advanced players who graciously played with me, and I will always appreciate them, but those opportunities didn't happen often.
I had a decision to make.
I could allow rejection to discourage me, or I could keep showing up.
So I kept showing up.
Paddles in my bag.
Ready to learn.
Ready to play.
Ready to get better.
I learned how to keep score. I worked on my serve. I practiced drop shots. I learned strategy, positioning, patience, and control. I learned when to attack and when to slow the game down.
And I played.
I played almost every day for more than a year.
Slowly, the beginner who people sometimes didn't want to play with became a competitive player.
Eventually, I entered a tournament.
I finished in second place.
Think about that for a moment.
I went from lying beside my swimming pool with a shattered ankle, wondering whether I would ever walk normally again, to standing on a pickleball court competing in a tournament and winning second place.
My skill level grew to approximately 3.8, with my sights set on reaching 4.0 and beyond.
But somewhere along the way, I realized something even more important.
Pickleball wasn't just changing my body. It was changing my life.
And that realization eventually became part of the reason I started Black Pickleball Dallas.
I wanted to take the heartache I experienced and turn it into hope for someone else.
I knew what it felt like to have your life suddenly change. I knew what it was like to sit in a wheelchair and wonder what your future would look like. I knew the frustration of trying to make your body do something it once did without thinking.
But I also knew what it felt like to pick up a paddle and discover joy again.
I wanted other people to experience that joy.
Black Pickleball Dallas isn't only about creating great pickleball players. Of course, we want people to learn the game, improve their skills, compete if they choose, and become healthier and more physically fit.
But our purpose goes deeper.
I believe something beautiful happens when people come together around a common cause and make the decision to care about one another.
When we show love to each other, encourage each other, laugh together, exercise together, and celebrate one another, everybody wins.
That is the community I want Black Pickleball Dallas to represent.
One of my favorite things is seeing someone pick up a paddle who has never played before.
At first, they're unsure.
"I don't know how to play."
"I've never done this before."
"I'm probably not going to be good at it."
Then they hit the ball.
And they hit it again.
Suddenly, they're smiling.
Before long, they're laughing, moving around the court, trying to keep score, and asking when they can play again.
I love the surprised look on someone's face when they realize, "Wait a minute—I can actually do this!"
That moment means something to me.
Because I know that feeling.
I know what it means to surprise yourself.
That's another beautiful thing about pickleball: you get to decide what the game means to you.
If you want competition, pickleball can be competitive. You can train, enter tournaments, improve your rating, and challenge yourself to reach higher levels.
If you simply want exercise, grab your paddle and move.
If you're looking for friendship, there is a community waiting for you.
And if you want to come by yourself, you can do that too. Put your paddle in the rack, meet some new people, get on the court, and play.
You don't have to arrive with a team.
You don't have to be an athlete.
You don't have to be young.
You don't have to be experienced.
You just have to be willing to try.
That is what I want people to understand through Black Pickleball Dallas.
We can use this sport as a vehicle for something much bigger.
We can get healthier together.
We can become stronger together.
We can build friendships.
We can introduce children and young people to an activity they can enjoy for years. We can bring generations together on the same court. We can create spaces where beginners don't have to feel embarrassed because they are still learning.
And yes, we can compete.
But we can also care.
We can make room for the person standing on the sideline wondering whether they belong.
Because I remember what it was like when someone didn't want my paddle beside theirs.
That experience taught me something.
Sometimes the greatest victory isn't winning the game.
Sometimes the victory is making sure somebody else gets to play.
Today, when I look back at April 25, 2020, I can still remember the pain. I remember the fear. I remember the pool. I remember the ambulance, the hospital, the surgery, the wheelchair, the crutches, and those difficult days of physical therapy.
I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone.
But my story didn't end beside that pool.
There was another chapter waiting for me.
It had a paddle, a plastic ball, a small court, and a community of people I hadn't met yet.
Pickleball became part of my recovery, but it also became part of my purpose.
That is why Black Pickleball Dallas means so much to me.
My hope is that every person who attends one of our events feels welcome. Whether you're a beginner holding a paddle for the first time or an advanced player looking for serious competition, there should be a place for you.
Come for the exercise.
Come for the competition.
Come for the friendships.
Come for the laughter.
Come because you want to improve your health.
Come alone.
Bring your family.
Bring your friends.
Or come because you simply need something new in your life.
You never know what one game might start.
I certainly didn't.
On that first day when I walked past those four people playing with that strange neon-yellow ball, I had no idea I was looking at part of my future.
I didn't know that one day I would compete.
I didn't know I would start Black Pickleball Dallas.
I didn't know I would want to share this game with communities and people of all ages.
I only knew they looked happy.
Now I understand why.
There is something special about stepping onto a pickleball court. For a little while, the worries of life can stay outside the lines. You move. You laugh. You compete. You encourage someone. Someone encourages you. You make a mistake, laugh about it, and get ready for the next point.
And isn't that a little like life?
We fall.
We get back up.
We miss.
We try again.
We learn.
We grow.
And sometimes, when we least expect it, something as simple as a paddle and a plastic ball reminds us just how much life we still have left to live.
Pickleball saved my life.
Not simply because it helped strengthen my leg and ankle, but because it strengthened something inside of me.
It reminded me that my story wasn't over.
Today, I want to share that hope with as many people as possible.
Because when we come together with a common purpose—caring for one another, showing love, improving our health, and making room for others—we are already winning before the first point is ever scored.
That is the heart behind Black Pickleball Dallas.
That is my pickleball story.
And if there is one thing I hope people take from it, it is this:
Life can knock you down without warning. But sometimes, something unexpected comes along and gives you a reason to get back up.
For me, that something was pickleball.
And I truly believe...
Life is better with pickleball.
About Us: Black Pickleball Dallas
Black Pickleball Dallas is more than just a sports community—it’s a movement dedicated to bringing people together through the game of pickleball. We are a health and fitness-driven club that creates a welcoming space for all individuals to connect, grow, and build lasting relationships on and off the court.
We are committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and respectful environment for all our members. Our Code of Ethics outlines the values and standards that guide our actions both on and off the pickleball court. As members of this community, we hold ourselves to the highest levels of integrity, sportsmanship, and responsibility, Space by adhering to this code, we create an enjoyable and welcoming space for everyone involved.
Mission Statement: Black Pickleball Dallas
Our mission is to foster a sense of belonging while promoting both mental and physical well-being. We believe that through meaningful relationships, friendly competition, and shared experiences, we can inspire a healthier lifestyle and a stronger community. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, Black Pickleball Dallas is a place where everyone can come together, have fun, and elevate their game—both in sport and in life.
Why Play With Us?
At Black Pickleball Dallas, we aim to:
Promote Health and Wellness: We encourage physical fitness, mental well-being, and healthy lifestyles through regular pickleball play and events.
Build Community
We provide a welcoming space for players of all ages and skill levels, fostering friendships, mentorships, and trust among members.
Empower Our Member
Through pickleball, we strive to build self-esteem, promote civic responsibility, and offer leadership opportunities within our community.
Create Fun and Laughter
We believe that joy and laughter are essential to a happy life. Our club is dedicated to ensuring that every game and event if filled with positivity and fun.