Danni-Elle Townsend: She's Not Here to Ask Permission. She's Here to Take It All.
Danni-Elle Townsend: gorgeous, talented, committed, professional, and — why not say it — a little irreverent. But make no mistake, there's a difference between irreverent and disrespectful. She doesn't fit the cliché of "better not say this because..." — she says what she thinks, no filter, no theatrics, not to please anyone, but out of her own conviction. She's a focused young woman, confident in herself and in the potential she has as a player. This Australian, who only started playing pickleball a couple of years ago, came to the United States to make an impact and leave her mark — and she's doing exactly that.
Between what she showed with Columbus in her first events, and what just happened in San Diego a couple of weeks ago, we didn't see just another player — we saw a committed athlete who immediately clicked with her teammates, that kind of feeling that's hard to deny in someone like Danni. We've been following her since her very first event, and we think she's one of the most complete players on the entire circuit. We reached out, and she graciously agreed to an interview with details that may not have been told before.
Just a month ago, Townsend was already proving why she's a player to take seriously. Selected 3rd overall in the 2026 draft by the Columbus Sliders — the 2025 defending champions — she carried the pressure of living up to a stacked roster. She rose to it: she helped the team close out 2nd, 3rd, and 2nd place finishes in their first three events of the season, playing women's doubles with three different partners and closing with a 19-12 record. She was, without exaggeration, a solid and reliable piece within a strong team.
And then, within hours, everything changed: a trade sent her to the Dallas Flash, right after she'd played the Austin final in her old colors. "I was shocked," she told us. "Just a few hours earlier I played in the final for them. The first thought after that was like I got a few flights to change." She couldn't just go home — overnight, her entire season shifted direction.
What came next is more widely known, but it's worth telling properly: Dallas, which had finished last in Austin just a month before, transformed. With Townsend on court alongside JW Johnson and Augie Ge, the team put together a 12-4 run, capturing the title in San Diego with a 3-1 final win over — of all teams — the Columbus Sliders, her former team.
"No matter what team I'm on or who we play, I want to win," she said of that moment. "But I feel like I definitely had something to prove and I think I did that."
That sentence sums up, perhaps better than any other, who Danni-Elle Townsend is on and off the court: someone who turns every obstacle into material for her own story, and who never apologizes for shining while she does it.
Before pickleball, there was table tennis — a sport she learned literally as a baby, held up by her brothers with a paddle made to her size, which took her on to represent Australia in international competition. There was also acting, formal theater studies interrupted by the pandemic, but which — in her own words — is "always in the back of my mind." That mix explains why, when Townsend plays, she doesn't just compete: she performs, connects, entertains. "I think people fall in love with the stories of athletes," she explained. "So I want to be convey who I am, tell my story out on the court. End of the day that's how I compete best."
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It's a philosophy that doesn't sit well with everyone — she knows it, and she doesn't care. "I don't pay too much attention to it," she told us. "If I do I generally find negative stuff funny weirdly. I don't know those people so it has no meaning to me. Also the positive wayyyy out weighs the bad. People can think and say what they want. My goals don't change, just makes it even better when I prove em wrong along the way."
That same quiet confidence shows up when she talks about life off the court, far from home. As an Australian competing in the US, she says the adjustment has been "soo smooth sailing" — the only thing she truly misses are her support systems: her girlfriend, family, and friends. "Definitely hard being so far away from everything," she admits, "but they are all very supportive and remind me to make the most of my time here."
Since this interview took place, Dallas Flash has already come through Chicago, holding the level Townsend promised, and through the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, the final regular-season stop before the playoffs. Everything points to a team arriving at the postseason at its best all year — with Townsend as one of the pieces that's most changed the conversation about who can compete for the 2026 title.
The Full Interview
How did you take the news of the trade, and what was the first thing that went through your mind?
I was shocked. As just a few hours ago I played in the final for them in Austin. First thought after that was like I got a few flights to change. Was pretty overwhelming to start with, as I can't just go home. But now it's the best thing that could ever happened to me!
A month after the trade, Dallas won the title in San Diego. Did it feel especially satisfying to beat your former team, Columbus, in that final?
Yeah I mean no matter what team I'm on or who we play, I want to win. But I feel like i definitely had something to prove and I think I did that. We are going to go back it up in Chicago.
You've said you want to "put on a show" and connect with the crowd. Where does that instinct come from?
I definitely think it's a bit of both. I've always loved to entertain. Never has really mattered how I do it. I think people fall in love with the story's of athletes. So I want to be convey who I am, tell my story out on the court. End of the day that's how I compete best. What better story than being true to yourself and winning!
Your career started in table tennis. What skill from that discipline gives you an edge in pickleball?
It's definitely not a clear transfer, skill to skill. But gave me the foundation not a lot of other players have. Took a lot of time and patience to build it to where it is now.
