How Courtside Social Came to Life

Back in 2022, at a good friend’s birthday party, a group of us started chatting about how much everyone was loving pickleball. It seemed like the perfect sport, fun, social, and accessible. I had never picked up tennis, but pickleball felt like something I could actually get into. So we decided to give it a go and gathered a few girlfriends to hit the court and see what would happen.

We started with just four of us and dubbed ourselves The Darling Drinkers, a little pickleball club that didn’t take itself too seriously. None of us really knew what we were doing—there was a lot of YouTubing the rules and just figuring it out as we went. I’ll never forget how the tennis pro giving lessons on the next court over was literally in tears laughing at our attempts. But hey, we were out there, having a blast and just playing our hearts out.

Eventually, we got it together. We each started taking private and group lessons, and honestly, we became pretty decent players. That original group of four grew into eight, and we’ve been playing together ever since. From there, a second group spun off into a Thursday crew, and that expanded into a larger circle of over 40 women. What started as a fun, casual sport turned into something so much more, a community, a social outlet, and a sisterhood.

Around that time, one of the girls in our original crew started playing padel and kept telling us how fun it was, and that the venues had such a great vibe. We finally gave in and tried it, and surprise, we loved it. We started taking clinics and private lessons, and it quickly became part of our weekly routine.

With all the time spent on the court, our days started to follow the same pattern: play in the morning, then head straight to whatever was next, grocery runs, errands, meeting a friend for coffee or lunch. The challenge? I didn’t always have time to shower and change. I found myself running around town in my pickleball outfit, and most of the time, it just wasn’t cutting it.

That’s when I started brainstorming with my sisters: What if we created outfits that were not only made for play, but also stylish enough to wear off the court? Something that let us look fresh, put-together, and chic, even post-match. That’s how Courtside Social was born.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Alo. I still wear their pieces for workouts and court days. But the activewear space is so saturated, and let’s be honest, no one wants to show up somewhere and see three other women in the exact same outfit. That actually happened when I went to the Miami Open last year. I had planned to wear a cute yellow knit tennis dress from Alo, but I stopped myself because I just knew I’d run into others in the same thing. I wasn’t in the mood for a “Who wore it better?” moment.

So creating a collection of court sport attire that feels elevated, personal, and distinct, that gives you a sense of identity, felt completely natural. Courtside Social is about blending performance with style and celebrating the social, playful, and confident woman who owns every part of her day, on and off the court.

What’s Next for Courtside Social

Our debut capsule collection is called Terre: a curated set of ten signature pieces marrying function and style. It’s the first of four planned collections, each with its own identity and inspiration (the remaining three are still in development!). We’re deep in production mode and preparing to bring our first court-to-street collection to life. Samples are on their way, and we can’t wait to share a sneak peek.

And to kick things off…

We’re hosting monthly Courtside Social Sessions this fall, one for pickleball, one for padel. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, there’s a court for you. Because we get the fun in both.

These sessions aren’t just about gameplay, they’re about the vibe. Music, drinks, and community are baked into every match. Rally, sip, and join the social.

We’re also launching with a giveaway for the first couple of events—because what’s more fun than showing up, playing hard, and going home with a little something extra? Stay tuned!