UPA Terminates Contracts of Ignatowich, Fu & Glozman Following Participation in Unsanctioned Event
Update: Ignatowich, Fu, and Glozman have filed an appeal with the UPA, seeking reinstatement. Ignatowich, Fu & Glozman File Termination Appeal, Seek UPA Reinstatement
Alex E. Weaver
Update: James Ignatowich posted to Instagram his intentions to remain in Asia "for the foreseeable future" in the wake of his termination from the UPA.
Also, Ryan Fu posted to X that he'll be going on a clinic tour in 2026.
Crazy. Over 50 clubs have already reached out to set up clinics. Thanks to everyone who’s helped out and keep em coming - let’s grow the game.
— Ryan Fu (@yellowmambapb) December 12, 2025
The UPA contracts of James Ignatowich, Vivian Glozman, and Ryan Fu have been terminated "effective immediately" following their participation in multiple unsanctioned events. All three players are currently in Japan, and were part of a series of clinics and exhibitions hosted by the Pickleball Japan Federation in Tokyo's Ariake Tennis Park earlier this week.
"Effective immediately, the United Pickleball Association has terminated the contracts of players Ryan Fu, Vivian Glozman, and James Ignatowich," the UPA posted on Instagram Wednesday afternoon.
"The terms of each player’s contract are confidential, however, participating in competitor events is a black-and-white violation of UPA agreements."
Parris Todd was also reportedly in attendance, but her situation is under review. "Leadership is still reviewing the full details, and discussions are ongoing regarding the appropriate consequence — which could range from a fine to a suspension to, if warranted, termination," the UPA said in regards to Todd.
Why the UPA Contract Termination Happened
The four players in question reportedly participated in a "competitor" event, which is grounds for UPA contract termination, just like Quang Duong earlier in the year (see below). All four pros are listed on marketing materials for clinics and exhibitions hosted by the Pickleball Japan Federation this week.
It's unclear why these particular pros participated in this particular event. But the UPA's stance on the matter is firm: "Participating in competitor events is a black-and-white violation of UPA agreements."
Who Had Their UPA Contract Terminated
James Ignatowich
- MLP Team: Chicago Slice
- Men's Doubles PPA Rank: 23rd
- Men's Mixed Doubles PPA Rank: T-11th
- Men's Singles PPA Rank: 40th
Vivian Glozman
- MLP Team: Chicago Slice
Note: Glozman's PPA ranking is not listed, as she has not played on the PPA Tour since PPA Mesa in February. Glozman was on an MLP-only contract, and has not played on the PPA Tour in 10 months.
Ryan Fu
- MLP Team: SoCal Hard Eights
- Men's Doubles PPA Rank: 37th
- Men's Mixed Doubles PPA Rank: T-34th
- Men's Singles PPA Rank: 39th
Why Is Parris Todd's Contract Under Review?
Directly from a league statement:
"Parris Todd also participated in this event after initially reaching out for permission to do so, with incomplete context. Leadership is still reviewing the full details, and discussions are ongoing regarding the appropriate consequence — which could range from a fine to a suspension to, if warranted, termination. We will communicate the final outcome once that decision is made."
[You can read more about how this situation resolved on our dedicated page: Parris Todd Fined $50,000, Suspended Two Events]
So it seems Todd reached out to the league for permission to participate, but didn't provide — or didn't have — all the details.
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Ryan Fu Responds on X
MLP Commissioner and UPA Chief Strategy Officer Samin Odhwani Responds
Ryan — your post leaves out material facts. To be clear, you didn’t submit the approval request — James submitted it on your behalf. And what he submitted was not accurate.
— Samin Odhwani (@SaminOdhwani) December 11, 2025
The request stated:
“Clinics and potentially a free exhibition.” “No potential conflicting… pic.twitter.com/nUQ73svZuM
Here's the full text of his response:
Ryan — your post leaves out material facts. To be clear, you didn’t submit the approval request — James submitted it on your behalf. And what he submitted was not accurate.
