Netflix is diving into the world of pickleball, ordering a new original series titled Dink & Smash, a scripted drama set against the backdrop of professional pickleball tournaments. Combining high-stakes sports action with entangled romances and simmering rivalries, the show aims to bring the rapidly growing sport into the spotlight like never before.
Created by Bridgerton writer Lizzie Downes and directed by sports drama veteran Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard), Dink & Smash follows the lives of elite pickleball players as they compete in a fictionalized international pro circuit. With the backdrop of palm-lined courts, televised showdowns, and corporate sponsorships, the show explores the hidden pressures of fame, the struggle for dominance, and the complexities of love among players who are both teammates and rivals.
Netflix has ordered eight hour-long episodes for the first season, with filming slated to begin in late fall. Set in a mix of sun-soaked U.S. cities and glamorous global tournament stops, the show promises a mix of “sports realism, soapy tension, and an unapologetic celebration of pickleball culture,” according to Netflix’s VP of Scripted Content, Talia Rodriguez.
What sets Dink & Smash apart is its unprecedented collaboration with real-life pickleball pros. Several top-ranked players—including Riley Newman, Anna Leigh Waters, and Tyson McGuffin—are confirmed to appear as themselves in recurring roles, advising on gameplay choreography and lending authenticity to high-intensity match sequences.
At the heart of the drama is fictional rising star Camilla “Cam” Torres (portrayed by Outer Banks breakout Madison Bailey), a 23-year-old former tennis prodigy trying to reclaim her identity after a public breakdown ended her WTA career. Rebuilding her life in the pickleball world, Cam forms a doubles partnership with the disciplined, enigmatic Julian Chase (played by Jacob Elordi), whose competitive streak masks a personal vendetta tied to the sport’s shady past.
But it’s not just the matches that get heated. Off the court, romantic entanglements stir trouble. Cam is torn between Julian and her former tennis rival-turned-pickleball coach, Lena Song (Gemma Chan), leading to a tension-filled love triangle that fuels much of the season’s interpersonal drama.
Adding to the intrigue, the series delves into the politics of professional pickleball, touching on issues like gender pay disparity, social media branding, and the corporatization of the sport. Veteran actor Giancarlo Esposito joins the cast as Donovan Reese, a cunning league commissioner with secrets that could upend the entire circuit.
“We’ve seen sports dramas about football, baseball, and even chess—pickleball is next,” said Downes in a press release. “It’s fast, it’s intimate, and it’s exploding in popularity. It’s the perfect metaphor for relationships, ambition, and identity. Plus, who doesn’t love a good paddle battle?”
The series also benefits from on-court choreography led by former tennis coach and sports coordinator Katie Duran, promising match sequences that are “as gripping as a final-set tiebreaker,” she says.
With the rapid rise of pickleball in the U.S.—a sport now boasting over 50 million players globally—Netflix is banking on Dink & Smash to attract both diehard fans and drama lovers alike. Early buzz from industry insiders hints at the show being pitched as Friday Night Lights meets Normal People, with a touch of Drive to Survive–style documentary realism.
Dink & Smash is set to premiere in summer 2026. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just curious about the hype, this high-octane blend of sports, scandal, and sizzling romance is gearing up to be Netflix’s next big smash.