Going from Goalie Pads to Pickleball Paddles: Amanda Hendry’s a Rising Star in the Professional World of Pickleball
Photo via Instagram @cablackbears
What started as a recreational backyard game, pickleball has turned into an internationally beloved sport for all ages. Whether you’re 8 or 80, there is a place for you in pickleball, good chance that’s why it’s estimated that 36.5 million have picked up a paddle, and that’s just in the United States. Professional pickleball’s future is becoming incredibly bright, attracting millions of spectators, amateurs, and pro players alike. Now, the world’s goofiest-named sport has a rising PB phenom, champion UNC field hockey alumni, Amanda Hendry, and she’s out for gold.
Who is Amanda Hendry?
Before serving sass with every smash, Amanda, a decorated Tar Heel goalkeeper, helped UNC secure three NCAA Division I national championships and four ACC titles, all while earning First Team All-American honors. She started playing pickleball with her family, specifically getting into it with her mom, Vanessa, and younger sister, Jessica. She transitioned into the sport during the pandemic, advancing swiftly from recreational play to pro competitions after college, and is now becoming one of the top-ranked women on the APP Tour in singles and doubles, mixed, and women's. Before pickleball, Amanda saw herself graduating and starting a career in finance, much like the other members in her family. Flash forward to 2025, she’s a professional athlete, defining what it means to be at the top of her field and to be a professional athlete, what we want all our athlete icons to be: humble, a pillar of her community, someone you want to root for. Amanda is rapidly ascending in pickleball; whether she is competing with her boyfriend, Jack Foster, or on the court solo, you can’t help but watch in awe of her for her skill and all-around athletic acumen. A modern-day Bo Jackson, if you will.
Her background as a goalie contributes to her strong balance, leg strength, and agility on the court. Amanda combines elite athleticism, refined technique from her years of dedication to training, and smart strategy. Viewers regularly comment on her clean, powerful form, smooth preparation, and minimal wasted motion. Her hard work has definitely been paying off; Amanda has already collected over 10 pro‑level medals at major APP and USA Pickleball events. She has risen from a 4.0 tournament player to a top-20-ranked pro women’s singles player. In pickleball, entry-level players are classed as a 1.0 to 2.0 skill rating; a modicum of experience and ability earns a rating of 2.5, and so forth, up to 5.5+, the highest skill level. So, how does she do it? It all starts with her mindset, the confidence she created for herself through 4-6 hours of self-motivated training a day. The culture shock of going from a team of 16 to manning an entire court yourself (or with a partner if we’re going to get technical about it) was a lesson that Amanda had to teach herself. What she found, first and foremost, was her love for pickleball, her true passion, a passion that fuels her desire to be the best version of herself.
Pickleball’s Power Couple
Amanda Hendry
Millions don’t just belove tennis’s quirky cousin, it is a sport to find love. Well, maybe not for everyone, but certainly for Amanda and her boyfriend and fellow professional pickleball player, Jack Foster. Once upon a time, in the summer of 2020, Jack, a young pickleball enthusiast, was being sent home from his first year of college, along with many of his peers, due to a pandemic that was happening across the globe. Going to college remotely was a plight for many, but Jack turned lemons into lemonade and dedicated himself to playing more pickleball. He trained and started to participate in Association of Pickleball Professionals tournaments, which made him a real competitor.
At the same time, Amanda was set to begin an internship, but she wasn’t; similarly to Jack, she devoted her energy and newfound abundance of time to pickleball. In December of the same year, the stars aligned, and both players happened to be playing at the same courts at the same time: Jack, who was playing at his home court, and Amanda, who was visiting her family’s home in the area. He asked her to play a game with him. Two games later, he asked her to play with him in mixed doubles at an upcoming tournament, and the rest is history. Their success as a duo cemented a partnership that continued in the pro ranks and beyond.
It’s a story about two young athletes honing their craft in a new sport, falling in love, and becoming world-ranked professional pickleball players. There are benefits to having a relationship on and off the court; the couple gets to do what they love with the person they love. Amanda credits Jack as her “support system” and that competing together “adds another element to their relationship, it makes it stronger.” When we spoke, she said, “Not many people in their 20s get to travel the world with their partner, pickleball has let Jack and I do that.” Pickleball has taken them to tournaments all over the world, from the U.S. to the U.K., to India and China, and beyond.
Amanda Hendry
So, Why Play Pickleball?
This cure for backyard boredom now has prize money, rankings, and rivalries to pique one's interest. Amateur players can build their experience and ranking by participating in amateur tournaments before transitioning to professional play. Popularity has grown so fast, and with that, the opportunities for players have increased. You could go from the rec center to playing at the pro level. It truly is a sport that all ages and all abilities can play. Because of that, the spread of the sport is primarily attributed to its popularity within community centers, PE classes, and retirement communities. International clubs are popping up and have become established on multiple continents.
This accessible sport is not only great for getting in shape and improving overall health, but it's also ideal for former athletes looking to stay competitive. Pickleball is leading the way in equality, being the only sport where men and women receive equal pay and maintain the same level of viewership. Women play professionally and gain the same recognition as their male counterparts, showing that anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background, can find a place in the game. It’s an all-inclusive environment that supports and celebrates women in sports. Plus, with the rise of social media, players are turning their skills into full-time careers through brand partnerships and content creation. Pickleball offers a rare and exciting opportunity where athletes don’t just compete, they help shape and build the future of the sport.