The request stated:
“Clinics and potentially a free exhibition.” “No potential conflicting partners.”Hosted by “a local couple who love pickleball.” Pros attending: Tyra, Max, Ryan Fu.“No tournament, no prize money.”
For clarity: we are fully supportive of the Pickleball Japan Federation and want to collaborate with them the right way. The issue is that the approval request described this as a small, informal trip hosted by “a local couple,” when in reality it was a federation-run, commercially sponsored event — which simply requires proper approval and sanctioning.
The request said everything would be free. In reality:
$150 per person for clinics
And the exhibition (“Challenge the Pros”) cost $20 per ticket, not free. (Screenshots below)
The request also stated explicitly: “No tournament.” But the Japan event did include a tournament — and the PickleballTournaments listing shows 1,200+ registered participants. This was a full-scale event.
The pros listed for approval were not the pros who actually went. The real group was James, Ryan, Vivian, and Parris — completely different from the list submitted.
The event also used PPA and MLP branding in marketing without approval. We’re always open to working with international organizers and would’ve gladly sanctioned this properly. But transparency and accuracy matter — especially when representing the league, its partners, and its athletes.
What This UPA Contract Termination Means for Players and Teams
These three players will now have to figure out what to do in pickleball. We know James Ignatowich just launched his new paddle brand, "RPM," about two months ago:
Alex E. Weaver
Fu, who is very good friends with Ignatowich, also helps with clinics and plays with the RPM paddle. There are other tours to go play on, but the pay probably won't be comparable to the pay these three were receiving from the UPA annually.
Additionally, the Chicago Slice and SoCal Hard Eights are no longer going to have the services of these three players. They will need to draft replacements in the upcoming 2026 MLP Draft (Date TBD).
Finally, many players have partners for multiple tournaments. The partners of Fu and Ignatowich are now going to be scrambling for new partners for The Masters tournament in January and the entirety of early 2026 tournaments.
Zane Navratil Weighs In
A Similar UPA Player Contract Dispute: The Quang Duong Case
Sounding familiar?
If this is all sounding a bit familiar… it should. The UPA went through something similar over the summer with Quang Duong. We covered that incident extensively:
Alex E. Weaver
This is a breaking story and more information will come out regarding these contracts, especially Parris Todd's situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a UPA contract termination in pickleball?
A UPA contract termination is when the United Pickleball Association officially ends a player's professional agreement due to a breach of the contract's terms. In most cases, these pro pickleball player contracts include strict exclusivity clauses that prohibit participation in non-sanctioned events without prior written approval.
Why were Ignatowich, Fu, and Glozman specifically terminated and not just fined?
The UPA determined that their participation in the Pickleball Japan Federation event constituted a black-and-white violation of their exclusivity agreements. Unlike Parris Todd — who had sought some form of prior permission — the three terminated players were not deemed to have received proper, accurate approval for the full scope of the event.
Can the terminated players still compete in professional pickleball?
Yes, but not under the UPA umbrella, which includes the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. The players could potentially compete on other tours, such as the APP Tour, though the guaranteed compensation levels may differ significantly from what they received under their UPA agreements.
How does this UPA contract termination affect the 2026 MLP Draft?
The Chicago Slice and SoCal Hard Eights will need to fill the roster spots vacated by Ignatowich, Glozman, and Fu. Both teams are expected to use the upcoming 2026 MLP Draft to address these gaps, and the available player pool will now shift as a result of these terminations.
Is this the first time the UPA has terminated a player's contract for an unsanctioned event?
No. The Quang Duong case earlier in 2025 set a clear precedent when his contract was terminated after multiple and repeated violations of his exclusivity agreement, including an unsanctioned trip to Vietnam. The Ignatowich, Fu, and Glozman situation is the second major UPA player contract termination of its kind in a single calendar year.
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