Irina Tereschenko

Irina Tereschenko is a professional pickleball player, coach, and one of the sport's true pioneers. Originally from Georgia (the country, not the state), she played college tennis at Texas Tech and the University of Washington before discovering pickleball in 2015 when Chris Miller challenged her at the Tournament of Champions. She quickly rose to the top, winning the 2016 USAPA National Championship in both women's pro singles and doubles. She went on to claim doubles titles at the 2018 USAPA Nationals and the 2019 US Open, establishing herself as one of the most decorated players of the pre-PPA era.

Beyond her playing career, Tereschenko is a four-time Major League Pickleball champion, making her one of MLP's most decorated players ever. She has played for teams including the SoCal Hard Eights. Based in San Jose, California, she has coached Division I tennis and now serves as the pickleball coach at Fresno State, guiding their collegiate team to a nationals bid. With over 300 pro matches under her belt, she continues to compete on the PPA Tour while hosting clinics worldwide, blending her love for competition with a passion for teaching the sport she helped build.