A silver medal in Macon, a gold in Griffin — Atlanta resident Suzanne Ockleberry has a passion for pickleball. It’s not trophies she’s after though. She’s forging friendships one serve at a time.

The New Jersey native has turned her love for the game into a rapidly growing community, called the Atlanta Pickleball Queens , now more than 300 strong. As Aug. 8 marks National Pickleball Day, paddles in hand, these women are making connections, winning tournaments and getting fit with one of the nation’s fastest growing sports for all ages.

Last year was a big one for pickleball. According to USA Pickleball , 18,455 new pickleball courts were built in 2024 nationwide. That represents around 27% of all courts in the U.S. today, which hosted 142 sanctioned tournaments in 2024.

The Atlanta

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