“ We didn’ t want to tell anyone what to think,” Coyne asserts.“ This is an interesting moment in the evolution of pickleball in which capital is finally pouring into this space, but there are downsides or complications. At the same time, because this money was coming into the space, Tyson McGuffin could feed his family. He has four kids, and he can feed his kids just by playing pickleball— it was something incomprehensible only a short period ago.”
Their North Star was to create a film that would allow viewers to draw their own conclusions about the impact of professionalization.
To inject levity and guide viewers through the intricacies of the professional pickleball landscape, Underwood enlisted the charismatic Mike“ Sleeves” Sliwa, known for his Senior Pickleball Report on YouTube, to be the film’ s narrator.“ I really wanted to bring in the quirkiness of pickleball itself because I think that’ s so much a part of it,” she explains.
Initially a cost-effective way to capture unfolding events, Sleeves’ role evolved into a central comedic voice, demystifying complex topics with his signature offbeat charm.“ He would chop wood, and he would just tell me what was going on that day in pickleball,” Underwood recounts.“ Or he would be building a fire or hanging his clothes out on the laundry line or he’ s at a billiard, and he was always creating some kind of a fun scene to go with the story.”
Filming for“ Dreambreaker” began in 2021, capturing the inaugural MLP event and the subsequent rapid progression of the professional game. This real-time documentation presented unique challenges, requiring the filmmakers to be nimble and adapt to unforeseen developments, including the eventual merger of the PPA and MLP under one umbrella.
Coyne credits Underwood’ s tenacity in securing crucial interviews, including a pivotal conversation with Tom Dundon, the owner of the PPA, which provided a satisfying narrative arc to the film despite the ongoing evolution of the sport.
Reflecting on the filmmaking process, both Underwood and Coyne acknowledged the shifting dynamics of access as the sport’ s profile soared.“ At that first MLP, certain people were very accessible, even eager to engage,” Coyne recalls.“ And then as the sport grew and their profiles grew, it was interesting to see some people went from“ Thank you for filming with us” to‘ Call my agent.’”
However, they also highlight the trust they built with key figures like Steve Kuhn and Julio DePietro, who granted them unprecedented access to key moments behind the scenes.
Despite the ongoing changes within professional pickleball, Underwood and Coyne believe that“ Dreambreaker” offers a valuable snapshot of a pivotal time in the sport’ s history.
“ In 10 years, we could look back and laugh at the time when pro pickleball was a thing, or we could say,‘ Oh my God, in 2025, you could buy a major league pickleball team for only $ 10 million? That’ s crazy,’” Coyne muses.“ But this moment in time, the leagues, the merger... that’ s done. There’ s finality to that. So, whatever happens, that chapter is done. No one could capture it in real time again.”
While there are no immediate plans for a“ Dreambreaker 2,” both remain passionate about the sport of pickleball.“ I still play all the time,” Underwood says. Coyne recounts a recent game with retirees, underscoring the sport’ s unique ability to bridge generational gaps.
“ Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story” is currently streaming on Max and will be on Roku this summer. As the sport continues its dynamic journey, the documentary serves as an engaging and insightful chronicle of its vibrant present and uncertain future, reminding viewers why this quirky, accessible game has captured the hearts and paddles of a nation. •
For updates on wider distribution and potential future projects, follow the documentary’ s Instagram page, @ dreambreakermovie.
Marketing the sport of pickleball since 2019, Laura Gainor is founder of Pickleball in the Sun, the world’ s first dedicated pickleball marketing agency and vibrant lifestyle brand. Her deep understanding of the sport and innovative approach help businesses and players connect within the dynamic pickleball community.
MAY / JUNE 2025 | MAGAZINE 47