The Evolution of Professional Pickleball: A Fan's Journey

Updated February 2026 - This article was originally published in December 2023 and has been updated to reflect the incredible evolution of professional pickleball through early 2026.

JW Johnson (picture Nick Uzunyan)

Despite my limited time watching professional pickleball in 2023, the experience has been richly rewarding, offering a glimpse of the best players in action. Almost every tournament has brought surprises, upsets, and notable achievements, with more coming as the sport grows and the talent roster expands.

Lacy Schneemann, Lauren Stratman, Linda Padegimaite, Gabriel Tardio, Dylan Frazier, Jorja Johnson, Christian Alshon, and many others-promising players-are improving and advancing; veterans like Tyson McGuffin and Irina Tereschenko still have their best stuff and have made younger athletes fight for every point. Some players have won their first gold medal; others have earned their first stand on Championship Sunday. The Johns brothers have played against each other in mixed doubles one day and won medals together the next; friends (Waters and Parenteau) have done the same. Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns have lost singles matches but always return and battle another opponent, having learned something significant from defeat. The rest of the players are warriors too, never forget that, which is why they enter tournaments and grapple like maniacs for a shot at Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Anybody can win a big match on any given day. For the above reasons alone professional pickleball is unpredictable, fascinating, and entertaining-and, some might say, addictive.

True, Anna Leigh Waters, Catherine Parenteau, Ben Johns, and Collin Johns have dominated in tournament after tournament. There are fans who don't like that. What's wrong with you win, you move on? Why, I wonder, would anybody want it to be different? Remember, their rankings (and their medals) are there for the taking. Who's going to power-up their game and ascend Championship Mountain? Respect, reward, and acclaim come to those who have desire, talent, and perseverance. For now, though, the players moving up must keep training and never stop reaching for the gauntlet-turn their dreams and fantasies into reality.

(graph Tom Filippini, Founder)

Tournament crowds have been larger (according to this report, participation has increased by over 159% over the last three years), excitement has been spreading, players have been spending extra time interacting with fans. What's more, PickleballTV runs 24/7: matches are shown and free instruction is given by the best in the game. Pickleball websites are really taking off, and of course Pickleball Portal is at the forefront 😉

Following pro tournaments has made me appreciate pickleball a great deal, that passion and wisdom spilling over into my recreational game. I've enjoyed rooting for all the players, even those who haven't gotten much attention (see the "promising players" list above). The referees and line judges have taught me a lot and I respect their professionalism and how they keep matches going and try to make the right calls. One small thing I really enjoy watching: team chemistry. When I see it, I smile, imagining how it must feel to be in synch with another player and have a bond that endures even when the team is struggling and facing elimination.

The year 2023 has been pickleball fun no matter where I have trained my eager eye. I can see on the horizon much to look forward to and be intrigued by, not only in professional competition but also in recreational gaming. I'm going to savor it all, put it into words as best I can and share it. Thank you—players, readers, supporters—for being pickleball crazy and for visiting the Portal! I'm grateful that you're here and that you care. Let's keep talking! Have a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, prosperous 2024!

Looking Back from 2026: How the Predictions Played Out

Three years have passed since I wrote those words, and the sport has transformed in ways both predictable and surprising. Those "promising players" I mentioned—Lacy Schneemann, Lauren Stratman, Gabriel Tardio, Dylan Frazier, and Jorja Johnson—didn't just improve; some became household names in the pickleball world.

The dominance of Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns that seemed unshakeable in 2023? It evolved. While they remained elite competitors, the gap narrowed. New rivalries emerged, new playing styles developed, and the sport's tactical sophistication deepened considerably. The two-handed backhand that ALW pioneered became standard among younger players. The erne, once a highlight-reel novelty, became a tactical necessity.

Tournament attendance exploded beyond anyone's 2023 projections. That 159% three-year growth I cited? It accelerated. By early 2026, professional pickleball tournaments were filling major arenas, and broadcast deals brought matches to millions of households. The prize pools that seemed impressive in 2023 now look quaint—some 2026 tournaments are offering purses that rival tennis challenger events.

Perhaps most significantly, the sport's infrastructure matured. Dedicated pickleball venues opened across the country, college programs multiplied, and youth academies became commonplace. The recreational player I was in 2023 has grown alongside the sport, incorporating professional techniques into my game and understanding strategy at a level I couldn't have imagined then.

What hasn't changed is the community spirit. Professional players still interact with fans, the game remains accessible, and the excitement of watching elite pickleball—that unpredictability, the drama of Championship Sunday, the athletic brilliance—continues to captivate. If 2023 was pickleball's breakthrough year, 2024-2026 has been its coming of age.

Looking ahead, I'm more excited than ever. The foundation laid in 2023 has blossomed into something extraordinary, and we're still in the early chapters of this sport's story.

Related Reading

• What Paddles Do Top Pro Players Use in 2026?
• Pickleball Rules and League Changes
• How to Choose the Right Pickleball Paddle

David Boyle

A versatile and diversified writer, David Boyle has written three short story collections, published by independent presses. Though he earned his readership by writing reality-based fiction, Boyle has gained a reputation for literary stories, essays, articles, reviews, interviews, analyses, travel writing, reportage, and poems, a good number of which have appeared in both print and online magazines. Inspired by his wife's passion for the sport, David now loves pickleball and aims to illuminate current pickleball events and subjects with a fresh, creative perspective, offering readers something they can't find anywhere else. | My website | [email protected] | My Pickleball Journal