Queen of the Courts

Gold medalist Parris Todd talks pickleball, Boca Raton and resort life.

Pickleball star Parris Todd brings style, finesse, and strength to the game and her new home of Boca Raton. We chatted with the Racquet Club frequenter and winner of more than 45 medals on the APP and PPA tours about the sport, her entrepreneurial endeavors, and the comforts of playing at The Boca Raton.

I have to ask: How did you get the name “Parris”— with the unique spelling? I honestly am not sure of the exact story, but I know that my parents wanted it to be different from the spelling of the city. I know it was between Jade or Parris, and they decided on Parris.

What brought you over to Boca Raton?
I moved to Boca Raton from Naples, and one of the big reasons was that there were already a lot of pros in the area. Something like the top 15 of the top 25 pros in the world are here. As I’ve started to make a home here, I’ve learned that Boca Raton fits my personality better. There is a lot going on. And the airports are good—as much as I travel to play matches, having direct flights is helpful.

What is it like playing pickleball at The Boca Raton’s Racquet Club?
It’s a very high-end members’ club, and that makes it feel very cool and private. The connections and networking here are amazing. I’ve been able to connect with so many people who have had a lot of accomplishments and learn about their work.

I bet the members are pretty impressed by your accomplishments, too.
I guess you can say so, but I’m so much more interested in learning and hearing from everybody else here. I really enjoy getting to know the players at The Boca Raton.

What’s a favored amenity at Racquet Club?
I was there yesterday, and Racquet Bar is a really cool aspect, because when players are done playing, you can still stay together. The bar deepens the connection between members and players. Pickleball is so social, so to have that aspect to it is really great.

What tips do you have about playing in the Florida heat/humidity?
When you play at The Boca Raton, you have shade, and there’s an awning, so it’s good to take a break. When I don’t play here, I do tend to play indoors, which helps out a lot with the heat.

Did you ever think pickleball would gain this much popularity?
Yes, because when I started playing, I saw the community part of it. That’s how I fell in love with the sport. I was so tired from the constant rat race of professional tennis that I wasn’t sure I wanted to pick up a racquet sport anymore, but the pickleball community was so amazing and gave me more life. I see it happening on the professional side as well as the recreational side.

What is on your pre-match playlist these days?
I am a country girl, for sure. I listen to Morgan Wallen, Bailey Zimmerman, and other new-age country music that’s a little poppy. Sometimes I’m looking to be slightly pumped up from the music, but there comes a side where I prefer something a bit relaxing, so it takes my mind off things as well.

How are the pressures of playing professional pickleball different from professional tennis?
It’s not all that different. We’re still athletes and still competing for a sport that we love. Whether it’s pickleball or tennis, I’m going to do my best. I’ve noticed that travel for pickleball is more manageable than tennis, because there are more domestic events. But pickleball is growing on a huge scale, so there might be more changes with time.

How has social media impacted the sport’s popularity and your presence within it?
For my personal brand, I want to connect with young girls coming up and be a role model for them. Or even for moms, I think I’ve brought a sense of professionalism in how we present ourselves. We can be professional and still wear skirts and bows.

Do you ever think about how different your life would be if you never asked your parents at 5 years old for a tennis racquet?
Everything in my life has led to this. It’s crazy how if we made a different decision, we would be down a totally different path. My life would be different if I had stuck with tennis; that was definitely my trajectory. My parents wanted me to be the next Maria Sharapova. But playing tennis professionally led to my love of fashion and style. Now I understand fashion from A to Z. I’m able to tie it into sports, work for brands like Franklin, and design for them.

Queen of the Courts

Gold medalist Parris Todd talks pickleball, Boca Raton and resort life.

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