The rumors are true, the iconic American Girl doll brand is officially investing in pickleball. And childhood me is absolutely squealing in delight over this. 

American Girl is a toy company for kids age 8+ that creates high quality 18-inch dolls that originally represented historical time periods significant to American history. They were simultaneously fun and educational, and were sold with historically accurate clothing and accessories. 

The American Girl dolls were an elite status symbol in elementary school. Every girl in class had their favorite girl and we were fighting like animals to check out the newest Samantha book at the library.  

These dolls eventually had movie adaptations with now famous Hollywood actors including Olivia Rodrigo, AnnaSophia Robb, and Shailene Woodley.

In addition to the historical line of dolls, they annually reveal a "Girl of the Year" that is contemporary and reflects the lives of modern young girls. 

The "Girl of the Year" for 2026 just happens to be pickleball player. 

Her name is Raquel Reyes and she lives on the East Coast where she frequently hits the beach and plays pickleball with her best friend, Sloan.

First, let’s talk about Raquel’s pickleball outfit.

At only 10 years old, Raquel would absolutely make the Junior PPA’s Best Dressed List. She has a white pleated tennis skirt with hot pink and turquoise blue color blocking on the bottom, plus two bows for added flare. 

Her pink t-shirt that says Piney Point Pickleball reminds me of all the branded pro shop gear at racket clubs across the country. And she has a visor (love that we’re teaching the kids young about sun protection), pink and white court shoes, pink knee-high socks, and a hair bow. 

She also comes with a pickleball bag that looks like the adorable one I bought for my mom for Christmas from Trelle Co, and it’s kind of the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. It even comes with a water bottle.

And of course, there’s a set of pink pickleballs and paddles so the girls can play. What’s an even better detail is that the paddles have a small plastic attachment to the handles so the dolls can actually hold the paddles as if they’re really playing. 

Tell me this isn’t the most darling thing you’ve ever seen. 

I love that Raquel is a pickleball player. For one, childhood me is so pleased because I thought these dolls were the coolest, and now as an adult, I still think they’re pretty cool. 

I also love how Raquel is the 2026 Girl of the Year, and the whole idea of this line is to reflect modern young girls’ likes and interests. Sure, there’s been tennis player dolls in the past, but having Raquel be exclusively a pickleball player just shows how much the sport continues to grow, especially with the younger generation. 

Maybe their next historical doll will be from Bainbridge Island, WA and was there when pickleball was invented. She can even have her dog, Pickles, there too. 

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