VAR and Millions in Prizes: Brazil's Bold Bet to Become a Pickleball Powerhouse
What's the Score?
Pickleball in Brazil is investing significantly in its growth, with the Liga Supremo (Supreme League) introducing video refereeing (VAR) and offering over R$ 2 million in prizes for the 2025 season. The league's debut stage in Minas Gerais was the first outside North America to use VAR, which was considered helpful by athletes. The competition brought together around 300 athletes from Brazil and Latin America. The Liga Supremo aims to emulate major competitions in the United States.
Hit it deeper!
Pickleball, a sport experiencing a boom in popularity in the United States, is making significant investments to foster its growth in Brazil. The debut stage of the Liga Supremo (Supreme League) in 2025, held in the state of Minas Gerais, marked a groundbreaking moment as it became the first pickleball competition outside of North America to implement video assistant refereeing (VAR). This technological addition was unanimously viewed positively, with Paulo Cantoli, CEO of Liga Supremo, stating, "It was unanimous: VAR came to help. It was decisive in some of the most important games of the event. The athletes also knew how to use it with great respect and balance. We delivered a good result in the operation, with a good environment for arbitration analysis". The VAR system was tested in the stage held in Governador Valadares, with its use limited to one challenge per competitor per game.
Furthermore, the Liga Supremo is demonstrating a serious commitment to the sport's development by offering over R$ 2 million in prize money for the 2025 season, a significant investment aimed at attracting and incentivizing top talent. The league openly draws inspiration from major pickleball competitions in the United States, suggesting an ambition to reach similar levels of professionalism and excitement. The inaugural stage of the Liga Supremo brought together approximately 300 athletes from both Brazil and various countries in Latin America, highlighting the growing regional interest in competitive pickleball. The competitions spanned across mixed, doubles, and singles categories, encompassing different technical skill levels to ensure broad participation.
The champions of the Open Simples (Open Singles) at the event were Kym Sze in the men's category and Marcela Donatoni in the women's category. Notably, Sze and Donatoni also teamed up to win the mixed doubles title. Donatoni had a particularly successful tournament, also claiming the women's doubles title alongside Patty Boson, while Caio Silva and Hugo Dojas emerged as the champions in the men's doubles. The Brazilian Pickleball Confederation describes pickleball as a "dynamic sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, played on a smaller court with larger rackets and a light ball". It can be played in singles or doubles, indoors or outdoors. The sport's accessibility, due to its simple rules and ease of play, along with the fact that it requires less physical conditioning than sports like tennis, has contributed to its increasing popularity, making it an excellent option for those seeking exercise and socialization. The popularity of pickleball surged in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it allowed for social distancing and is enjoyable for the whole family, leading to a significant increase in the number of courts. While still not on the scale of other major sports in Brazil, pickleball athletes are starting to gain recognition, with enthusiastic crowds attending competitions and seeking photos and autographs.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The significant investment in Brazilian pickleball, exemplified by the Liga Supremo's introduction of VAR and substantial prize money, signals a pivotal moment for the sport's professionalization and growth in the country. The adoption of VAR, a first outside North America, demonstrates a commitment to fair play and elevating the standard of competition. The substantial prize pool will undoubtedly attract more athletes and increase the overall quality of play. The comparison to major US competitions suggests a clear ambition to establish a high-profile pickleball league in Brazil. The strong participation numbers in the Liga Supremo's debut stage, drawing athletes from across Brazil and Latin America, underscore the growing regional interest in the sport. The success of Brazilian players like Mariana Humberg on the international stage further fuels this enthusiasm domestically. The accessibility of pickleball, as highlighted by the Brazilian Pickleball Confederation, positions it as a sport with broad appeal, capable of attracting participants of all ages and fitness levels. These developments collectively indicate a bright future for pickleball in Brazil, with the potential to become a major player in the global pickleball landscape.