Highest-paid athletes in women's sports

The split is official. PWR securing pro talent.

December 23, 2024

We all know that pickleball has evolved past the quirky game played in retirement homes and gym classes, but just how far has the game advanced?

CNBC published an article last week that shared a fascinating statistic.

“The average pay of the more than 60 women on the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball was $260,000. That is more than the highest-paid WNBA player’s annual salary and more than double the average salary of National Women’s Soccer League athletes.” It’s time to start taking the “game” a little bit more seriously.

In This Issue:

🤺 Adapting to modern pickleball
💔 The split is official
🏆 Leigh Waters can hang with the best of them

This will be our only newsletter this week. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas Dink Fam.

Our Picks ☝️

🏆 Awards Season: Dink Awards Proudly Sponsored by Nike

We are psyched to announce Nike as the Title Sponsor of the 4th annual Dink Awards. One of the world’s most recognizable brands and the leader in athletic apparel will power the people’s choice awards of pickleball. Voting opens on Jan 1st.

🎾 Tennis: Pickleball to Debut at the Australian Open

The Aussies are all-in on pickleball. For the first time ever, the tennis Major will include the AO Pickleball Slam with a $100K prize pool.

🎁 Holidays: Get a Last-Minute Win

Did you leave your holiday shopping until the last minute? Snag some inspiration from The Dink Holiday Gift Guide to save the day.

🎙️ Podcast: From 48-seed to Champion in One Year

Hunter Johnson ended the year with three PPA singles titles, but he started the year losing in the first round of qualifiers. Hear how he flipped the switch to start getting the results on the game’s biggest stage.

Adjusting to Modern Pickleball

Pickleball is evolving into a faster-paced game that emphasizes offense over the traditional soft game. While the soft game is still an important tool, it’s no longer the cornerstone of winning strategies.

A new video from the Pickleball Playbook explains how players can embrace modern techniques and adjust their approach to have a significant edge in 2025 and beyond. Here’s how you can stay ahead:

Key Areas to Focus On

Offensive Third Shots
Gone are the days when the third-shot drop was the default. While there’s still a place for it, most points now start with an offensive third-shot drive.

  • Target your drive: Aim at the returner rather than their partner at the net. The returner is often in motion and in a less stable position, making it harder for them to counter aggressively.

  • Consistency over power: Focus on low, well-placed drives to set yourself up for the next shot.

Attacking from Midcourt
Midcourt is no longer just a place to reset the ball; it’s a zone for transitioning into offense.

  • When to attack: Swing aggressively at balls knee height or higher to put pressure on your opponents.

  • Keep it compact: Use short, controlled strokes to maintain balance and be ready for the next shot.

  • Reset when necessary: For low balls near your feet, prioritize a controlled reset to avoid giving your opponent an easy put-away.

Aggressive Dinking

Dinking has shifted from purely defensive to an offensive tool.

  • Add topspin: Use topspin on your dinks to keep your opponents on their heels and create opportunities for a pop-up.

  • Two-handed backhand: Consider using a two-handed backhand for more control and spin during offensive dinking.

By adapting to these modern strategies and consistently honing your skills, you’ll not only keep up with the changes in pickleball but excel against your competition.

Not Your Grandma’s Holiday Hat

Not all heroes wear capes—some wear hats, and Selkirk’s Pickleball Performance Trucker Hat might just be the Santa’s hat you didn’t know you needed.

Ready for action on or off the courts, this trucker hat features breathable mesh side panels, a snug elastic sweatband, and comes in colors like black, hot pink, evergreen, and slate blue, each adorned with the sleek Selkirk pickleball emblem—a real game-changer.

And if you’re looking to rack up those last-minute holiday points, today’s your final shot! Grab one of these bad boys and score some Selkirk Bonus Bucks with any purchase over $100—just in time to make Santa’s list.

