Pickleball develops pros, prize money, biz ecosystem as it's designated Washington's state sport

Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign a law designating pickleball as the official state sport of Washington. The mash-up of badminton, tennis and pingpong has come a long way since its invention on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965. Skilled local pickleball players have turned pro and brand new businesses are opening to cater to the pandemic boom in recreational play.

Washington will become the 16th state with an official sport when Inslee signs the pickleball bill. Some of the other states that have gone before have obvious pairings such as Hawaii and surfing, Minnesota and ice hockey, Alaska and dog mushing. There are also some less obvious designations such as Colorado where the state sport is pack burro racing, or Maryland where it's jousting. Oregon and Idaho don't have an official state sport.

At the Washington Legislature, prime sponsor Sen. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek) explained why he served up pickleball to be the state sport.