March Madness on the Court: Collegiate Upsets and New APP Partnerships
Welcome to World Pickleball Magazine’s March Roundup! As we gear up for an action-packed spring, the pickleball world is already buzzing with thrilling collegiate upsets and major partnership announcements from the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Tour.
Here is everything you need to know heading into March:
Collegiate Chaos: Cinderella Runs and Dominant Displays
The road to the APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships this March has been paved with unforgettable performances and shocking upsets.
Earlier this year, the powerhouse University of Virginia (UVA) Cavaliers looked unstoppable, holding the top three seeds after Saturday pool play. However, Sunday brought a massive upset when the #7 seed Blue Hens from the University of Delaware stunned the field. Delaware knocked off the UVA 2 team in the quarterfinals and the UVA 3 team in the semifinals, ultimately sweeping UVA 1 in a thrilling 21-14 singles tiebreaker to take the crown. Other notable strong finishes went to the University of Radford, University of Iowa, and UConn 1, positioning them well for at-large championship bids.
At the final regional qualifier in Indiana, the hometown heroes made sure there were no Cinderella endings at their expense. Indiana University displayed incredible depth, placing four of their five teams in the single-elimination bracket. In the end, it was an all-Indiana final, with Indiana University 1 defeating Indiana University 2 by a score of 3-1 to take home the championship. The tournament also saw impressive showings from the University of Illinois and Purdue Gold, who entered the bracket as the #1 seed with a 16-0 record. Fans were also treated to an inspiring run by the #10 seed Purdue White team, who fought through tiebreakers to reach the quarterfinals before finally falling to Indiana University 1.
APP Tour Partnerships: Seamless Travel and Sun Protection
Off the court, the APP Tour has announced two major partnerships designed to improve the event experience for athletes, staff, and fans nationwide.
HotelPlanner has been named the Official Online Booking Platform Partner for the APP. This collaboration will connect the APP’s live-event footprint with HotelPlanner’s booking technology, providing access to travel-planning tools, 24/7 customer support, and significant hotel savings of up to 70%.
Additionally, the APP is prioritising player health by naming ISDIN as the official sun care partner of the tour. Drawing on 50 years of industry-leading formulations, ISDIN will provide its award-winning, ultralight Fusion Water MAGIC sunscreen at all 2026 APP Tour events. The sunscreen will be readily available in player hospitality areas, offering weightless, invisible coverage that protects against both UV rays and heat damage.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Season Kicks Off
With the collegiate regional qualifiers wrapped up, all eyes are now turning toward the professional circuit. The 2026 APP Tour season officially begins this month, running from March 26-29 in Seattle with the AARP Open.
With enhanced events, top-tier sun protection, and streamlined travel in place, the 2026 season is shaping up to be the APP’s biggest year yet. Stay tuned to World Pickleball Magazine News for all the ongoing action!
Download the full March World Pickleball Magazine
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.