WASHINGTON — Eleven pickleball courts popped up in the middle of the National Mall this week. For Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, it’s game on.

Capito is an honorary co-chair of the first-ever Congressional Pickleball Match and was charged with recruiting other lawmakers to compete. The West Virginia Republican helped start a bipartisan Senate pickleball caucus a couple of years ago and sees the sport as a way to bounce around ideas.

“I’ve played tennis my entire life, which is how I myself got into pickleball,” she said. “I find it’s an easy way to network or work across the aisle.”

Congressional Sports for Charity, the organization that puts on the Congressional Baseball Game, partnered with the Trust for the National Mall to set up Thursday’s match. The event is part of a larger pickleball weekend, where courts will be set up for public play and scheduled matches from Friday to Sunday.

“Over the last three years, the National Mall of Pickleball has brought together thousands of players of all ages and backgrounds,” Catherine Townsend, president and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall, said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to kick off this year’s event with a Congressional Pickleball Match.”

Pickleball’s popularity has continued to skyrocket across the United States. The sport blends tennis and pingpong, with players using paddles to hit plastic balls on a court that looks like a smaller version of a tennis court.

Rep. Sharice Davids is one of pickleball’s enthusiastic adopters. The Kansas Democrat played a year of tennis in college and brought over her skills.

“I gotta be honest, as a former mixed martial arts fighter, I was skeptical and was like, I don’t know if you’re gonna have me out here playing something called ‘pickleball,’” she said.

While she’s not a member of a formal pickleball caucus — the House version that started in the 118th Congress did not continue into the 119th — Davids plays with other House members at their gym in the Capitol complex whenever schedules allow. She often makes pickleball plans with her colleagues on the House floor.

“[Talking on the floor] could be strong bipartisan efforts to get stuff done,” she said. “It could be strong bipartisan efforts to get some pickleballing done.”

One of those colleagues is Texas Republican Rep. Jake Ellzey, whom Davids called “a strong pickleballer.” Ellzey got into the sport as his best option to find pickup games with colleagues.

“I don’t play basketball,” he said. “I stink at basketball. I’ve got bad knees. But I grew up playing tennis, and so going to the gym here in the morning, there’s always somebody up for playing. … It’s a great way to get a little bit of exercise.”

He was recruited to compete in Thursday’s match by Ryan Thompson, who founded Congressional Sports for Charity and previously served as chief of staff to former Rep. Ron Wright, who preceded Ellzey.

“And if you’ve got an opportunity to raise money, having people make fun of your athletic skills, I’m all for it,” said Ellzey, who is among the honorary co-chairs of the event.

While the rest of the pickleball weekend is free, tickets for the congressional match cost $15 and secure buyers a seat on the bleachers. Proceeds go toward the Trust for the National Mall and groups supported by Congressional Sports for Charity.

Members will be divided into teams of two, with the goal of crowning one duo the “King of the Hill.” Capito said she’s not sure who the most likely winner would be.

“I don’t know the other House players, so we’ll have to see how they’re going to divide us up,” she said. “But we’re just going out to have fun.”

Davids plans on putting it all on the court for the crown.

“Is there any other way to operate?” she asked.

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