by Kelly Campbell
As pickleball has exploded in popularity, the sport has gone from having too little representation to perhaps too much. Now, players, fans, and organizers are left wondering who’s really influencing how the game is played, governed, and promoted at every level.
With so many changes over the past few years, it’s hard to keep track of all the main professional pickleball organizations, especially as new leagues, teams, mergers, and alliances emerge. That’s why we’ve created this cheat sheet that lays out everything you need to know about pickleball’s power players, from their structure, missions, and tournaments to how they work (or compete) with one another.
Read on to become a pro at knowing who’s who in the world of pro pickleball.
Official Governing Bodies
- Founded: 2005 (originally as USA Pickleball Association)
- Mission: To promote the growth and development of pickleball in the U.S. and maintain its integrity
- What They Do: National governing body for rules, equipment standards, tournament sanctioning, officiating, and grassroots development
- Structure: Led by a Board of Directors and executive team; committees oversee areas like rules and equipment; supported by ambassadors, member clubs, and volunteers nationwide
- Notes: Has the most influence globally due to its U.S. player base; maintains official rulebook and approved equipment list; sanctioning authority for amateur tournaments and National Championships; currently recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) as national governing body (NGB)
*It’s important to note that USAP has long been appointed as the governing body for U.S. pickleball, but recently, the UPA-A has identified itself as a potential challenger. Even so, USAP is the only IOC-recognized governing body. More on that later.
World Pickleball Federation (WPF)
- Founded: 2018
- Mission: To direct pickleball’s future as a globally recognized sport, overseeing governance, rules, coaching, events, and player visibility
- What They Do: Support member nations via funding, club & tournament software, coaching/teaching certification (via IPTPA), rankings, and sanctioning a WPF Series
- Structure: Built on six continental confederations (Asia, Europe, Africa, etc.); board of business‑oriented leaders; member countries join via their continental federation; teaching and rating via IPTPA
- Notes: In November 2024, WPF and the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) announced a planned merger to form a unified global body under the WPF name, combining governance and merging transitional leadership
Global Pickleball Federation (GPF)
- Founded: November 2023, launched as the unifying international governing body for pickleball
- Mission: To promote, lead, and support the growth and development of pickleball as a sport for all, aiming for Olympic inclusion and global governance
- What They Do: Provide member countries with access to equipment, official rules, educational resources, ambassador networks, international tournaments, and equipment standards
- Structure: Operates through four continental federations (Africa, Americas, Asia, Oceania) and accepts European countries directly; membership is tiered (Class C, B, A) based on criteria like active members and national team capabilities
- Notes: Partnered with DUPR as its official rating system; aims for Olympic recognition by 2032; sanctioned the 13th African Games pickleball tournament in Accra, Ghana
Leading Influencers
While these are not official governing bodies, they are crucial in shaping professional pickleball, and it’s important for any pickleballer to be familiar with them:
United Pickleball Association (UPA)
The PPA and MLP announced plans to merge in 2023, but since officially joining forces in 2024 under the parent company UPA, they still operate as distinct brands in the pickleball space. The UPA (via UPA-A, the UPA of America) operates as a self-declared “governing body” to set rules, equipment standards, and player ratings within its own ecosystem (PPA, MLP, and associated programs).
- Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour)
- Founded: 2018
- Purpose: To create the premier professional individual tournament circuit with top prize money and media exposure
- Model: Individual pro tournaments with singles, doubles, and mixed doubles; many players under exclusive contracts
- Notable Players: Ben Johns, Simone Jardim, Tyson McGuffin, Lucy Kovalova
- Notes: Leads in prize money and media coverage; traditional pro sport experience with standard brackets; emphasis on professionalism
- Major League Pickleball (MLP)
- Founded: 2021
- Purpose: To develop a team-based, city franchise league that enhances fan engagement and introduces a new competition format
- Model: Team league with city-based franchises; players signed to teams, competing in singles and doubles matchplay
- Notable Players: Anna Leigh Waters, Matt Wright, Riley Newman, Lucy Kovalova (some overlap with PPA)
- Notes: Operates as the premier professional team league, complementing PPA’s individual tournaments; co-ed format; drafted teams with unique scoring
Association of Pickleball Players (APP Tour)
- Founded: 2017
- Purpose: To provide a pro and amateur tournament circuit that fosters player development, youth engagement, and global growth
- Model: Hybrid pro/amateur tour with open entry events and a focus on youth (Next Gen series) and grassroots expansion
- Notable Players: Jack Munro, Sofia Sewing, Megan Fudge, Jill Braverman
- Notes: Sanctioned by USA Pickleball; operates The Fort, a dedicated pickleball facility; emphasizes accessibility and leads the Global Pickleball Alliance**
**The Global Pickleball Alliance includes some of the world’s most influential and well-established pickleball organizations: APP (USA), Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL), European Pickleball Federation (EPF), Global Sports (India), National Pickleball League (Australia), Pickleball England, and Pickleball D-Joy (Vietnam). Their goal is to create “a unified, non-conflicting tournament calendar, a streamlined global-ranking system, a tiered prize money structure, additional commercial arrangements and financial scholarship support, all to benefit career and earning opportunities for the world’s current and aspiring professional players.”
National Pickleball League (NPL)
- Founded: 2019
- Purpose: To showcase senior professional players in a team-based league focused on age 50+ divisions and city franchises
- Model: Team league with regional/city-based teams competing primarily in Champions and Masters age divisions
- Notable Players: Dayne Gingrich, Beth Bellamy, Rick Witsken, Jennifer Dawson, Dave Weinbach
- Notes: Focuses on senior pros and team formats; less direct competition with PPA/MLP’s open pro circuit; growing fan base among older players
Dink Dynamics You Need to Know
The organizations mentioned above operate either in collaboration or in competition, each working to advance their own vision for the future of pickleball. Though all have played key roles in pickleball’s growth, in recent years some have risen to greater prominence, often driven by stronger financial support and media exposure. Most pickleballers know that in order for pickleball to be solidified as a core U.S. sport and to achieve Olympic inclusion, we need to unite in agreement on how professional pickleball should be organized. Too many opinions and disagreements will inhibit pickleball’s growth in the professional space, its Olympic prospect, and its overall expansion.
That’s why more and more of these pickleball bodies have decided to join forces to lead professional pickleball’s trajectory, which has created new competitors as well. These are some of the dynamics at play in the professional pickleball space that are influencing the future of pickleball:
While not every organization fits neatly into the category of rival or ally, they all influence pickleball’s trajectory in different ways. Many operate independently, yet their goals often overlap—whether it’s player development, international expansion, or establishing standards for professional play. Some leagues, like APP, work closely with governing bodies like USA Pickleball and participate in initiatives such as the Global Pickleball Alliance, which aims to unify international competition and reduce scheduling conflicts. Others, like the UPA (formed through the PPA and MLP merger), are building their own governance infrastructure and expanding globally, potentially putting them at odds with more traditional or cooperative frameworks. Ultimately, how these leagues and governing bodies align or misalign will shape not just the sport’s structure, but its potential to thrive on a truly global stage.
Sources
https://pickleball.com/news/upa-of-america-upa-a-announced-as-global-pickleball-governing-body-by-united-pickleball-association https://pickleball.com/news/upa-a-launches-professional-paddle-certification-program https://pickleball.com/news/pickleball-inc-upa-announce-dupr-as-official-rating-system-across-all-properties-and-competitions https://www.forbes.com/sites/toddboss/2024/05/17/the-battle-lines-have-been-drawn-between-upa-and-usap/
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