(Bainbridge Island, WA) -- Pickleball is growing in popularity across the country and many players don't know it was invented in Washington state 57 years ago. The Washington Legislature passed a bill making Pickleball the official sport of Washington and Governor Jay Inslee signed it into law. Pickleball was invented by former Washington Congressman Joel McFee Pritchard and his friends in 1965. The game is played on a court and combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis.