Building a Pickleball Movement at Harvard and Beyond

How the Ivy League’s first pickleball club is rallying students, smashing stereotypes, and serving up community with CityPickle and JOOLA

At CityPickle, we believe pickleball is more than just a game. It’s a way to bring people together. That’s why we’re proud partners with JOOLA Pickleball as sponsors of the Harvard Pickleball Club (HPC), the first official pickleball club in the Ivy League. While that may sound like an elite title, the heart of this story is about inclusivity, community, connection, and friendship. 

Founded just two years ago by a handful of students with a portable net and a passion for play, HPC has quickly become one of the buzziest student groups on campus. It’s a perfect reflection of CityPickle’s mission to create spaces where everyone feels welcome, whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just picking up a paddle for the first time.

As co-founder of the HPC, Elle Freedman told The Harvard Crimson,

“You don’t have to be this insane athlete in order to play pickleball. We have the captain of the football team playing against the CS brainiac. And they are playing a sport. In what other contexts would they come together?”

That simple joy of people from different backgrounds coming together on the court sits at the core of what WE do. At Harvard, that meant casual games springing up in squash courts and science plazas with a DIY net.

“Freshman year I acquired this portable net and bought Amazon paddles for twenty bucks, and I just started playing whenever and wherever,” Elle said.

Now, HPC is a thriving community where students come to decompress, connect, and compete without pressure or pretense. And it’s no surprise that the person who helped start it all is taking the next step with us. We’re thrilled to welcome Elle to the CityPickle team as our new Brand Partnerships Coordinator in July.

Together with JOOLA, we’re continuing to champion grassroots efforts like HPC to grow pickleball in a way that stays true to its roots. Joyful, accessible, and welcoming to all.

Check out the full article in The Harvard Crimson here: Dill with it: Harvard’s Pickleball Club is Here to Stay.