The Pickleball Cowboy on Competing When the Stakes are High You’re in a tournament. The match matters. Maybe it’s for the gold medal, maybe it’s to avoid a drop in your rating, maybe it’s just a game against a rival you’ve never beaten. You’ve been playing solidly all day—clean serves, consistent dinks, effortless resets. Then the score hits 8-all. And something shifts. Your paddle feels heavier. Your feet slow down. You float a serve long. You pop up an easy third-shot drop.

The 2025 USA Pickleball National Championships delivered on all fronts: massive participation—with players from 47 states and 20 countries—high-level competition, and a picturesque host city. Sofia Sewing hits a backhand drive shot against Katerina Stewart in the Pro Women's Singles finals match. Photo by Bruce Yeung; IG: @yeungphotography The USA Pickleball National Championships brings together all divisions—age groups, amateurs, and pros. It’s a celebration of the breadth