Pickleball, a sport that blends elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis, has been gaining popularity, and one name that stands out in the crowd is Lee Whitwell. With a background in tennis and a love for pickleball, Lee has quickly climbed to the top of the women’s tour and established herself as one of the best players in the game.
Lee was born in Gibraltar and grew up playing tennis, which led her to win consecutive Division II national doubles titles in 1993 and 1994 at Francis Marion University in South Carolina. She briefly played professional tennis on the ITF tour before becoming an assistant coach at Alliant International University in San Diego. However, she never expected that pickleball would become such a big part of her life.
In 2017, Lee was introduced to pickleball by a friend and participated in her first tournament after being bribed with a case of beer. And she won! This win sparked a love for the sport that has only grown stronger. Since then, Lee has become one of the top players on the women’s tour and has earned several notable achievements, including the MLP MVP in 2021 and the MVP in Austin 2022.
Despite being the last pick in the MLP draft, Lee proved her doubters wrong by winning the MVP award and leading her team to victory. She is also the founder of “picklercardgame,” a card game designed for game-lovers of all ages.
Lee’s success in pickleball can be attributed to her background in tennis and her determination to succeed. Her passion for the sport is evident in her performance on the court and continues to inspire others to take up the sport and pursue their own pickleball dreams.
In conclusion, Lee Whitwell is a dominant player in the pickleball world, with a DUPR rating of 5.38 in doubles and several notable achievements, including gold medals in pro tournaments. At the age of 49, Lee continues to inspire and amaze with her talent and dedication to the sport.
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