Jewell Loyd, a three-time WNBA champion and JOOLA-sponsored athlete, recently attended a community event in North Bethesda, Maryland, to promote pickleball. Engaging with fans, she signed autographs and emphasized the sport’s rapid growth and inclusivity.
Women’s Basketball star Jewell Loyd visits Joola store North Bethesda, Maryland. (@jewellloyd/Instagram)
Three-time WNBA champion and JOOLA-sponsored athlete Jewell Loyd visited the brand’s flagship retail store in North Bethesda, Maryland, over the weekend as part of a community-focused pickleball event.
Loyd, who partnered with JOOLA in February 2024, signed autographs, posed for photographs, and interacted with fans during the visit. The event aimed to encourage greater participation in pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States.
The Las Vegas Aces guard has become a visible ambassador for pickleball, both as a competitive player and as a co-owner of Major League Pickleball’s Miami Pickleball Club. Away from basketball, she has regularly taken to the pickleball court with a JOOLA paddle.
Speaking to ABC 7 News WJLA, Loyd said the sport helped her maintain balance outside professional basketball. “Having different outlets is super vital for me. You need a break when you’re always in grind mode,” she said. “Getting outside your comfort zone helps you relax and reset.”
She added that pickleball challenged her in new ways. “Some people think playing another sport is not relaxing, but for me it is. I am challenged differently, and I am constantly learning from new people,” Loyd said.
Loyd said her interest in pickleball began three years ago after an early loss. “We were getting beaten badly by older women, and it was embarrassing. After that, we played as much as we could, and I got addicted,” she said.
She highlighted the sport’s inclusivity as a key reason for its appeal. “You can have a six-year-old playing with a 30-year-old and a 60-year-old, even with someone who has never played before,” she said.
One of the most accomplished players of her generation, Loyd was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft. She won Olympic gold and spent nine seasons with the Seattle Storm, earning Rookie of the Year honours and contributing to WNBA titles in 2018 and 2020. In 2025, she joined the Las Vegas Aces and helped secure another championship.
Loyd was also nicknamed “Gold Mamba” by the late Kobe Bryant. Loyd continues to extend her influence beyond basketball through her involvement in pickleball.
