Stephanie Travis: Faith, Pickleball & the Praying Pickler
Stephanie Travis has always believed that sports are about more than competition. They are about people, purpose, and connection.
In the growing world of pickleball, she has created something that goes beyond the game — a space where faith, friendship, and community come together on the same court.
"Pickleball is more than a game. It's a place where people can grow together."
PLAYING WITH PURPOSE
As a former physical education teacher and coach, Stephanie spent years helping young athletes discover confidence, discipline, and teamwork. But long before pickleball entered her life, she was already passionate about something even deeper — building spaces where people could truly grow together.
That passion eventually led her to combine two things that had become central to who she is: faith and sport.
In August 2023, Stephanie launched a small weekly gathering she called Praying Pickler.
The concept was simple. Women meeting on the pickleball court to play, share encouragement, and spend a few moments reflecting on Scripture. No pressure. No competition. Just community.
What started as a small idea grew quickly into something powerful.
Week after week, the group expanded as players invited friends, neighbors, and family members. The court became more than a place to compete — it became a place to connect. To breathe. To belong.
Today, more than two years later, Praying Pickler continues to bring women together through pickleball, devotionals, and conversations that extend far beyond the final point.
MORE THAN A GAME
Stephanie never set out to start a movement. She simply wanted to create a space where women could gather, play, and grow together through faith and encouragement.
But sometimes the most meaningful communities begin with the simplest ideas.
Friendships formed. Shared purpose grew. And what began as a small weekly gathering became something much larger — a network of support, connection, and shared values that keeps expanding.
On courts where paddles meet plastic and laughter echoes across the net, the Praying Pickler community reminds everyone of something the sport already knows: pickleball is not only about competition.
It's about connection.
And in a sport growing faster every year, stories like Stephanie's prove that the real power of pickleball is not just in the game itself — but in the communities it brings to life.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
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Stephanie Travis has always believed that sports are about more than competition. They are about people, purpose, and connection.
In the growing world of pickleball, she has created something that goes beyond the game — a space where faith, friendship, and community come together on the same court.
"Pickleball is more than a game. It's a place where people can grow together."
PLAYING WITH PURPOSE
As a former physical education teacher and coach, Stephanie spent years helping young athletes discover confidence, discipline, and teamwork. But long before pickleball entered her life, she was already passionate about something even deeper — building spaces where people could truly grow together.
That passion eventually led her to combine two things that had become central to who she is: faith and sport.
In August 2023, Stephanie launched a small weekly gathering she called Praying Pickler.
The concept was simple. Women meeting on the pickleball court to play, share encouragement, and spend a few moments reflecting on Scripture. No pressure. No competition. Just community.
What started as a small idea grew quickly into something powerful.
Week after week, the group expanded as players invited friends, neighbors, and family members. The court became more than a place to compete — it became a place to connect. To breathe. To belong.
Today, more than two years later, Praying Pickler continues to bring women together through pickleball, devotionals, and conversations that extend far beyond the final point.
MORE THAN A GAME
Stephanie never set out to start a movement. She simply wanted to create a space where women could gather, play, and grow together through faith and encouragement.
But sometimes the most meaningful communities begin with the simplest ideas.
Friendships formed. Shared purpose grew. And what began as a small weekly gathering became something much larger — a network of support, connection, and shared values that keeps expanding.
On courts where paddles meet plastic and laughter echoes across the net, the Praying Pickler community reminds everyone of something the sport already knows: pickleball is not only about competition.
It's about connection.
And in a sport growing faster every year, stories like Stephanie's prove that the real power of pickleball is not just in the game itself — but in the communities it brings to life.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
