Can Pros Survive the 2025 Pickleball Marathon? APP, PPA, and PWR Schedule Showdown

The 2025 professional pickleball calendar is shaping up to be a monumental year for fans of the sport. The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) has announced an impressive lineup of 14 main tour stops, along with 20 new events and 8 NextGen competitions. Meanwhile, the Pro Pickleball Association (PPA) is planning an equally full slate, including a new “Challenger” tour. On top of that, the Major League Pickleball (MLP) is expected to host 12-14 events, while the newly introduced Pickleball World Ranking (PWR) promises major prize pools.

The APP’s inclusion of more USAP “golden ticket” events and the expansion of the NextGen series signals an increased focus on nurturing the next generation of talent. The PPA’s introduction of the “Challenger” tour, however, may compete directly with APP’s model, as both tours vie for attention in a crowded calendar. With nearly 50 total APP events and a similar number from the PPA, pickleball pros will be playing non-stop, raising concerns about player fatigue and talent dilution at lower-tier competitions.

As if that weren’t enough, the new PWR group is poised to disrupt the sport even further, offering high-stakes tournaments with a $15M purse and an international schedule. With so much happening across the pro tours, it’s clear 2025 will be a pivotal year in the sport’s evolution. Keep an eye on how pros balance their commitments, especially with the allure of international prize money.