MLP fire up, depression study, 14 y/o Rex Thais and baseball star's facility
What's the Score?
Pickleball in the USA continues its rapid development, marked by intense professional competition, including dramatic moments at MLP Orlando, the rise of young talent like 14-year-old prodigy Rex Thais, and major tournaments such as the PPA Tour's Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships. The sport's growth is also reflected in expanding infrastructure, including new concepts like the Solarium pickleball bar in Houston, and research suggesting significant mental health benefits from playing.
Hit it deeper!
The pickleball landscape in the United States is dynamic, encompassing professional tours, emerging players, and new venues. Professional play remains a major draw, with events like Major League Pickleball (MLP) generating significant attention. The MLP Orlando event for the 2025 season notably featured drama during the final match between the St. Louis Shock and the New Jersey 5s. Tensions escalated off-court when Hayden Patriquin reportedly called Anna Leigh Waters a "fking bch". This verbal confrontation led to Waters confronting Patriquin near the St. Louis bench, involving team officials and MLP officials. Although there was no physical confrontation, the situation highlighted the intensity of the competition. In the subsequent mixed doubles match, Zane Navratil hit a hard shot at Gabe Tardio, which commentary suggested was clearly targeting him below the neck. Patriquin later offered a post-match apology for his words, attributing them to the heat of the moment. MLP issued a statement addressing the incident, advising Patriquin against using such language and Waters to remain on her side of the court. The match itself was highly anticipated, partly due to Waters partnering with Anna Bright for the rest of 2025 on the PPA Tour, leaving their previous partners.
The PPA Tour continues to host major events, such as the Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships. Scheduled for May 12-18, 2025, at Life Time Peachtree Corners in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, this tournament allows both professional and amateur players to compete. Registration is open until May 10th. Amateurs can play on the same courts as top pros like Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns. Matches, including amateur games, will be live-streamed. The PPA Tour also offers development opportunities, such as a two-day camp for 3.0/4.0 skill level players during the Atlanta event. Tournament formats vary by skill level, with double elimination for higher levels and round-robin potentially for lower levels. Pros enter the main draw via automatic bids or qualifying rounds.
New talent is constantly emerging. Rex Thais, a 14-year-old from Jacksonville, is quickly gaining prominence. He recently had a successful showing at the U.S. Open in Naples, Florida, winning gold medals in boys’ singles and doubles and a bronze in mixed doubles, confirming his status as a "top junior player". Thais transitioned to pickleball from competitive golf, finding the sport's social nature more appealing. According to his father, Ricky Thais, Rex, who is "very social," became "addicted" to pickleball's social dynamics. Rex is actively building a personal brand beyond his on-court performance, utilising his "bright outfits, energetic on-court celebrations, and a lively personality". This approach has already led to sponsorship deals, which he sees as support for his future in sports. Rex aims to become a "highly marketable juniors in pickleball and inspire everybody".
The sport's growth is also driving investment in new facilities. In Houston, the Solarium pickleball bar concept has opened. Co-owned by Lance McCullers Jr., Solarium features courts alongside unique amenities like private rooms in repurposed shipping containers with views of the games and dedicated servers. This concept aims to offer an "elevated twist" on the pickleball bar model.
Furthermore, research is beginning to explore the broader benefits of playing pickleball. According to a report based on an analysis from the Apple Heart and Movement Study, frequent pickleball players reported 60% fewer depressive symptoms compared to the broader study population. The study suggests that the combination of physical activity, social engagement, and a sense of play in pickleball is particularly effective for mental health, with more frequent play leading to stronger positive effects. This data supports the idea that social sports can significantly reduce depression symptoms, linking pickleball's community-building aspect to its potential mental health benefits.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The United States pickleball scene, as depicted in the sources, is a vibrant ecosystem of intense professional competition, burgeoning young talent, innovative facility development, and growing recognition of the sport's health benefits. The MLP drama highlights the passion and high stakes at the top level, while the PPA Tour continues to provide platforms for both pros and amateurs. The emergence of players like Rex Thais signals a strong pipeline of future talent building both skill and marketability. New venues like Solarium reflect creative approaches to making the sport accessible and appealing as a social activity. Crucially, the data on reduced depressive symptoms adds a significant dimension to pickleball's value, suggesting it's not just a game but potentially a meaningful contributor to public health and well-being. This convergence of factors indicates that pickleball in the USA is expanding rapidly on multiple fronts, solidifying its position as a major sport.