NoVA entrepreneur Jenni Bae and her father, Eui Sung Lee, 74, are bringing their love of a sport that connected them during the pandemic to a national level. The two set up a pickleball net in their driveaway during the pandemic so they could play and as they say, the rest is history. They were selected for the National Mall of Pickleball, an event that runs from September 27 to 29.
They are among six teams of finalists who will participate in the Ultimate Duo Challenge. The competition selected teams based not only on their passion but also their intergenerational friendships and living healthy lives on and off the courts.
Pickleball has been growing in recent years. According to USA Pickleball’s Annual Growth Report in January 2024, places to play the sport increased to 11,885 known locations and just over 50,000 known courts.
Jenni and her father, who goes by Lee, spoke to Northern Virginia Magazine about what they like most about playing the popular sport, opening a new facility for pickleball, and their best advice for those looking to take up pickleball but aren’t quite sure where to begin. Jenni’s first Down the Line Sports facility opened in Fairfax in 2023, and she has plans to open a second 50,000-square-foot facility in May 2025.
Jenni answered for Lee, who is from South Korea and English is not his first language.
What do you like most about playing pickleball together?
I will say, for my dad, he’s always been very competitive with sports and has been an athlete his whole life. Once he got into his older years, he did a lot of table tennis. He took a lot of clinics and lessons and played during his lunch breaks at work. He comes from a tennis background as well and had me play tennis when I was younger.
When he retired and I introduced him to pickleball, it was just kind of the perfect mesh of everything. It wasn’t as hard on his body.
I speak for both of us when I say it’s been a very long time since we’ve been able to do anything together. The last time I remember doing anything together with him as a sport was probably high school tennis lessons where he would watch me take lessons and pick up my balls for me.
I always grew up with sports and with my parents being immigrants without a solid English background, we were dependent on other people taking me to things versus being exposed to them ourselves. My friends would take me along to activities and I’d discover it was something I wanted to do. From an early age, I loved sports — basketball, tennis, volleyball, and flag football were all huge in my life.
Do you have any advice for individuals who may want to start playing pickleball but aren’t sure where to begin?
I would find a good friend, whether it’s someone looking to learn with you or someone who has already started. Just get out on the court and be willing to learn. Go with someone who’s not going to take it super seriously. If you’re brand new and go with someone who just wants to go out and win everything, that’s not the best person to go out with.
Go with someone who’s open-minded and willing to show you from the bottom up what the rules and techniques are. It’s important to get correct instruction. If you really want to become a little more elevated and play with serious players, getting instruction is the only way to go.
Jenni, tell us more about Down the Line Sports and your plans to expand to a 50,000-square-foot facility in May. What has life been like as an entrepreneur and mom and training for pickleball?
We never really imagined opening a facility, but all the pieces just kind of fell into place. As a family, we were trying to figure out what we could do with it. It just so happened that as we were making those decisions, COVID happened and pickleball emerged. I ended up meeting all the right people in the business and world of pickleball.
Did I ever imagine myself in the world of building a pickleball facility? The answer is no. I never imagined myself being a small business owner, period. I’ve always been a 9 to 5 worker, but my husband’s side of the family have always been entrepreneurs. I kind of married into it. Seeing how they work and run their businesses gave me a good foundation on what it takes to run a small business.
My background in sports in general and my involvement in tournaments, leagues, and college and high school sports gave me a good foundation on what it takes to do this. I’ve always had the support of my family, and the love of the game has driven a lot of it.
Feature image of Jennie Bae and Eui Sung Lee courtesy Jennie Bae
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