By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
For years, Tulalip tribal member Grace Bascue lived behind a glowing monitor. While pursuing her pre-med studies at Everett Community College, she slipped into a cycle of depression and turned to video games as an escape. What started as a coping mechanism quickly became an obsession. Nights bled into mornings, and hours disappeared in front of a screen.
“She was in her room for a couple years playing those video games,” recalled Grace’s grandma, Jerri Elliott. “For her to give up those video games, leave her room and find a new passion is, well, it’s a miracle. Her personality has changed dramatically. She’s not so stressed out, not so angry, and she’s back to being our kind-hearted granddaughter again.”
The positive personality changes unfolded when her self-isolation ended…the moment she traded her controller for a paddle.
“Prior to pickleball, I was definitely a homebody. If I wasn’t working, then I was playing video games,” admits Grace. Not that video game play was for not. She was steadily climbing the online rankings for games like Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty. “Everything changed when Volli opened. I decided to join a league there as a way of getting out of the house more.”
Re-introduced to pickleball at a local indoor venue, Volli in Marysville, a little over a year ago, Grace hasn’t looked back. Today, the 26-year-old is not only competing in and winning tournaments, she’s also thriving in ways she never imagined.
It was love at first rally. The pace, the strategy, the way people cheer for each other, everything about her experience gave Grace something video games couldn’t, real connection. She quickly made the fastest-growing sport in America a daily part of her life. Today, she plays pickleball at indoor venues, local parks, and community courts around Snohomish County. Instead of logging into online servers, she shows up to real courts where the competition is fierce and the camaraderie even stronger.
“Everywhere I go, I’m meeting new people,” Grace says. “Pickleball is different from other sports because it’s very social. After games, you’re hanging out, talking, laughing. I’ve made so many friends in my short time playing pickleball. It’s such a welcoming community and there’s so much encouragement and enthusiasm to play that it’s really quite easy to find people to play with every day.”
No joke. Grace plays pickleball every day. She’s committed to playing 2-3 hours before her weekday shifts start at Tulalip’s Senior Center. “Jennings Park has really nice outdoor pickleball courts. In the spring and summertime, when it’s dry, I want to play outside. Jennings is my go-to spot. When the rainy season comes about, then it’s indoor courts. There are indoor courts from Marysville to Lynnwood where games are easy to come by.”
On the weekends, she’s playing in tournaments typically hosted at Volli (Marysville), Side Out Pickleball Center (Everett), or Pickleball Kingdom (Lynnwood).
Grace isn’t picky about her tournaments either. Women’s, mixed, team, age limits, or open, she’s willing to put her skills to the test. In fact, she’s been accumulating quite the collection of shiny hardware. Since partnering with 21-year-old Justine Mangkornkeo, the pickleball partners have made the podium in every tournament entered.
“It’s funny, actually, because we competed against each other at Volli, and then after a match we talked about playing together,” said Justine. In the months since, they’ve won two tournaments and placed third in another. “Our on-court chemistry developed quickly. We are really trusting in each other and have the same level of understanding that we want to have fun and keep getting better.
“We also view pickleball as a healthy outlet,” continued Justine. “I came from the world of extremely competitive tennis. That community isn’t nearly as friendly as the pickleball community. And because it’s so easy to get into a game, indoor or outdoor, it’s a good way to exercise and keep in shape.”
Grace and Justine recently entered into a Pickleball Kingdome tournament. It was a team competition, two men and two women. With their 16.4 inch carbon grip paddles in tow, they served, volleyed, and spiked their way onto the podium, once again.
Making his way from Tulalip to watch Grace and her team in action was 81-year-old Marvin Jones. “She’s got this quiet fire in her. You can see she’s found a sport she’s passionate about and that makes her happy, regardless of wins and losses,” described the sports-motivated, Tulalip elder. “This is a sport that can be played your entire life, regardless of weather or skill level. I think it’s important Grace’ story be shared because it can inspire more Tulalip girls and women to pick up a paddle and try their hand at pickleball.”
In between sets, Grace introduced her team to her adoring supporters, her grandma Jerri, Tulalip elder Marvin, and her grandpa and brother who cheered from the sidelines. Also, in attendance was Grace’s fiancé. He proposed only weeks ago at Grace’s favorite pickleball court in Jenning’s Park.
“I never thought I’d find love through a sport I just started playing,” Grace admitted. “But that’s what pickleball does, I guess, it brings people together.
“Also, the tournament wins are nice, don’t get me wrong,” she added laughingly. “But the real wins are that I’m outside, I’m active, and I’m surrounded by people who make me better.”
Grace’s positive energy and her openness about her journey from video games and depression to pickleball and finding community are so refreshing.
For Tulalip youth and community members, Grace hopes her path is a reminder that stepping away from screens, even when it feels impossible, can open all kinds of new opportunities. She’s proof that Tulalip athletes can rise above personal struggles and carve new paths of success. With her Hyperion paddle in hand, a partner by her side, and many tournaments ahead, she’s just getting started.