MLP Challenger Standouts, Anna Leigh Waters’ Nike Debut, and New Pickleball Academies and Venues Worldwide
Good morning, pickleballers!
Tuesday, Tuesday - so much big news has broken in the last 24 hours though, what a start to the week.
Before we get cracking with today's pickleball news, the January issue of World Pickleball Magazine is now live and free to read. Explore global stories from Türkiye, Poland, Italy, Japan, India, Pakistan, and more, alongside wider coverage of governance, refereeing, and how the sport is developing worldwide.
If you enjoy it, please share it with your pickleball friends and communities. You can also follow @worldpickleballmagazine on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the World Pickleball Podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and many other major podcast platforms.
In the latest episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, I sit down with Leon Stanga, President and pioneering force behind Pickleball Venezuela.
Leon shares the remarkable story of how pickleball took root in Venezuela, from early grassroots efforts to building a national structure for the sport. The conversation explores the challenges of growing pickleball in emerging markets, the role of leadership and education, and what it takes to introduce a new sport in regions where resources, awareness, and infrastructure can be limited.
Here's the latest pickleball news from around the world.
Recapping the Top Partnerships of the 2025 MLP Challenger Season
Austin, USA – As the Major League Pickleball (MLP) Challenger Season concludes, a year-end recap has highlighted the elite partnerships that dominated the 2025 calendar. These metrics, which spotlight top performers from the Mid-Season, the full MLP Season, and the MLP Cup, arrive just as teams prepare for upcoming trades that could shake up the league’s landscape.
In Women’s Doubles, the pairing of Brooke Buckner and Chao Yi Wang stood at the top of the leaderboard with a formidable 72.7% win rate over 33 matches. They were closely followed by Layne Sleeth and Lina Padegimaite, who secured a 69.4% win rate across 36 contests. Ewa Radzikowska and Michelle Esquivel rounded out the top three with a solid 60.9% win rate.
The Men’s Doubles division saw an even more dominant performance from Martin Emmrich and Michael Loyd, who boasted a staggering 83.3% win rate, losing only two of their twelve matches together. Anderson Scarpa and Marshall Brown also proved their consistency with a 66.7% win rate, while Daniel De La Rosa and Stefan Auvergne finished the season with 61.9%.
Mixed Doubles success featured familiar names, with Brooke Buckner and Pablo Tellez mirroring the top men’s duo with an 83.3% win rate. Chao Yi Wang and James Delgado followed with a 76.9% rate, while Alix Truong found success with multiple partners, tying for third with both DJ Young and Jonathan Truong at 70%. As the league moves toward the 2026 season, these metrics provide a crucial roadmap for which partnerships are likely to stick together and which may be subject to the looming trade window.
New Year, New Gear: 2026 Carvana PPA Masters Kicks Off with Historic Partnerships and Intense Matchups
Rancho Mirage, USA – Professional pickleball has entered a new era as the 2026 Carvana PPA Masters powered by Invited begins at the Mission Hills Country Club,. As the first event of the year, players are competing for a massive 2,000 ranking points, but the headlines are being dominated by seismic shifts in athlete sponsorships,.
World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters made history by becoming the first pickleball athlete to sign an apparel deal with Nike. Waters, who also recently signed a paddle deal with Franklin Sports, expressed that joining the Nike family is a "dream realised." She debuted her new Nike kit on Tuesday during early-round action. Meanwhile, Gabe Tardio has shifted to Vietnamese company Facolos for his paddle sponsorship, a move expected to provide international momentum for the brand.
On the court, the storyline to watch is Will Howells, playing his first tournament as a contracted tour pro. Howells faces a gruelling schedule, including a potential Round of 64 matchup against No. 2 seed Federico Staksrud, as well as mixed doubles with Rachel Rohrabacher and men’s doubles with Noe Khlif. Injury news also surfaced as Pablo Tellez withdrew from men’s singles with a knee injury, though he is still expected to compete in doubles later this week.
Today's Round of 32 features high-stakes matches across all brackets. On the Humana Championship Court, key matchups include:
- Women’s Singles: (6) Catherine Parenteau vs. (25) Mari Humberg
- Men’s Singles: (7) Jack Sock vs. (30) Tom Protzsek; (1) Hunter Johnson vs. (25) Yates Johnson
- Mixed Doubles: (1) Waters / B. Johns vs. (28) Kovalova / Wright
- Men’s Doubles: (1) B. Johns / Tardio vs. (29) Benitez / Trinh
Other notable matches include Anna Leigh Waters facing Luana Stanciu and Federico Staksrud taking on Ryan Sherry.
Global Standards: Asia Elite Pickleball Academy Set to Transform High-Performance Training in China
Hainan, China – The professional pickleball landscape in China is set for a significant upgrade with the upcoming launch of the Asia Elite Pickleball Academy in March 2026. Located at the Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Experimental School’s Hainan Campus, the academy is being developed as a joint venture with Ramsports, China’s leading pickleball brand.
The facility is designed to meet international standards, featuring professional-grade courts and infrastructure comparable to the world’s top competition environments. The current site includes 11 courts, with ambitious plans to construct 20 more to create a premier global centre. The academy will offer full-time residential boarding programs and visiting options for both junior and professional players.
