Amanda Hendry: The Powerful Journey From NCAA Champion to Professional Pickleball Star

From Elite Field Hockey Goalkeeper to One of Pickleball’s Rising American Athletes

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Amanda Hendry is an American professional pickleball player whose sporting journey is defined by determination, adaptability, and success across two very different sports. Before becoming known on the professional pickleball circuit, she built an impressive career as a field hockey goalkeeper at the University of North Carolina, where she helped the Tar Heels win multiple major championships.

Her transition from elite field hockey to professional pickleball is one of the most interesting parts of her athletic story. Skills developed as a goalkeeper—including quick reactions, balance, agility, anticipation, and competitive focus—became valuable tools when she entered pickleball. After beginning serious pickleball competition in 2021, she progressed rapidly and established herself as a medal contender on the professional circuit.

Table of Contents

Quick Bio

Category	Details
Full Name	Amanda Hendry
Nationality	American
Profession	Professional Pickleball Player, Coach
Former Sport	Field Hockey
Field Hockey Position	Goalkeeper
Hometown	Wilton, Connecticut
College	University of North Carolina
Education	Management and Society
Height	5 feet 5 inches
Playing Hand	Left-handed
Professional Pickleball Career	Turned professional in 2023
Major College Achievement	Three NCAA Championships
ACC Championships	Four
Pickleball Career Medals	19 reported by APP in 2026
Known For	Multi-sport athletic career and professional pickleball success

Amanda Hendry’s Early Life and Family Background

Amanda Hendry grew up in Wilton, Connecticut, in a family with a strong connection to sports. Her early athletic development included soccer and ice hockey before she eventually focused on field hockey. Her sporting background helped her develop the coordination and competitive instincts that later became important in her professional career.

Her family also played an important role in her athletic journey. Her sisters Madison and Jessica Hendry competed in collegiate field hockey, with Madison playing at the University of Pennsylvania and Jessica at the University of Richmond. The family’s shared interest in sports created an environment where competition and athletic development were encouraged.

From Soccer and Ice Hockey to Field Hockey

Hendry did not begin her athletic journey with a clear plan to become a professional field hockey player. She initially played soccer and also had experience with ice hockey. Her transition toward field hockey was influenced in part by her older sister and eventually became the foundation of her collegiate career.

At Wilton High School, she developed into a talented goalkeeper. She became a two-year starter and helped her team win three Connecticut state championships. Her performances earned significant recognition, including second-team All-America honors and the 2015 All-Area Field Hockey MVP award from The Hour.

Amanda Hendry’s Education and University Career

Hendry continued her education and athletic career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She joined the Tar Heels’ field hockey program and eventually became one of the team’s important goalkeepers.

She studied Management and Society while competing at the highest level of collegiate field hockey. Her university career demonstrated that she could combine academic responsibilities with the demands of elite athletics.

Success With the North Carolina Tar Heels

Hendry’s time at North Carolina was highly successful. She was part of three NCAA championship teams and four ACC championship teams. Her performances also earned her All-American recognition.

One of her strongest seasons came in 2018, when she recorded a 0.69 goals-against average. Her performance helped North Carolina win the NCAA championship, and she was selected to the All-NCAA Tournament Team.

She continued to contribute at a high level during the following seasons. Her leadership, consistency, and experience made her an important member of the Tar Heels program before she completed her college career.

Amanda Hendry’s Field Hockey Achievements

Hendry’s field hockey career provides the foundation for understanding her later success in pickleball. As a goalkeeper, she had to react quickly to shots, read opponents, maintain concentration, and make decisions under pressure.

Her college achievements include three NCAA Division I national championships and four ACC championships. She also earned First Team All-American recognition during her final collegiate season.

International Experience

Her field hockey experience extended beyond college competition. She represented the United States at the under-17 and under-19 levels and competed internationally, including trips connected with competitions in Belgium and Germany.

This international experience exposed her to high-level competition at a young age and helped prepare her for the pressure associated with elite sporting environments.

The Turning Point: From Field Hockey to Pickleball

After college, Hendry faced the common challenge experienced by many former elite athletes: deciding what would come next. She had considered a future in finance, but pickleball eventually offered a new competitive opportunity.

Her mother introduced her to pickleball, and the sport gradually became more than a recreational activity. Hendry began competing seriously in 2021 and quickly demonstrated that her athletic background could translate into another sport.

The transition was not guaranteed to succeed. Pickleball requires different techniques, strategies, and movement patterns from field hockey. However, her experience as a goalkeeper gave her an advantage in areas such as reaction speed, court movement, anticipation, and competitiveness.

Amanda Hendry’s Rise in Professional Pickleball

Hendry’s rise through pickleball was remarkably fast. According to her professional profile, she progressed from a recreational and lower-level tournament player into professional competition within a relatively short period.

Her first major professional breakthrough came at the 2021 APP World Pickleball Open, where she earned a bronze medal in women’s professional singles.

The following year brought even greater success. She recorded gold-medal performances in several 5.0-level competitions, showing that she was capable of competing successfully against experienced players.

Turning Professional in 2023

Pickleball.com lists Hendry as having turned professional in 2023. By that point, her rapid development had established her as a serious competitor.

She competes in singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Her left-handed style can also provide strategic advantages in doubles because left-handed players can create different angles and court combinations when paired effectively with right-handed teammates.

