Recently, a pickleball player caught major attention on the social platform Threads after sharing photos of herself focused during a match. She wore a sports bra paired with a short pleated skirt featuring an asymmetrical design. However, the skirt’s cut and the angles captured during her movements led to some revealing moments that some found inappropriate.
Her post quickly racked up over 1 million views and sparked a flood of mixed reactions. Many criticized her outfit as unsuitable for pickleball or sports in general.
Controversy over her pickleball outfit (Source: @emkimsayhi)
Online, many said this kind of outfit is mostly for “showing off” rather than focusing on the sport itself. Some comments even accused her of “posing” or “attention-seeking”.
On the other hand, plenty defended her choice, pointing out that pickleball is a high-energy sport that burns a lot of calories. Even just 30 minutes can leave players drenched in sweat, especially in outdoor heat. So wearing fully covered clothing is often impractical.
Pickleball players also shared that there are no strict dress codes for training or competition, so everyone chooses what makes them feel most comfortable.
The player herself responded directly to a rude comment accusing her of “seeking attention” by flexing her achievements: “I already won third place, so don’t generalize like that.”
On her Instagram with over 28k followers, she regularly posts training and playing various sports like golf, surfing, hiking, running, and recently pickleball. She trains seriously with a coach and has competed in amateur tournaments.
In fact, many well-known female athletes wear similar outfits on the pickleball court. Most agree that wearing comfortable, flattering sportswear is normal as long as it’s not inappropriate or not designed for sports.
Milan Pham (Pham Tra My, born 1990), who has faced similar outfit controversies, said: “No matter what people say, I’ve played so hard I got cramps live on stream. Playing 7-8 hours a day in 40-degree heat, what else can you wear? It’s hard to please yourself, let alone everyone else.”
Similarly, Phuong Dung, who was once criticized for what some called a provocative pickleball outfit, shared: “Some people react positively, others negatively, so it’s no big deal. The clothes I wear are official pickleball gear. I saw people abroad wearing them, so I ordered mine. Brands sell them, I didn’t make them myself.
Many young people wear similar outfits and no one complains. This is the first time I’ve faced such criticism. I play sports for fun and don’t overthink what people say.”
Overall, people agree that what matters most in sports is the effort, skill, and passion on the court. As for outfits, as long as players feel comfortable and a bit confident, it’s acceptable. Most female players wear gear from specialized sports brands with proper materials and fits, so the outfit debate is mostly settled.