You've mentioned acting is always "in the back of your mind." What would it take for you to say yes to a serious role right now?
That's a hard question. Depends what movie or tv series. Also how big. The amount of time I'll have to spend. I think my time will come for movies but that's not now.
How do you build that kind of chemistry with Augie Ge so fast?
I can't really explain it. Think as a whole the team trusts that I'm going to show up, do my best and have a good attitude while I'm at it. That's all I can do, everything else is out of my control. Augie is also just a great.
Is there a line somewhere — something that actually gets to you off the court?
Yeah I don't pay too much attention to it. If I do I generally find negative stuff funny weirdly. I don't know those people so it has no meaning to me. My goals don't change, just makes it even better when I prove em wrong along the way.
What's been the hardest part of adjusting to the US, and what do you miss most about Australia?
Coming here has honestly been soo smooth sailing. Things that i miss the most is my support systems such as my girlfriend, family and friends. Definitely hard being so far away from everything. But they are all very supportive and remind me to make the most of my time here.
If you could pick any athlete to coach you for a day on connecting with a crowd, who would you choose?
I'm not sure there is someone that can teach me to connect with a crowd or people better than I already do. Think that's something that comes pretty naturally for me. Would love to just talk to Michael Jordan though. Love what he built.
What would you tell the 2023 version of yourself, just trying pickleball for fun with her mom and stepdad?
You're gonna enjoy where this takes you! Don't let people stop you from doing it.
Do you have a ritual before stepping out to play?
I like to warmup with my shoes untied and really loose. Just to like feel the ground more. Use my toes. Then I tie them up real tight before the game. I just like to take the area all in. Tell myself this is where I want to be.
What's your favorite shot, and which one took longest to master?
Has to be the oney backhand counter. When you connect, it's the most crispy feeling. But I've kinda had that shot since I first started. It's come along way from how I first hit it.
What message would you give a young girl in Latin America or Spain dreaming of going pro?
I use to do a lot of junior coaching and Table Tennis. Was a very big passion of mine. The most important thing is to play. Play the sport. Play, be creative. Just enjoy the most. If you love it and just can't stop yourself from playing. You're going to keep improving.
Off the court, what does Danni-Elle Townsend do on a day off?
I'm ether out and about near the beach skateboarding and swimming. Or playing board games and card games with family and friends, with some good food and snacks. Also love to go have a boogie!
Danni-Elle Townsend: gorgeous, talented, committed, professional, and — why not say it — a little irreverent. But make no mistake, there's a difference between irreverent and disrespectful. She doesn't fit the cliché of "better not say this because..." — she says what she thinks, no filter, no theatrics, not to please anyone, but out of her own conviction. She's a focused young woman, confident in herself and in the potential she has as a player. This Australian, who only started playing pickleball a couple of years ago, came to the United States to make an impact and leave her mark — and she's doing exactly that.
Between what she showed with Columbus in her first events, and what just happened in San Diego a couple of weeks ago, we didn't see just another player — we saw a committed athlete who immediately clicked with her teammates, that kind of feeling that's hard to deny in someone like Danni. We've been following her since her very first event, and we think she's one of the most complete players on the entire circuit. We reached out, and she graciously agreed to an interview with details that may not have been told before.
Just a month ago, Townsend was already proving why she's a player to take seriously. Selected 3rd overall in the 2026 draft by the Columbus Sliders — the 2025 defending champions — she carried the pressure of living up to a stacked roster. She rose to it: she helped the team close out 2nd, 3rd, and 2nd place finishes in their first three events of the season, playing women's doubles with three different partners and closing with a 19-12 record. She was, without exaggeration, a solid and reliable piece within a strong team.
And then, within hours, everything changed: a trade sent her to the Dallas Flash, right after she'd played the Austin final in her old colors. "I was shocked," she told us. "Just a few hours earlier I played in the final for them. The first thought after that was like I got a few flights to change." She couldn't just go home — overnight, her entire season shifted direction.
What came next is more widely known, but it's worth telling properly: Dallas, which had finished last in Austin just a month before, transformed. With Townsend on court alongside JW Johnson and Augie Ge, the team put together a 12-4 run, capturing the title in San Diego with a 3-1 final win over — of all teams — the Columbus Sliders, her former team.
"No matter what team I'm on or who we play, I want to win," she said of that moment. "But I feel like I definitely had something to prove and I think I did that."
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That sentence sums up, perhaps better than any other, who Danni-Elle Townsend is on and off the court: someone who turns every obstacle into material for her own story, and who never apologizes for shining while she does it.
