As the sport of pickleball continues to grow across the U.S. and the world, it is becoming increasingly impactful to those who play it.
For Pickleball Euphoria founders Josh and Stephanie Daniels, that impact has been deeply personal. What started as a personal health reset became one of the most influential pickleball brands in the Kentuckiana region.
The idea came to the Daniels after they began playing in 2017 at their local church.
“Just like so many pickleball stories begin, someone walked out, saw us looking in and were like ‘Come on, we’re going to teach you how to play,” said Stephanie Daniels. “We got addicted immediately and about a month later, we played our first tournament and just never looked back.”
Before opening their facility, Josh Daniels was an owner-operator of a hauling business and Stephanie Daniels was working from home in media. When COVID hit, the hauling business was put on hold and the couple took the opportunity to get their certification to teach pickleball.
As part of that certification, the couple had to come up with a name to teach under, and Pickleball Euphoria was born.
“The word euphoria has a dual meaning. One of them is an extreme state of happiness and the other is a state of physical well-being,” said Stephanie Daniels, connecting with the latter after the couple each lost 100 pounds in the year following the start of their pickleball journey.
By summer of 2021, the Daniels were looking into their first location, transforming an old church gym. “It was the first facility of its kind in the region,” said Stephanie.
Now, Pickleball Euphoria has three locations across Louisville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Indiana with 36 indoor courts and 9 tennis courts that can be converted for pickleball as well. Their flagship location offers an intimate community feel with only three courts, while the other two scale up, designed for premium play and tournament-ready performance.
Every detail —from court spacing and surface cushioning to individual fencing and on-court seating — reflects the Daniels’ experience as competitive players who knew exactly what was missing from venues they’ve played in. “I feel like our local players really appreciate the work we put in to keep the facilities clean and welcoming,” said Stephanie.
The Daniels are constantly seeking feedback to ensure their customers are getting everything they want out of their facilities. “Pretty much every day of the week, you’re going to find us at one of the clubs, if you don’t see us at each one at some time throughout the day,” said Stephanie Daniels. “We are very much part of everything that happens at every club.”
For the couple, the community they have built is at the heart of everything they do, a true differentiator from other facilities in the region. Long before opening their doors, the Daniels had built deep roots in the local pickleball community, connections that have only grown as the business has expanded. They now have around 9,000 players coming to the three locations, 6,000 of which they have taught how to play the sport.
“The relationships we have for our business — the facilities wouldn’t be anything without the support of the local community and what we really call our friend base,” said Stephanie Daniels.
When players call one of the facilities, the Daniels are the ones answering the phone, driving home the focus on community and personal connection.
They work hard to connect the players at their facilities. The business utilizes the Team Reach app, which they use for level-specific group chats. They also offer tips to their beginners through a clinic, including how to meet other players and how to get involved. This has received a lot of positive feedback from those a part of the clinic. The facilities also offer mixers, which allow players of all levels to interact with each other, creating a stronger community and has become a tool for players to level up.
With this, they advise other operators to focus on community as well, noting that their success is because they care about the people walking in their doors.
“Because we have those encounters with our community, there are so many stories out there that you probably wouldn’t know on the surface, where pickleball has actually saved someone’s life,” said Stephanie. “When you can get into that deeper kind of connection, and understand that, it really is a game changer.”
For the owners, the future of Pickleball Euphoria is hopeful with no signs of slowing down. They just added a pro shop at their largest location, something that their players have given praise for. They plan to add more courts to their smaller locations, renovate the existing ones to create a more elevated feel, and are even looking into more locations across the Kentuckiana area.
Even as their expansion continues, the Daniels remain grounded in what started it all — the joy of the game, the health it brings and the community it builds.
“It’s been totally unexpected, and I never could have imagined it in my wildest dreams, but we’re thankful for the sport of pickleball,” said Stephanie. “Everyone gets into the pickleball business for different reasons but for ours, it’s a very personal thing tied to our own life journey and now we get to share it with those around us.”
In an industry experiencing explosive growth, Pickleball Euphoria stands out not just for its scale or quality, but for the heart behind it. Built from Josh and Stephanie Daniels’ shared passion for the sport, the facilities reflect something people can feel the moment they walk through the door.
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Jordan Meek is a staff writer for Pickleball Innovators, where she covers the rapidly evolving business of pickleball — from facility growth and technology to player experience and industry strategy. A graduate of Denison University with a degree in Journalism, she joined Peake Media in 2025 and brings a passion for storytelling and curiosity to every piece. Jordan is driven to spotlight the leaders shaping the sport and uncover insights that help operators thrive in the fastest-growing game in America.
