Browsing: Pickleball News

The Veolia Houston Open Presented by Just Courts promises to be an exhilarating display of pickleball prowess as players gear up for the latest PPA showdown. The tournament is the second of four to be played over consecutive weekends, and here’s a sneak peek at the event’s highlights, potential matchups, and players to watch out for. Leading The Pack Leading the pack is none other than Ben Johns, fresh off his triumphant triple crown victory in NC. The burning question on everyone’s mind is: Can Johns replicate his stellar performance and clinch back-to-back wins? Meanwhile, Teenage Centurion Anna Leigh Waters…

Larry Seekins has been a significant reason pickleball has been so so popular in Billings, Montana, over the last two decades. The “Father Of Pickleball” Credited as the pioneer who introduced pickleball to Billings in 2003, Seekins affectionately refers to himself as the “father of pickleball” in the Magic City. Reflecting on its inception, he fondly recalls, “Well, if I’m the father, then my wife is the mother. My wife saw an article in the paper that said they are teaching pickleball a block away from our house at a school, and we went.” For Seekins, pickleball swiftly evolved into…

As we’ve featured in several recent articles, pickleball and golf are becoming increasingly connected. Our favorite sport has attracted the attention of some top-tier golfers who have become almost unofficial ambassadors.  Scottie Scheffler Among them is Scottie Scheffler, regarded as the best golfer around at the moment. Scheffler’s endorsement of the game is evident as he has invested in the Texas Ranchers, his state’s professional pickleball team and last autumn, Scheffler joined former NBA luminaries Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd in the Carvana Celebrity Pickleball Showdown held in Dallas. His performance was notable for the way he won a point…

Player power prevailed at the Norwalk Senior Center in Norwalk, Connecticut, when the proposed introduction of a $60 monthly charge to use the pickleball court was canceled after participants protested. Taken Aback On March 20, members of the centre’s pickleball community were taken aback by a notice proclaiming that commencing April 1st, a fee would be required to utilize the court facilities at 11 Allen Road, Norwalk, situated about 55 miles southwest of Hartford. Bill Wrenn, a dedicated pickleball enthusiast, expressed the sentiment of many players during a meeting at NSC, stating, “You can see we have a lot of…

Anna Leigh Waters won a Triple Crown at the Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina Cup presented by CIBC this weekend. You might say that was nothing out of the ordinary; in fact, you could even say it was business as usual. However, her latest triple triumph was a particularly landmark moment as the sold-out crowd at Cary also witnessed her 100th career win. A Particularly Poignant Place It was a particularly poignant place to reach that figure in front of friends and family, as Cary was where she spent nearly half of her childhood. Waters is unquestionably the most dominant pickleball…

The 2024 APP Vlasic Classic in Delray Beach showed what top pickleball talent was all about, drawing in a thoroughly engaged audience to witness the action-packed Championship Sunday on CBS Sports Network. Buzzing With Energy For five days, the Delray Beach Tennis Center buzzed with the energy of hundreds of pickleball enthusiasts, ranging from novices to seasoned pros, all vying for victory and a slice of the $100,000 prize pool. Among the standout performers were local favorites JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson, the Boynton Beach siblings, who clinched gold at their hometown event. They were joined by the victorious Megan…

The annual Minto US Open Pickleball Championships make a grand return to Naples on April 13. The week-long event promises to be an extra special occasion with a record number of participants and the biggest purse ever offered. Over 3,000 Participants With over 3,000 participants of all ages and skill levels, the tournament is primed to take over East Naples Community Park from April 13 to 20. Enthusiasts from every corner of the United States, including American Samoa and 31 other international destinations, will converge on the park’s sprawling 60-plus courts. More than 450 seasoned professionals will vie for a…

Donald Trump’s aspirations of adding a pickleball court to his Irish golf enclave have encountered resistance from an unlikely adversary: a diminutive, 2mm whorl snail. Endangered Species The scrutiny from Clare County Council regarding the status of the millions of Vertigo angustior snails inhabiting Trump’s coastal resort in the west of Ireland was initially disclosed by the Irish Times and subsequently corroborated by Fortune, following a missive from the council. The European Union protects these snails, which range from 1.5mm to 2.5mm in length, due to their endangered status. They boast a distinctive “narrow-mouthed” brown shell and serve a crucial…

The MLP Challenger Level Draft took place Wednesday, April 3, beginning at 6 p.m. ET. The 10 Challenger Level teams filled out their 2024 season rosters via a four-round, snake-format draft. The Challenger Draft Order was randomly selected, with teams picking in order from 1 to 10 in Rounds 1 and 3 and in reverse 10 to 1 order in Rounds 2 and 4. Predraft Exchanges Prior to the start of the Draft, Miami Pickleball Club acquired picks #9 and #12 from the Bay Area Breakers in exchange for picks #3 and #18. During Round 3, Atlanta Bouncers acquired picks…

As the popularity of pickleball has skyrocketed over the last few years, it was perhaps inevitable that its demographic would start to extend beyond the once-standard spectrum of retirees and older. Spearheading The Initiative At Arizona State University, the student demand to include the sport on campus was definite, and now multiple opportunities exist for students to get involved regardless of their experience. Spearheading this initiative is business sophomore Nathan Tang, who, along with other upperclassmen, founded the ASU Pickleball Club. Operating primarily at the Sonora tennis courts in Tempe, the club hosts open plays every Thursday from 5 p.m.…