Before pickleball, there was table tennis — a sport she learned literally as a baby, held up by her brothers with a paddle made to her size, which took her on to represent Australia in international competition. There was also acting, formal theater studies interrupted by the pandemic, but which — in her own words — is "always in the back of my mind." That mix explains why, when Townsend plays, she doesn't just compete: she performs, connects, entertains. "I think people fall in love with the stories of athletes," she explained. "So I want to be convey who I am, tell my story out on the court. End of the day that's how I compete best."
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
It's a philosophy that doesn't sit well with everyone — she knows it, and she doesn't care. "I don't pay too much attention to it," she told us. "If I do I generally find negative stuff funny weirdly. I don't know those people so it has no meaning to me. Also the positive wayyyy out weighs the bad. People can think and say what they want. My goals don't change, just makes it even better when I prove em wrong along the way."
That same quiet confidence shows up when she talks about life off the court, far from home. As an Australian competing in the US, she says the adjustment has been "soo smooth sailing" — the only thing she truly misses are her support systems: her girlfriend, family, and friends. "Definitely hard being so far away from everything," she admits, "but they are all very supportive and remind me to make the most of my time here."
Since this interview took place, Dallas Flash has already come through Chicago, holding the level Townsend promised, and through the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, the final regular-season stop before the playoffs. Everything points to a team arriving at the postseason at its best all year — with Townsend as one of the pieces that's most changed the conversation about who can compete for the 2026 title.
The Full Interview
How did you take the news of the trade, and what was the first thing that went through your mind?
I was shocked. As just a few hours ago I played in the final for them in Austin. First thought after that was like I got a few flights to change. Was pretty overwhelming to start with, as I can't just go home. But now it's the best thing that could ever happened to me!
A month after the trade, Dallas won the title in San Diego. Did it feel especially satisfying to beat your former team, Columbus, in that final?
Yeah I mean no matter what team I'm on or who we play, I want to win. But I feel like i definitely had something to prove and I think I did that. We are going to go back it up in Chicago.
You've said you want to "put on a show" and connect with the crowd. Where does that instinct come from?
I definitely think it's a bit of both. I've always loved to entertain. Never has really mattered how I do it. I think people fall in love with the story's of athletes. So I want to be convey who I am, tell my story out on the court. End of the day that's how I compete best. What better story than being true to yourself and winning!
Your career started in table tennis. What skill from that discipline gives you an edge in pickleball?
It's definitely not a clear transfer, skill to skill. But gave me the foundation not a lot of other players have. Took a lot of time and patience to build it to where it is now.
You've mentioned acting is always "in the back of your mind." What would it take for you to say yes to a serious role right now?
That's a hard question. Depends what movie or tv series. Also how big. The amount of time I'll have to spend. I think my time will come for movies but that's not now.
How do you build that kind of chemistry with Augie Ge so fast?
I can't really explain it. Think as a whole the team trusts that I'm going to show up, do my best and have a good attitude while I'm at it. That's all I can do, everything else is out of my control. Augie is also just a great.
Is there a line somewhere — something that actually gets to you off the court?
Yeah I don't pay too much attention to it. If I do I generally find negative stuff funny weirdly. I don't know those people so it has no meaning to me. My goals don't change, just makes it even better when I prove em wrong along the way.
What's been the hardest part of adjusting to the US, and what do you miss most about Australia?
Coming here has honestly been soo smooth sailing. Things that i miss the most is my support systems such as my girlfriend, family and friends. Definitely hard being so far away from everything. But they are all very supportive and remind me to make the most of my time here.
If you could pick any athlete to coach you for a day on connecting with a crowd, who would you choose?
I'm not sure there is someone that can teach me to connect with a crowd or people better than I already do. Think that's something that comes pretty naturally for me. Would love to just talk to Michael Jordan though. Love what he built.
What would you tell the 2023 version of yourself, just trying pickleball for fun with her mom and stepdad?
You're gonna enjoy where this takes you! Don't let people stop you from doing it.
Do you have a ritual before stepping out to play?
I like to warmup with my shoes untied and really loose. Just to like feel the ground more. Use my toes. Then I tie them up real tight before the game. I just like to take the area all in. Tell myself this is where I want to be.
What's your favorite shot, and which one took longest to master?
Has to be the oney backhand counter. When you connect, it's the most crispy feeling. But I've kinda had that shot since I first started. It's come along way from how I first hit it.
What message would you give a young girl in Latin America or Spain dreaming of going pro?
I use to do a lot of junior coaching and Table Tennis. Was a very big passion of mine. The most important thing is to play. Play the sport. Play, be creative. Just enjoy the most. If you love it and just can't stop yourself from playing. You're going to keep improving.
Off the court, what does Danni-Elle Townsend do on a day off?
I'm ether out and about near the beach skateboarding and swimming. Or playing board games and card games with family and friends, with some good food and snacks. Also love to go have a boogie!
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