Top-Ranked Players Secure Double Gold Wins and Pro Pickleball Association Bristol Open's First-Time Victory Goes to Goins
Professional Pickleball Association Shifts to Performance-Based Compensation
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) is making significant changes to its player contracts, transitioning from guaranteed salaries to a prize money-based system. This shift was officially announced in July 2025, with key changes including contract extensions, a new prize money structure, and a fairer distribution of compensation based on performance.
Players must sign these extensions by mid-August 2025 to access higher prize money grids. Refusing to sign means remaining on older contracts guaranteed through 2026, which may offer less flexibility and prize participation. Under the new contracts, winning certain tournaments can yield around $45,000, significantly more than under previous or no new contract options.
The renegotiations aim to prevent disparities where some players hold large guaranteed salaries while others have only prize money, which complicates financial planning for the league. The extensions seek a fairer distribution of compensation based on performance, reducing the league’s long-term financial liabilities.
Several marquee players have signed multi-year extensions, indicating a longer-term commitment to the new contract regime. Players must weigh the certainty of current guaranteed contracts against potentially higher but variable prize earnings. The league’s goal is to move toward a sustainable financial model favouring prize-based earnings while retaining top talent.
In the recent Veolia Bristol Open, Joshua Cooperman won the Men’s Senior Open Singles, his 5th Senior Pro singles title in the last six PPA events. Anna Leigh Waters & Anna Bright won the Women’s Pro Doubles, improving to 43-0 together as a team. Julie Johnson/Steve Deakin won the Mixed Senior Pro Doubles, their 3rd straight Mixed Senior pro title.
The Mixed Pro Doubles saw Anna Leigh Waters & Ben Johns win their 51st career gold medal together. JW and Jorja Johnson reached the final of the Mixed Pro Doubles, setting up a No. 1 vs No. 2 showdown. Parris Todd won her third career PPA gold medal in singles with a 2-0 win over Kaitlyn Christian in the Women’s Pro Singles final.
The PPA tour has announced that the Life Time-manufactured ball, the LT Pro 48, will become the official ball of the pro tour. Tyler Loong, a PPA veteran and popular podcast host, suggested that the LT Pro 48 ball might lead to more upsets due to its fast speed.
The Bristol Open will revert to a one-event-per-day format with Singles, Doubles, and Mixed being competed on different days, followed by semis on Saturday and Finals on Sunday. The PPA has a couple of international events the rest of this month, followed by the Cincinnati Cup in mid-September.
A group of veterans have formed an external player group called the World Pickleball Player's Association. The UPA has terminated the contract of Quang Duong, effective immediately. The MLP playoffs start up next weekend in San Diego, followed by the finals in NYC on 8/24/25.
[1] PPA Announces Contract Changes [2] PPA Shifts to Performance-Based Compensation [3] PPA Contract Extensions Detailed
- The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) announced a change in player contracts, shifting from guaranteed salaries to a performance-based prize money system, in line with the Professional Pickleball Association's move towards performance-based compensation.
- As part of the Professional Pickleball Association's (PPA) changes, several marquee players like Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters, and Gabe Tardio have signed multi-year extensions, showing their commitment to the new contract regime that seeks a fairer distribution of compensation based on performance, as outlined in the PPA's plans for a sustainable financial model favoring prize-based earnings.
