Pickleball players are now earning more than NBA and NWSL players.

• The number of pickleball metrics is increasing in its first year as a professional sport.
• The average pay of players on the PPA Tour and MLP was $260,000, according to the league.
• The United Pickleball Association, a unified league, has facilitated business efficiencies and opportunities.

Pickleball is paying off for America's best players.

On Thursday, the Professional Pickleball Association announced growth in various aspects of the league, including attendance, players, and salaries.

The average pay of the more than 60 women on the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball was $260,000, which 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.

According to the league, pro pickleball players made more than $30 million in salaries alone, without considering endorsement deals.

Pro pickleball has come a long way since its inception.

In December, a group of Major League Pickleball players spoke out about their concerns regarding the future of the league after being asked to accept a 40% reduction in pay.

The merger of Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association resulted in the formation of the United Pickleball Association, with $75 million in outside investment.

While the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball both have their own unique brand identities, the PPA Tour is an individual bracket-style tournament, whereas MLP is a team-based format.

The United Pickleball Association has been refining its product and business, with top players like Anna Leigh Water, Federico Staksrud, and Ben Johns leading the way.

As a result of merging, our business experienced immense efficiencies, which was great for us, said Samin Odhwani, United Pickleball Association's chief strategy officer.

Odwhani stated that being under one umbrella provided cross-promotional opportunities for players and facilitated connections with sponsors and their sales teams.

The sponsorship business experienced a 50% increase in growth year-over-year, with over 50 sponsors supporting both the PPA Tour and MLP brands.

UPA revenue should exceed $100 million in the near future, according to Odwhani's projections.

In 2024, the league reported that 320,000 fans attended PPA Tour and MLP events, representing a 40% increase from the previous year. Additionally, revenue from ticket sales surpassed revenue from amateur registration for the first time.

In 2024, viewers watched a total of 350 hours of pickleball on Fox, CBS, ESPN, Amazon Prime, Tennis Channel and other networks, as per the UPA.

The UPA and Tennis Channel's joint venture, PickleballTV, reported that viewers watched over a billion minutes of the sport during this season.

""In 2024, pro pickleball had its best year ever, with over 320,000 attendees at events, 27,000 amateur players, and a unified league," Odhwani stated."

UPA's priorities for the new year include expanding media rights partnerships, growing the amateur business, and further developing existing professional athletes into household names in the sports industry.