One of the people leading the charge for more diversity in pickleball - at least at the local level - is 28-year-old Toni Benn.

Benn is the primary organizer of Sistas Who Pickleball, a group focused on bringing together Black/African-American women interested in playing America's fastest-growing sport in Pittsburgh, PA, and fostering a sense of community in the process.

She embarked on this endeavor after playing at different courts throughout the city and noticing a trend in her opponents.

“I just didn’t see a lot of people who looked like me,” said Benn, in a May 6 story by writer Justin Stewart in the Pittsburgh City Paper. “My initial thought was that we need to get something going, there needs to be a community built around this.”

Benn has recently been hosting pickleball gatherings at The Pickleball Warehouse focused primarily on participants learning fundamentals.

“I found it very challenging to go in spaces where I could go as a novice, where I could go be vulnerable, be nervous, be anxious,” she explained.

The Sistas Who Pickleball website makes it crystal clear that group events provide a welcoming and supportive environment for all attendess.

Skill level and experience aren't a top priority.

"Whether you're new to the sport or a seasoned player, come meet new friends from around the Pittsburgh area and get active while sharpening your skills," says the site. "Let's sweat it out together and have some fun on and off the court."

Likewise, people of all backgrounds can participate.

"Although Sistas Who Pickleball is intended for women who identify as Black/African-American, this is not an exclusive group," adds the site. "There is always room for others to join as long as they respect the safe space being created for Black/African-American women."

Attendees to date range in age from their mid-20s through their 60s.

And the feedback has been positive.

"It’s the excitement and joy that people walk away with at the end of the session," said Benn. "As working adults, when you leave the university space, it’s very hard to find a community. It’s hard to make friends and meet people with similar interests."

This can certainly make a difference in that department.

The future of Sistas Who Pickleball is bright.

"I would love for it to be different tiers of people that can easily go into the group, organize, and they go," shared Benn. "It would be great if people could also find friends to hang out with outside of just pickleball. It’s really great building those communities."