The 25 Biggest Stories in Pro Pickleball from 2025

From record-setting pro tournaments to a stolen paddle testing machine, marquee partnerships ending to multiple pro contracts being terminated, it's been an eventful year in pro pickleball to say the least.

We looked back at the hundreds of stories we published over the past 12 months.

Here, presented in chronological order from the first of the year to present day, are 25 of the biggest stories in pro pickleball from 2025.

1. adidas goes big on pickleball

The year started strong when global sports brand adidas announced it was signing the #1 player in the world at the time, Federico Staksrud.

After a few fits and starts – including Fed being spotted at tournaments playing with his beloved JOOLA – the two parties ultimately agreed to part ways just six months later.

2. Head-hunting takes some heat

The UPA-A first introduced a "reckless targeting rule" intended to deter players from bodybags above the shoulders. The only problem? It required court officials to make a determination of a player's intent in real-time. Not easy.

So a few weeks later, the rule was updated: new name, altered enforcement, stiffer penalties.

"If a player deliberately or recklessly targets an opponent with a powerful shot
at an opponent’s head," it said, "the point will be reviewed by the UPA-A post match."

3. A dynasty ends

Up to this point, Catherine Parenteau and Anna Leigh Waters had been the most dominant duo in women's pickleball history. A few untimely losses later, news broke that their partnership was coming to an end.

Now, ALW is back on top with partner Anna Bright while Parenteau has committed to Bright's former partner Rachel Rohrabacher for the 2026 season.

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Last year, more than 50 different pros earned honors for categories like top men's and women's player, upset of the year, and more.

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4. Lights, camera, pickleball

Directed and co-produced by Ashley Underwood, "Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story" explores the meteoric rise of pickleball and the race to seize the many opportunities resulting from its explosive growth in popularity.

Celebrities like LeBron James, John McEnroe, Tom Brady, Billy Bush, Eva Longoria, and others, make appearances in the film.

5. Paddle battle goes to court

In June 2024, news spread that JOOLA had filed a $200 million lawsuit against USA Pickleball regarding their decision to delist its Gen3 paddles from their Approved List.

In April, USAP responded with a countersuit of its own, stating: "JOOLA engaged in fraud to sell illegal paddles as 'USA Pickleball Approved' although those paddles had never received USAP’s approval."

The suits are currently ongoing.

6. Trash talk crosses the line

During a St. Louis Shock vs. New Jersey 5s MLP match in Orlando, tensions hit a tipping point after a fiery mixed doubles battle – and some even more fiery words exchanged – between Hayden Patriquin and Anna Leigh Waters.

Expletives were involved. MLP even issued a somewhat bizarre statement via social media.

7. Johns bros bow out

Citing indoor lighting concerns, Ben and Collin Johns withdrew from a MLP event in Columbus, sparking a barrage of reactions from league officials, facility management, other pros, and even Ben himself.

Ultimately, Ben agreed to forfeit $60,000 and Collin $18,000.

8. Testing machine goes missing

A black, heavy-duty protective case that measures 19 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 30 inches high, and weighs 167 pounds, went missing off a truck in Austin, TX.

The case contained the Pickle Press, one of the UPA's onsite paddle testing machines valued at $60,000. To date, it has not been recovered.

9. UPA renegotiates pro contracts

Beginning in 2026, UPA contracts will be more heavily weighted toward prize money rather than guaranteed salaries, a herculean effort by executives intended to improve the financial health and viability of the league going forward while also placing more emphasis on the competitive quality of each event.

"I think that the UPA will get this done," Zane Navratil wrote in an article for The Dink, "but it’s going to be very interesting to see who signs in time and who walks away from professional pickleball."

10. Hot paddle put on ice

We all knew it was coming, but it was still bittersweet to bid farewell to everyone's favorite power paddle, including many pros: the JOOLA MOD.

The MOD was revolutionary. But it was ahead of it's time. In late December 2024, just five months after its debut, it was blacklisted by USA Pickleball. It was simply too hot for our own good, as fun as it was. It's death date was set: July 1, 2025.

11. Quang Duong gets banned

Citing "multiple and repeated violations of the exclusivity terms of the agreement" – including a $50,000 fine for participating in an unsanctioned pickleball event in Vietnam over Memorial Day Weekend – the UPA announced it was terminating the professional contract of Quang Duong.

"Despite numerous attempts to work with Duong and his team – including conversations, warnings, and fines – there have been continued and consistent misrepresentations of facts and contract breaches"

12. A historic MLP trade

In what was largely lauded as the biggest player move in Major League Pickleball history, Ben Johns was traded from the Carolina Hogs to the LA Mad Drops.

