Parris Todd Breaks Silence After $50K Fine and Suspension
What's the Score?
Parris Todd, one of professional pickleball’s most recognisable stars, has been hit with a severe penalty for contract violations. Todd was fined $50,000 and suspended from two major upcoming events—the PPA Tour Masters and the first Major League Pickleball (MLP) event in May—after agreeing to participate in an unauthorised event in Japan. Todd has since issued a statement claiming the infraction was due to a lack of information rather than malicious intent.
Hit it deeper!
The controversy centres on the exclusive nature of top-tier pickleball contracts, which strictly control where and when signed athletes can compete. Todd’s participation in the Japanese event evidently breached these terms. In her public defence, Todd stated she "did not have all the details at the time" she committed to the appearance. She reiterated her integrity, saying, "At no point was it my intention to submit inaccurate or incomplete information when requesting to participate".
The punishment is one of the harshest seen in the sport to date. Missing the PPA Tour Masters and an MLP event is a double blow: it costs Todd potential prize money and ranking points, and it hurts her team's standing in the league. The fine itself—$50,000—is a staggering sum in a sport where prize pools are still growing, sending a clear message to all contracted players about the seriousness of exclusivity clauses.
The World Pickleball Verdict
This incident marks the end of the "Wild West" era of pro pickleball. In previous years, players hopped between tours and exhibitions with relative freedom. Now, with major private equity and consolidation in the PPA/MLP merger, the leagues are protecting their assets. This penalty is less about Parris Todd and more about setting a precedent: the league owns the player's schedule. While Todd’s excuse of "misunderstanding" may be genuine, the league's heavy hand proves they are prioritising contract enforcement over player relations to secure their business model.