Australian pickleball standout Danni-Elle Townsend is turning heads this MLP season, dominating the court with the Columbus Sliders before a recent move to the Dallas Flash. 

While her rise in pickleball has been rapid, her path to the sport is anything but typical.

Before stepping onto the scene, Townsend was deeply immersed in acting. She spent her early years in school drama programs and later pursued acting at the university level. But when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those plans, it ultimately set her on a new course—one that has led to her emergence as a pro pickleball star.

“I always wanted to do acting. I eventually wanted to do screen acting for movies and TV shows, but it’s pretty hard to do that in Australia. I thought that if I could make it to America, then I’d have a better shot. I fell into playing more serious roles, which is weird based on my personality. I’m pretty goofy and I like making people laugh, but when it comes to acting, I always fell into the serious and more meaningful stories and roles,” she explained. “I’ve always loved Meryl Streep, but I’m also a huge Adam Sandler fan. I literally watch his movies almost every night to fall asleep. I’ll put it on as background noise.”

Beyond theatre, Townsend also showcased her athletic side, competing in both tennis and table tennis.

“I’ve always been a sporty person. I come from a big table tennis family, so I played table tennis throughout my life. I was really being pulled in two different directions between acting and sport. I had this internal battle of 'What I should do?' I really had that Troy Bolton experience,” she said, referencing the iconic character from High School Musical. 

But in 2023, Townsend picked up pickleball and it quickly turned into a full-time career.

So does she see herself stepping back into the acting world?

“It’s always in the back of my mind. Who knows? I’m going to have brand deals where I can act and do some ads here and there,” mentioned Townsend. “Pickleball is my focus right now, and I want to be the best at that, so if acting ever is a thing for me, it’ll be a lot later on in my life.”

While Townsend may not be acting as much these days, the performative element of competing, especially in MLP, is something she clearly relishes.

“When I’m on court, I want to put on a show. My coach actually encourages me because I’ve always been like that. I like engaging with the crowd, making eye contact with fans, and helping make it feel like a really personal experience for every single person there,” she insisted. “That’s when I’m playing my best. It’s how I stay focused on the game, even if it doesn’t appear that way.”

Townsend’s lively style of play has drawn mixed reactions from spectators, but for her, any attention is good attention.

“It’s a lot of positive, but it can also be a bit negative. I don’t mind the hateful comments because it’s getting attention either way,” she concluded. “I want to grow my brand, and I have a good support system off the court. Engaging with players and fans who love the sport, too, is a big part of the sport.”

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