The move followed the league ban of former LA Mad Drop player Quang Duong, and was only made possible due to a last-minute trade deadline extension.

13. The PPA Tour's new ball

After years with the Vulcan Pro, the PPA Tour made it official with the newest ball on the block, the LT Pro 48, Life Time's proprietary, fast-playing, true-bouncing pickleball. (Zane Navratil is definitely a fan.)

"With the ever-changing standards in pickleball equipment, the LT Pro 48 has really elevated the quality of what a pro-level ball can be," PPA Tour Founder and CEO Connor Pardoe said at the time.

14. Zane Navratil gets benched

In shocking MLP news, the New Jersey 5s traded for Noe Khlif, a move that sent their longtime team captain, clutch hero, and all-around hype guy, Zane Navratil, to the bench.

Team ownership offered to trade him to another team, but he wanted to stay with the 5s through the playoffs.

15. 'Cinderella' Sliders shock the world

Despite entering the MLP Finals as heavy underdogs, the Columbus "Cinderella" Sliders beat the #1, #2, and #3 seeded teams to earn Premier Level Championship honors in 2025.

16. The juniors are coming

During a several-week stretch in September, the PPA methodically signed a handful of the top-ranked male and female junior prospects, including Cam Chaffin, Ella Yeh, Elsie Hendershot, Jade Rau, and Tama Shimabukuro.

They might not be household names just yet – they range in ages from 12 to 15 – but the PPA Tour is betting big that they will be soon. And they've been signing even more in the months since.

17. Egregious cheater gets caught

A player in a PPA Challenger event was caught in a series of egregiously bad line calls, then proceeded to double down all across social media.

"I'm ready to battle anyone, anytime, right now. I don't need full-time training to be top 10 in the world. I'm already there. I respect the game—just not the softness around it."

He's currently serving a 90-day PPA Tour suspension.

18. Vietnam pickleball explodes

Pro pickleball went to Vietnam and the reaction was through the roof: endless autograph signings, intense international competition, and even a world record for event attendance in a single day.

The PPA MB Vietnam Cup also featured a raucous semifinal match where underdogs Zane Navratil and Armaan Bhatia were able to upset tournament favorites Ben Johns and Dekel Bar, 11-4, 8-11, 13-11. But not without a little controversy.

19. Sports betting's big play

Sports gambling comes to pro pickleball. Well, sorta. First, we don’t call it gambling. We don’t place bets. Instead, pro events are part of “predictions markets” where users trade “shares” on the outcome of future events — politics, sports, culture — using crypto or traditional currency.

And now, pickleball, thanks to a “watershed multi-year agreement” with Polymarket that will launch… at some indeterminate point in the future.

We're honored to be the Exclusive Prediction Market Partner for the fastest growing sports league in the world.

Polymarket is proud to be partnering with the PPA & MLP to bring pickleball polymarkets to the masses. pic.twitter.com/tvT4KQSG44
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) October 23, 2025

20. Fake paddles flood the market

We wrote an expose about the proliferation of counterfeit pickleball paddles and the affect it's having on paddle trademarks, brand growth, and player safety.

Since then, it's become a major industry talking point. The UPA has even launched an awareness campaign – "Don't Trust a Fake" – and garnered support from other leading industry groups to help get the word out.

21. Queen Anna Leigh

Anna Leigh Waters became the winningest pro in PPA Tour history, earning her 168th gold medal to surpass longtime mixed doubles partner Ben Johns for the most ever.

22. Worlds draws record crowds

More than 60,000 fans poured into Farmers Branch, Texas, for November's 2025 Jenius Bank Pickleball World Championships, generating more than $1.1 million in ticket and hospitality revenue – and a new PPA Tour attendance record.

23. AI line calls coming to MLP

Major League Pickleball announced a partnership with tech company OWL AI to bring automated line calling to its events beginning in 2026. The tech integrates with existing camera technology and is rumored to be rolling out for PPA events as well.

24. UPA terminates three pros

James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu, and Vivian Glozman have their UPA contracts terminated "effective immediately" for their participation in a series of clinics in Japan. Parris Todd was also in attendance but is facing different sanctions.

The three terminated pros have since filed an appeal with the league "to correct the record and seek reinstatement."

25. Anna Bright humbles The Dink's Thomas Shields

A series of events conspired to compel The Dink's founder to challenge top pro Anna Bright to a singles match. And wouldn't you know? She accepted.

A couple of weeks – and lots and lots of internet comments later – we've compiled all the wild highlights into one insane video. This is one you just need to see to believe.

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