1 tournament, $3.6M economic impact

ALW goes 304 days without a singles loss. The Florida Gators claim APP college title.

March 31, 2025

The New York Yankees crushed 36 runs and 15 homers in just three games using controversial "torpedo" bats—engineered with unique weight distribution and barrel tech—sparking MLB scrutiny. Equipment scandals: not just for pro pickleball.

But we digress. It was quite a weekend for pickleball fans. Anna Leigh Waters hit another major milestone at PPA Red Rock. The Florida Gators are APP collegiate pickleball champs (March Madness, what?), and a sunny setting was announced for the USA Pickleball National Championships.

We get into all that—and much more—below.

In This Issue:

  • It’s Manifest Destiny for USA Pickleball

  • The power of persistence

  • Anna Leigh’s 50th PPA singles gold

Monday, funday.

Our Picks ☝️

🇨🇳 Overseas: The PPA Goes East

Following a star-studded stint through Asia, PPA President Connor Pardoe announced an official tour stop will debut this October in Shanghai, China.

💰 Cash: Texas Celebrates Dink Award in Style

UT Austin and pro Jack Munro finished second at the Collegiate Championships, but they were #1 in Nike Dink Awards voting. Naturally, they made it rain to celebrate.

🦊 Outfoxed: A Big Moment Stalls

Sunday’s PPA finale was slated for FOX, but coverage got bumped back an hour for some ho-hum soccer game. Good thing the pickleball action delivered on the hype.

🗑️ Trashed: Play Again Soon?

America's favorite father-son duo might just be the most menacing team you'll face on the pickleball court—until the paddle tap, that is.

Ask the Pros: Persistence Pays Off

Whenever you're frustrated by a lack of progress or results on the court, remember this: Even the pros hit plateaus.

Just ask Dekel Bar. The formidable men’s player is ranked No. 10 in men’s doubles and No. 4 in mixed doubles, based on total points accumulated over the past 52 weeks of professional play.

And yet, his mixed doubles win with Parris Todd at Red Rock marked his first gold medal since October 2021. That’s roughly 1,250 days—and countless matches—since he last topped a PPA podium.

Keep that in mind the next time your lobs aren’t landing or your drops sit just a little too high. Success takes work. Progress can be slow and feel unrewarding in the moment.

But when you hit that goal, it’ll all be worth it.

“No words right now,” Bar said of his win. “I’m super happy.”

Why Pay for Coverage You Don’t Need?

Some car insurance companies love to include things like roadside assistance and rental car coverage in every policy.

But will you really need those extras? By finding a customizable plan, you’ll only pay for the coverage you actually use—nothing more, nothing less.

🤔 Newsletter getting clipped? Click ‘view entire message’ or click here to read online

Beach, Please—USAP Nationals Are Headed to San Diego

The 2025 USA Pickleball National Championships are riding the wave westward, landing in sunny San Diego from November 15–23, 2025.

It’s a glitzy locale for the event—and promises to bring a surge of visitors, and cash-flow, to the area.

The 2024 National Championships in Mesa, Arizona, attracted over 2,600 athletes from 47 states and 13 countries, along with more than 10,000 spectators. That’s a lot of people looking to nosh on fish tacos; the event generated an estimated $3.6 million in economic impact for the host city.

Now, the biggest event in amateur pickleball is setting up shop at the Barnes Tennis Center—home to 19 dedicated courts just a paddle toss away from the Pacific.

San Diego brings more than SeaWorld and sunshine—it’s a pickleball paradise ready to “roll out the red carpet for pickleball players from all around the country.”

50 Singles Titles for Anna Leigh Waters

PPA Red Rock was a doozy, fueled by pristine Utah weather, deep runs by some fresh faces, and a tantalizing new playoff format that heightened the drama by featuring all semifinal matches on Saturday and finals matches on Sunday.

We put together a full recap, but here are some of the highlights.

