Change rarely announces itself loudly. More often, it shows up in patterns, in momentum, in the quiet realisation that the sport you are watching is no longer the same one you knew a year ago.
Our first year delivering this magazine monthly has been incredibly eye opening, when we look back the sport has come so far.
Across these pages, pickleball is not simply growing. It is maturing. Leagues are refining their identities, players are redefining careers, and regions once considered peripheral are now shaping the global conversation. From the packed stands and polished spectacle of the World Pickleball League in India, to the strategic arms race unfolding in Canada’s CNPL draft rooms, the sport is clearly entering a more complex, more demanding phase of its evolution.
What stands out most this month is balance. Entertainment and competition are no longer opposing forces. In Mumbai, “spotainment” works because the level on court demands attention. In the U.S. Legends Pickleball League, elite senior athletes prove that professionalism and community can coexist without compromise. In Asia and Europe, infrastructure, governance, and ambition are aligning in ways that suggest long-term intent rather than short-term hype.
There is also a deeper human thread running through this issue. Susan Swern’s journey across Africa reminds us that pickleball’s value is not measured only in broadcasts and prize money. Stories from Brazil, Vietnam, and Poland show how the sport adapts to local needs while still connecting players to something global. These are not side stories. They are central to understanding where pickleball is headed.
As Editor-in-Chief, I am struck by how quickly the conversation has shifted. The questions are no longer whether pickleball belongs on the world stage, but how it should be structured, governed, and sustained as it gets there. That is a sign of progress, and also a responsibility.
Thank you for continuing to read, challenge, and support the work we do. The sport is changing. We will keep documenting it honestly, thoughtfully, and with the curiosity it deserves.
Chris Beaumont // Editor-in-Chief
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