Best Dressed at Nationals 

Spectators and players arrived runway-ready at Nationals. 

From tie-dye to sparkles to clever pun shirts and DIY necklaces, players and pros alike showed up to the courts in photo-worthy fits that deserve recognition. 

Susan Crossland and Linda Shafer arrived on Monday wearing some of the brightest and boldest outfits on Pickleball Boulevard. Crossland traveled from the home of pickleball in Washington, and Shafer came up from New Mexico. These two competed in women’s doubles (3.5), along with individual singles events. 

Crossland’s tie dye and swirly patterned outfit came from Pete Carlson’s in Indian Wells. 

“I walked into the store and asked the saleslady, ‘What kind of spunky outfit have you got this year?’ And when I saw this, I knew it had my name all over it,” said Crossland.  

Crossland and Shafer have played doubles before, and after their previous win, Shafer decided to treat herself to a new outfit after their victory. 

“I saw this colorful butterfly shirt and thought it was inspirational. It’ll bring us wins,” said Shafer. 

And with those bold prints and brilliant colors, those outfits are destined to lead those ladies to victory. 

If red and sparkly items aren’t in your athletic wear closet, then you’re missing out. 

Irene Mah and Tracy Bird arrived in coordinated red and black outfits and matching sparkly red and black pom poms tied to their shoe laces. 

But Bird, who’s affectionately nicknamed “Sparkles,” took her simple fit and added a bit of sparkle. 

Clad in a red skirt and matching hat, Bird certainly lives up to her nickname. She even has a sparkly red rim around her paddle. 

“I wear sparkle skirts because my daughter used to run in the Disneyland races and she’d wear a sparkle skirt,” said Bird. “She bought me one, and then I’ve been wearing them ever since.” 

Nationals is the first time Bird and Mah paired up to compete in women’s doubles (4.0). 

Bird hails from Salt Lake City, UT, while Mah is from British Columbia, Canada.

“There’s a lot of wonderful people I’ve met through tournaments,” mentioned Mah. “Coming here from Canada, it’s like meeting family again.”

Patterns are a fun staple on the court. Hawaii’s Evie Lahti arrived clad in a leopard print dress and coordinating leopard arm sleeves.

“When I turned 65, I cut off my long hair that reached to my lower back and decided I’m dying it and going full mermaid with the color,” said Lahti. 

Not only is Lahti dressed for success, she also learned from some of the pros. 

“I got so lucky when I first started playing in 2020, about 30 pros came to the Hawaiian Open. I got to learn from Ben Johns, Irina Tereschenko, Jessie Irvine, and the Newmans. It was an awesome experience,” she explained.

Now for a bit of DIY that caught everyone’s attention both on the court and in the crowd.  

Self-proclaimed “pickleball Superfans” Luke and Jenni Davis from Iowa arrived at Nationals sporting some neon hats and metallic sunglasses. 

The couple made a showstopping statement with these handmade pickleball necklaces. 

“Just some shoestrings and pickleballs,” said Luke. “Anyone can do it.” 

With infectious energy and passion for the game, these enthusiasts got crafty and created noteworthy accessories that merit a round of applause.

The final best-dressed candidate is four-time Survivor player and winner turned pickleball lover Tyson Apostol.

He has been playing pickleball for about six years and loves to showcase his bold personality through his wardrobe. 

“I’ve always been a short shorts guy,” said Apostol, while rocking some bright pink shorts paired with pineapple tube socks. “I’ve preferred looks that are brighter – and the more patterns, the better. This Chubbies fit is perfect and exactly like me.”

His best accessory, though, has to be the neon pink Chubbies paddle wrap that completes the entire look.

These pickleball trend setters are certainly raising the bar for pickleball attire.