Amanda Hendry’s APP Tour Career

The APP Tour has become an important part of Hendry’s professional career. Her results across multiple seasons have helped establish her reputation as a consistent medal contender.

The APP reported in 2026 that she had accumulated 19 career medals, including two gold, six silver, and eleven bronze medals. The same announcement reported that she earned nine medals during the 2025 season.

These results demonstrate an important quality in her career: consistency. Rather than relying on one isolated tournament performance, she has repeatedly reached medal positions across professional events.

Notable Pickleball Achievements

Some of her notable competitive achievements include:

Bronze in women’s professional singles at the 2021 APP World Pickleball Open.
Gold-medal performances in 2022 APP and PPA events.
Multiple medals during the 2024 professional season.
Nine APP medals during 2025.
Medal-round performances at major professional tournaments.
Continued competition across singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

Her ability to compete in different formats has made her a versatile professional player.

Amanda Hendry and Major League Pickleball

Hendry’s professional opportunities expanded beyond the APP Tour when she entered Major League Pickleball.

In the 2024 MLP Challenger Level Draft, she was selected by the California Black Bears with the 30th overall pick. She later became involved in roster transactions involving the Brooklyn Aces and New Jersey 5s.

Her MLP experience added another dimension to her professional career because team-based pickleball requires players to adapt to a different competitive environment than traditional individual tournaments.

Amanda Hendry in the World Pickleball League

Hendry also became part of the World Pickleball League’s international professional landscape. She was listed on the Rajasthan Titans roster for the league’s second season.

Her involvement in different professional organizations demonstrates the growing reach of her career and her ability to compete in various formats and environments.

Amanda Hendry’s Playing Style and Strengths

One of the most interesting aspects of Hendry’s game is the connection between her field hockey experience and pickleball abilities.

As a former goalkeeper, she spent years developing fast reactions and the ability to anticipate movement. Those qualities can be particularly valuable in pickleball, where points can change direction extremely quickly.

Skills That Help Her on the Pickleball Court

Her athletic background contributes to several areas of her game:

Quick reaction speed
Strong anticipation
Fast movement
Balance and coordination
Competitive mentality
Comfort under pressure
Ability to transition between court positions

Her left-handed playing style also adds another strategic element, especially in doubles competition.

Amanda Hendry as a Pickleball Coach

Hendry’s career is not limited to tournament competition. She has also worked as a pickleball instructor and coach.

She has been associated with coaching at PGA Verano and has worked with recreational players seeking to improve their skills. Her background as an elite athlete gives her experience that can be useful when teaching fundamentals, movement, strategy, and competitive preparation.

This combination of professional competition and coaching allows her to remain involved with the sport from multiple perspectives.

Amanda Hendry’s Personal Interests

Although Hendry’s public profile focuses mainly on her athletic career, some of her interests have also been publicly documented.

Ceramics is one of her reported hobbies. She has also spoken about reading and spending time with friends. Her sporting interests extend beyond pickleball and field hockey, with ice hockey being one of the sports she has enjoyed.

Her background suggests that sport has remained an important part of her life, but her interests outside competition provide another side to her public personality.

Amanda Hendry’s Career Timeline

2015

She became a standout goalkeeper at Wilton High School and received All-Area MVP recognition.

2016

She joined the University of North Carolina field hockey program and began her collegiate career.

2017

She became a regular starter for North Carolina and earned recognition for her strong goalkeeping performances.

2018

She helped North Carolina win the NCAA championship and was selected to the All-NCAA Tournament Team.

2019

She continued her successful college career and earned All-ACC and All-South Region recognition.

2020

She completed her collegiate career as part of another championship-level North Carolina program.

2021

She began competing seriously in pickleball and won bronze in women’s professional singles at the APP World Pickleball Open.

2022

She collected multiple gold medals in professional-level pickleball events.

2023

She was listed as a professional pickleball player.

2024

She entered the Major League Pickleball Challenger Level Draft and continued collecting medals on the professional circuit.

2025

She recorded nine APP medals and competed in major professional tournaments.

2026

The APP reported 19 career medals and continued to list her among its professional players. She also appeared on the Rajasthan Titans roster in the World Pickleball League.

Amanda Hendry’s Impact and Legacy

Amanda Hendry’s story is significant because it demonstrates that an athlete’s career does not necessarily have to end when one sport comes to an end.

Her journey from NCAA championship field hockey goalkeeper to professional pickleball player shows how transferable athletic skills can become valuable in a completely different sport. Her quick reactions, competitive mindset, movement ability, and experience under pressure helped create a foundation for her pickleball career.

Her success also provides an encouraging example for athletes who are considering a second competitive career. Instead of treating the end of one sporting chapter as the end of athletic development, Hendry’s career shows how previous experience can become an advantage in a new environment.

Conclusion

Amanda Hendry has built an impressive sporting career through two distinct chapters. First, she became an accomplished field hockey goalkeeper, winning three NCAA championships and four ACC titles with the University of North Carolina. She also represented the United States at the youth international level.

Her transition to pickleball created a new chapter. Beginning serious competition in 2021, she quickly progressed into professional tournaments, earned medals across multiple events, entered Major League Pickleball, and became part of the international World Pickleball League environment. By 2026, the APP reported 19 career medals, demonstrating the consistency of her professional development.

Her story is ultimately one of adaptation, persistence, and athletic versatility. Amanda Hendry has shown that the skills developed in one elite sport can become powerful tools for success in another.