One of the best stories in pickleball has been and continues to be the sport’s growth in all facets.

Whether in terms of amateur participation, viewership numbers, or attendance statistics, the story of pickleball’s growth continues to be written—event after event, year after year.

Ahead of Thursday’s MUNICIPAL Celebrity Pickleball Showdown presented by Corient, we asked some of the participating pros to reflect on how they have experienced the sport’s rapid growth and evolution.

Here are some of their responses.

Brooke Buckner: “I can’t believe this is where pickleball is at, honestly. It’s happened so fast, but what a night to celebrate where we are, and it’s an honor to be able to play in this event and to play at Worlds. What the PPA has done is amazing, and what JOOLA has done in the community and how everyone just keeps pushing each other to be better is really inspiring.”

Ben Johns: It’s really, really awesome. I definitely remember the days where people didn’t even know what pickleball was. Now, you know, you’ve got tons of celebrities playing and wanting to be involved in the sport, and that’s just really cool to be around. It’s a privilege.”

Anna Bright: It’s really cool to have been at Worlds now for a few years and see the growth and development from the number of amateurs participating to the build out of Center Court and Pickleball Boulevard. It’s all so exciting, and I think that is also reflected in how many celebrities and people are obsessed with pickleball.

Tyson McGuffin: “It’s a dream come true, man. There are so many big names in the sport of pickleball now. I started playing back in 2016. The sport’s come leaps and bounds from where it once was and has now taken me all over the world.”

It's valuable perspective from some of the sport's best.