To support this elite environment, the academy is currently hiring three full-time, high-performance coaches. Beyond training, the venue has already been selected to host the Rising Stars Finals of the Pickleball Champions League Asia. By combining world-class educational resources with Olympic-level training expertise, the Asia Elite Pickleball Academy aims to become the world’s leading destination for pickleball excellence.
Dreambreaker Drama: Cumberland Storm Crowned Champions of the First Northern League Finals
Derby, United Kingdom – The Cumberland Storm have made history by winning the inaugural pickleball Northern League Finals in a nail-biting finish. The Cumbria-based team, who entered the finals as top seeds after three months of leaderboard dominance, secured the title through a high-stakes dreambreaker.
The path to the trophy was hard-fought. After defeating the Westmorland Warriors in the quarter-finals and overcoming Cheshire-Merseyside in the semis, the Storm faced the second-seeded Midland Outlaws in the final. Despite winning the first two matches and appearing in control, the Storm saw the Outlaws mount a comeback to level the scores. In the deciding dreambreaker—a race to 21 points—Cumberland trailed 14–9 before rallying to a 21–19 victory.
Team manager John Wright praised the squad's "incredible team spirit and togetherness" during the comeback. The win earned the ten-member squad a holiday to Barbados and solidified Cumbria's status as a leading pickleball hub in the UK. The region's momentum is expected to grow further with plans for a dedicated pickleball and padel centre scheduled to open in Carlisle in 2026, which will support players of all ages and skill levels,.
Harbour Views and Pickleball: ICC Sydney Unveils Eight-Court Hub on Iconic Event Deck
Sydney, Australia – The International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has officially transformed its Event Deck into a vibrant sporting precinct with the unveiling of eight purpose-built pickleball courts. Located in the heart of Darling Harbour, the new facility is aimed at boosting community participation, physical activity, and mental wellbeing for both residents and visitors.
Managed by House of Pickle, the courts offer a wide range of activities, including casual play, professional coaching, social competitions, and sessions tailored for corporate clients. ICC Sydney CEO Adam Mather-Brown noted that the initiative supports the venue’s goals of innovation, wellbeing, and inclusivity, providing event organizers with unique opportunities for team building and exercise.
State authorities have welcomed the activation as a "fantastic example" of reimagining public spaces. Beyond the courts, the precinct features the House of Pickle Lounge, alongside merchandise and food offerings, turning the Event Deck into a multifunctional urban destination. As pickleball continues its rapid global growth, this new hub provides a high-profile home for the sport in one of Australia’s most iconic locations,.
Tech Meets the Court: Park Place Technologies Named Official IT Partner for PPA and MLP
Cleveland, USA – Park Place Technologies, a global leader in IT infrastructure services, has announced a landmark multi-year partnership to become the Official Technology Partner of the Carvana PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP). The collaboration, which debuts during the 2026 season, aims to merge technological innovation with the fastest-growing sport in America.
Under the agreement, Park Place Technologies will provide critical resources for national tournaments, player engagement, and fan experiences. The firm also plans to facilitate educational donations to schools as part of its community outreach. CEO Chris Adams highlighted that the energy and community of pickleball align perfectly with the values of his organisation.
The partnership has local roots, as Ohio is one of the top states for pickleball, home to over 800,000 players and the 2025 MLP Champion Columbus Sliders. Park Place even maintains two courts at its global headquarters. United Pickleball Association CEO Connor Pardoe welcomed the partnership, stating it will significantly "amplify the game for fans and players alike" across digital platforms, broadcasts, and live events.
Strengthening the Game: Ryan Hanes Appointed Director of Competitions for Pickleball Canada
Ottawa, Canada – In what is being described as a "major step forward," Pickleball Canada has appointed Ryan Hanes as its new Director – Competition. Hanes joins the national organisation with an extensive background in tournament management, having founded True North Pickleball and directed over one hundred events, including multiple National and Provincial Championships.
In his new capacity, Hanes will serve as the Tournament Director for the Pickleball Canada National Championship. His responsibilities also include overseeing the national sanctioning program and providing mentorship to provincial organizers. A certified referee and instructor, Hanes is expected to be a vital resource for affiliated clubs across the country,.
A key objective for Hanes will be supporting the development of a high-performance program. This initiative is designed to prepare Canadian athletes for the rising levels of international play, including World Championship and potential Olympic competition. Executive Director Barry Petrachenko expressed excitement over Hanes' expertise, noting that his leadership will be instrumental in supporting programs operated by provincial organizations.
Bangkok Bound: 5th WPC Asia Pickleball Open Returns to Thailand in March 2026
Bangkok, Thailand – The World Pickleball Championship (WPC) Series has announced that the Asia Pickleball Open will return for its fifth edition from March 11-16, 2026. This event remains the first truly international pickleball competition in Asia, drawing athletes from across the globe to compete in Thailand’s capital.
The 2026 tournament will be held in a unique venue—a shopping mall in Bangkok—offering a high-visibility setting for the sport. Organisers have provided a sneak peek of the venue online to build excitement among the international pickleball community.
Registration for the competition is expected to open soon on the Pickleball Global website. As the sport continues to expand throughout the Asian continent, the 5th Asia Pickleball Open stands as a cornerstone event for elite and amateur players looking to test their skills on the international stage.