The Ben Johns Sweepstakes

The rumors were confirmed over the weekend. Ben Johns will be on the hunt for a new partner in 2025. Whoever is lucky enough to land the position is likely in for the best year of their career.

The Johns Bros split was officially announced during the broadcast of the Daytona Beach Open over the weekend. From what we’re hearing, Gabe Tardio is the frontrunner for the position. Ben will have his pick of the litter and every men’s player in the game will likely throw their hat in the ring.

Don’t forget, the no. 2 ranked men’s team, Dylan Frazier/JW Johnson also parted ways in 2025, so they're both eligible. All of this turnover at the top is going to trickle down through the ranks and men’s doubles will be a mystery to start the year.

Who will Ben Johns Partner with in 2025?

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Get a Grip on Proton's Best

Ever wondered what gives the pros their edge? It's not just skill—it's also about having the right gear. Proton’s series offers a paddle for every player.

Whether you’re a fan of the super soft touch of the Series 2 paddle, known for its gentle play and control, or the gritty, spin-friendly texture of the Series 3, designed to extend your dwell time and sharpen your game—Proton has your back. And let’s not forget the latest buzz, the Series 4 'Project Roadrunner,' which has been flying off the shelves for a reason.

So, head over to Pickleball Central, the only spot to snag these Proton exclusives. Use the code THEDINK to chop $25 off your purchase and score free shipping.

They Still Got It - Waters Win Gold

She’s still got it. After sitting out for nearly two years, Leigh Waters proved she still has what it takes to win a title at the highest level. Leigh and Anna Leigh teamed up to add one more gold medal to their shared trophy room.

After dropping game one to Jorja Johnson/Hurricane Tyra Black, the Waters found their groove and rattled off games two, three, and four to take the title. During the match, Jorja Johnson took a nasty accidental shot to the head from Tyra Black as the pair tried to chase down a lob.

Jorja and Big H Win Gold
With Ben and ALW absent from mixed doubles, the door was open a new champions. Jorja and Hayden Patriquin stepped up and defeated Tina Pisnik/Andrei Daescu to win gold.

Taking Down Number 1s
Andrei Daescu paid no attention to seeding for this event. In mixed he and Tina Pisnik toppled the no. 1 seed Anna Bright/Dekel Bar to reach the mixed doubles final.

In men’s doubles, Daescu/CJ Klinger ended the undefeated streak of no. 1 seed Federico Staksrud/Hayden Patriquin in the semifinals. Daescu/Klinger stayed hot on Championship Sunday and swept Dekel Bar/Pablo Tellez in the finals.

Christian is a PPA Champion
Kaitlyn Christian snagged her first women’s singles title in Daytona. She fended off a strong second game from Dominique Schaefer to win the match in two. Mary Brascia finished with bronze.

Federico Staksrud starts off the 2025 points race with an early lead. He beat Zane Ford in two games to win the men’s single title.

The results from this event will count toward players’ totals for the 2025 season. The first event of the new calendar year is the PPA Masters which starts on January 6th.

PPA Daytona Beach Open Results

PWR Securing Top International Talent

Earlier this year Pickleball World Rankings (PWR) announced their plans for a PWR World Series and PWR World Tour offering some of the highest prize pools the game has ever seen.

In preparation for the festivities, PWR has started securing some of the top talent in the game including pros you’ve seen on the domestic tours like Will Howells and Grayson Goldin as well as players who are cleaning up at international events.

Some of the players announced include:

  • MLP Challenger Level Players: Megan Fudge, Susannah Barr, Erik Lange, Jill Braverman, Jack Munro, Yana Newell and more

  • India’s Triple Crown Champion: Armaan Bhatia and his partner Harsh Mehta

  • Various Other International Champions: Pei Chuan Kao, Joey Wild, and Tom Evans

The World Tour is set to begin in February and the first of four World Series events will be held in April. Andre Agassi was overseas last week to help launch the PWR DUPR India League which will run from Jan 10-22, next year.

Headlines & Quick Hits

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