✅ Anna Leigh Waters: Queen of the Court
Anna Leigh Waters clinched her 50th PPA Tour singles title, extending her unbeaten streak to 304 days since her last singles loss on May 30, 2024.

In St. George, she dominated the field, defeating four opponents by a combined score of 88-23—an average victory margin of 8+ points per game. She beat Parris Todd in the final, 11-2, 11-7.

✅ Parris Todd’s Medal Trifecta
Parris Todd showcased her versatility by earning a complete set of medals: gold in mixed doubles, silver in singles, and bronze in women’s doubles.

Teaming up with Dekel Bar for the first time, Todd captured her first PPA Tour mixed doubles gold after a grueling five-game final. Remarkably, it was Dekel’s first PPA gold since October 2021.

✅ Hunter Johnson’s Gritty Singles Victory
Hunter Johnson battled through a tough bracket to win men’s singles gold, with four of his five matches going to three games.

In the final, he outlasted Jack Sock 11-4, 8-11, 11-7. Sock had an impressive run of his own, upsetting top seeds Federico Staksrud and Connor Garnett en route to the final.

✅ Alshon and Parenteau: Double Trouble
Christian Alshon and Catherine Parenteau each walked away with a gold and a silver. Parenteau, playing alongside Waters, swept women’s doubles without dropping a game, including an 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 win in the final.

Alshon teamed up with Andrei Daescu in men’s doubles, turning heads with a jaw-dropping semifinal win over Dylan Frazier and Dekel Bar, 11-0, 11-1. They followed it up with a dominant finals victory over Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin.

✅ PPA Challenger Series Debuts With a Smash
The inaugural PPA Challenger Series event in Columbia, South Carolina, drew over 300 players and featured live-streamed matches on the PPA Tour YouTube channel.

Helena Jansen was the breakout star, claiming the Triple Crown in dominant fashion. She’ll suit up for the Texas Ranchers this season in Major League Pickleball.

Click here for our full tournament recap.

PPA Red Rock Open Results

$100,000 Up for Grabs Worldwide

Alright, International Dink fam, listen up. That high-five you see in the picture? That’s pure joy from a recent Dink Minor League Pickleball stop in Puerto Rico.

We’re not just keeping the fun stateside, folks. The Dink MiLP is hitting the road with tournaments coming soon to Mexico, Canada, Australia, China, Italy, and plenty more awesome locations.

And guess what? The best players from these countries will battle it out for a chance to compete at The Dink MiLP 2025 U.S. National Championships.

And the stakes? A cool $100,000 prize purse across ALL divisions – double what it was last year! So, whether you're in Rome, Melbourne, or just down the street, your shot at glory (and some serious cash) is here.

Gators Grab Gold in APP Collegiate National Championships

In a showdown that had fans gripping their paddles, the University of Florida's Blue team clinched their first-ever national title at the 2025 APP U.S. Collegiate Championships in Cape Coral, Florida.

Facing off against the University of Texas, the Gators edged out a victory by a razor-thin margin, tying 4-4 in overall match wins but prevailing with a superior point percentage. The championship squad featured Jake Bower, Christian Franke, Zoe Routson, and Martine Sundsten, who battled through a formidable bracket to bring home the gold.

Individual Brilliance Shines Bright
The tournament wasn't just about team triumphs; individual talents lit up the courts:

  • Jack Munro (Texas) served up double gold, dominating in both mixed doubles and men's doubles.

  • Mary Monson (Utah Tech) showcased her versatility, clinching victories in women's singles and doubles.

  • Will Lieberman (Drury) powered through the competition to seize the men's singles gold.

  • Jake Bower (Florida) added a singles bronze to his team gold, proving he's a force to be reckoned with on any court.

Cash and Glory: The Prize Breakdown
The championships didn't just offer bragging rights; they came with a bounty:

  1. Florida (Blue): $12,000

  2. Texas: $6,000

  3. Florida Atlantic: $3,500

  4. Florida (Orange): $2,000

For even deeper analysis, read our full recap.

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