Good morning, pickleballers!
Welcome to your weekend – hope you get lots of happy hitting in.
Before you dive into today’s pickleball news, have a listen to our latest podcast.
In this episode of the World Pickleball Podcast, Gordon Watson and I dive deep into one of the most anticipated moments in professional pickleball: Season Two of the World Pickleball League (WPBL).
We preview what’s ahead for WPBL Season 2, set for January 24 to February 8, 2026, at Jio World Garden in Mumbai, India. We discuss the league’s expansion and global significance as teams prepare to battle it out in one of the sport’s most ambitious franchise competitions. With players from around the world drafted into city-based teams and a festival-style fan experience planned, this season is shaping up to be a milestone for pickleball’s growth and global profile.
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Here’s the very latest pickleball news from around the world.
Power Plays and New Rankings: Top Seeds Dominate as Haworth Claims World No. 1
United States – The competitive landscape of professional pickleball has intensified this week as the Pickleball Central Indoor National Championships move into the critical semifinal stages, coinciding with a major shake-up in the men’s singles world rankings.
At the Indoor Nationals, the women’s doubles bracket saw top seeds Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters deliver a masterclass in efficiency. The duo stormed into the semifinals with a clinical straight-games victory over Conrad and Kiora Kunimoto. Bright and Waters controlled the tempo from the very first rally, utilising sharp net play and consistent depth to never allow their opponents to settle. Their decisive victory reinforces their status as the heavy favourites to take the title.
On the men’s side, the top-seeded doubles pairing of Andrei Daescu and Federico Tardio also secured their semifinal berth. Facing the team of Tellez and Devilliers, Daescu and Tardio executed a commanding performance, converting pressure into points to shut down a second-game comeback attempt by their opponents.
As “Semifinal Saturday” approaches, the schedule is packed with marquee matchups across all divisions. In singles, top seed Kaitlyn Christian will face Parris Todd, while breakout performer Kiora Kunimoto takes on Lea Jansen. The mixed doubles draw promises fireworks with Bright and Patriquin set to clash against Parenteau and Tardio.
Adding to the tournament drama is the ascent of Chris Haworth, who has officially overtaken Hunter Johnson to become the new World No. 1 in DUPR singles rankings. Haworth’s rise follows a spectacular gold-medal run at the recent Carvana PPA Masters in Mission Hills, where he defeated Jack Sock in the final. Currently competing at the Indoor Nationals, Haworth has reached the quarterfinals with an 83% season win rate, looking to solidify his new status at the top of the leaderboard.
Pickleball Smashes TV Records: CBS Broadcast Outperforms NBA and Premier League
Mission Hills, USA – Professional pickleball has reached a historic media milestone, proving its rapid ascent from a niche pastime to a major national television property. The recent live coverage of the Carvana PPA Masters on CBS set a new all-time viewership record for the sport.
According to official figures, the Sunday broadcast was the most-watched pickleball event in history on any network, drawing an average audience of 791,000 viewers and peaking at over 1 million. The broadcast, which featured the men’s and women’s doubles gold medal matches, signalled a massive shift in sports consumption habits.
Remarkably, the pickleball event was the top-performing live sports broadcast in its time slot, outdrawing established heavyweights. The PPA Masters viewership surpassed a Big 12 Women’s Basketball game on FOX, an NBA matchup between the Magic and Grizzlies on Amazon Prime, and Premier League soccer coverage on the USA Network. It even attracted a larger audience than Big 10 Men’s Basketball on NBC and Supercross coverage.
This viewership success builds upon previous milestones, including the 2025 MLP Finals on CBS, which averaged 499,000 viewers. The jump to nearly 800,000 average viewers represents a landmark achievement for the PPA Tour and suggests that the sport’s “rapid rise” is translating into sustained mainstream interest. As the sport continues to secure exclusive live windows on major networks, these numbers validate the commercial viability of professional pickleball as a tier-one spectator sport in the United States.
A New Generation Revitalises Pickleball in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland – A quiet revolution is taking place on the courts of Northern Ireland, where pickleball is shedding its reputation as a pastime solely for retirees and capturing the attention of a younger, more competitive generation. Leading this charge is Hannah McAdam, a former field hockey player who has become a pivotal figure in the region’s growing scene.
McAdam’s entry into the sport was serendipitous; her mother discovered pickleball by accident during a tennis lesson and eventually persuaded Hannah to join. “It’s quite addictive when you first start playing,” McAdam noted, describing how a casual weekly session quickly evolved into a passion that replaced her 20-year involvement in field hockey. After suffering multiple wrist injuries in hockey, McAdam found pickleball to be a pain-free alternative that still allowed her to utilise her tactical awareness.
Since 2022, McAdam has competed internationally in countries including England, Portugal, and Germany. She describes her playing style as tactically aggressive, favoring the “roll volley” to keep opponents pinned back.
While the sport in Northern Ireland has historically been dominated by “active ageing” programs for those over 60, the demographic is shifting. “In the last two years, we’ve started seeing players in their 30s and 40s,” McAdam observed. She is actively accelerating this growth by running a group for women under 40 returning to sport, witnessing rapid skill improvements in just weeks. Her ultimate vision is to establish a dedicated pickleball facility near her home by 2026, a goal she believes is essential for the sport’s continued expansion in the region.
Palm Beaches to Host Massive 2026 World Pickleball Convention
West Palm Beach, USA – The World Pickleball Convention has officially announced that its 6th annual gathering will descend upon Florida in the fall of 2026, promising to be one of the largest industry events to date. Organisers confirmed that the Palm Beach County Convention Centre will host the convention and conference from October 15–17, 2026.
This announcement marks a significant milestone for the event, which serves as the premier meeting point for the global pickleball ecosystem, including athletes, facility operators, and medical professionals. Following a year of unprecedented growth, organizers anticipate attendance will exceed 8,000 participants, reflecting the sport’s surge in commercial investment and media attention.
“Pickleball’s rapid growth throughout Palm Beach County makes it a natural fit for an event of this scale,” said Gillian Constable of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. She noted that the event is expected to generate “meaningful economic impact” for the region.
The 2026 convention will feature an expansive exhibition hall showcasing over 200 exhibits of the latest products, alongside pro and amateur championship tournaments. A major focus of the upcoming event will be health and wellness, with sessions dedicated to sports medicine and active aging. George Domaceti, CEO of the World Pickleball Convention, emphasized that the programming will highlight the physical, mental, and social benefits of the sport.
Having previously found success in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the move to West Palm Beach signals the convention’s strategy to engage with rapidly growing markets in the American Southeast. Registration for the massive expo is set to open later this spring.
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.