Lily Azel is Miami’s ace advocate for the sport of Pickleball

If you play pickleball in Miami, chances are you owe a debt of gratitude to Lily Azel … even if you may not know her name.

After all, Azel is not a pro player.

She’s not a coach.

And she’s not an administrator.

So, who is Azel?

The 59-year-old native of Chile and part-time Miami resident is a semi-retired serial entrepreneur who had never played any ball sport before trying pickleball in Montana in 2015.

But when Azel returned home to Miami, she found it difficult to find a place to play the sport she fell in love with back in Big Sky Country.

“Initially, I would drive two hours to Naples to play,” Azel said. “Or I would go play in Broward and get stuck in traffic.

“I was completely surprised, shocked and frustrated that Miami had nowhere to play.”

But, rather than give up, Azel became a pickleball advocate, tirelessly educating, lobbying and cajoling politicians, park directors and anyone else who would listen about the incredible growth of the sport nation-wide.

The partial list of Miami pickleball courts that now exist because of Azel’s efforts includes Debbie Curtin Park; Glades; Miami Beach Golf Club; Saga Bay; Tamiami; Tropical Park; and Water Oaks.

“Lily is the face of pickleball in Miami Dade County,” Ken Herrmann said. “She knows everyone in pickleball, and she has helped grow the sport in so many ways, including working clinics, grassroots networking and actually putting paddles in people’s hands.

“Lily has a wonderful heart. She’s incredibly motivating, giving and enthusiastic.”

Herrmann, by the way, is the founder and owner of the Association of Pickleball Players Tour, and his organization gave Azel the APP Community Hero Award in March of 2024.

Azel has earned other honors as well. For example, Karyn Cunningham, the mayor of Palmetto Bay, gave Azel a coin of the city for her advocacy efforts.

“I’ve sat in commission meetings in 15 different municipalities – from Coral Gables to Doral to Homestead and many more,” Azel said. “It was a headache and a half at times, but once we got six dedicated courts built on Miami Beach, it got easier to get the same thing done elsewhere. You just have to keep pushing.”

Next up, Azel is looking forward to June, when an eight-court indoor complex managed by Diadem is set to open in Palmetto Bay.

Azel would also love to see pickleball come to the Crandon Park area in Key Biscayne, but there’s red tape there that she has yet to unentangle.

Beside serving as what is known as a “USA pickleball ambassador”, Azel also still loves to play the sport. It’s all quite incredible considering that Azel was never much of an athlete or even a sports fan prior to pickleball coming into her life.

“I had done rock-climbing and cycling,” Azel said. “But never a team sport. … Everyone has been surprised at my ability to play.”

In fact, Azel – rated a 4.5 player, won the 2024 Lisboa Open, and has competed in the USAPA Nationals and other high-level events.

Azel is so passionate about pickleball that she is sure to find a game everywhere she travels, and that includes the two months she and her husband (Jose) are currently spending in Spain.

She has also played in Costa Rica; Mexico; Portugal; Scotland; New Zealand; Australia; and … even in Antarctica.

David Tabb, the owner of All Florida Pickleball, an organization that promotes pickleball through various events, tournaments, leagues and charity fundraisers throughout the state, is another of the many people who rave about Azel.

“What she’s done is astonishing,” Tabb said. “When she first started (her advocacy), that (Miami Dade County pickleball) community had nothing. It was a pickleball desert.

“But Lily singlehandedly started to rally that community. Now there are public parks with pickleball courts, private facilities … all because of what she did.”

Tabb said Azel is truly selfless, which is a rare quality in today’s society.

“She sat through countless hours of commissioner meetings,” Tabb said. “She put so much time and love into Miami Dade County pickleball.

“The magical thing is that she has been offered money and sponsorships, but she turns it all down or redirects those dollars so that children at local schools could have pickleball paddles.

“Lily does it all for the love of pickleball.”

This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 1:16 PM.