The Dink Pickleball

Zane Navratil served Fox News a finger wag. During a Major League Pickleball pop-up in Grand Central, Fox’s Griff Jenkins challenged Zane on live TV. One counter winner later, Zane let the finger do the talking. When a forgotten paddle forced one dad to buy a $1 special from Dollar Tree, he expected junk. What he got was a neon-green menace with no spin, a tiny sweet spot, and enough unpredictability to make every rally hilarious. Max Freeman took out the world No. 1 Ben Johns at the PPA Tour Bristol Open. He missed returns, flubbed thirds, and shrugged it all off, leaning on experience from taking down Jack Sock and Connor Garnett. Enough shots landed to pull off the upset.

Looks like adidas is all in on collegiate pickleball. They’re locked in as the presenting sponsor for the Fall 2025 DUPR Collegiate Pickleball Tour, joining a lineup of major partners to deliver world-class experience across events with over 4,000 players and 125+ colleges involved.

This 12‑year‑old picks his favorite athlete and it’s not Shohei or Tatis Jr. Michael Frankie from the Little League World Series named pickleball superstar Ben Johns as his hero. (Broadcast even had to clarify “Pickleball Player”) Pickleball’s influence is growing. Ballparks, watch your backs. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eUi9tuJQ

During his ESPN intro at the Little League World Series, Texas East’s Michael Frankie skipped the usual MLB or NFL idols. His favorite athlete? Ben Johns. Yes, that Ben Johns. The broadcasters even had to clarify he plays pickleball. Respect. We're teaming up with Tinder for a new round of Courted events — social mixers designed for connection, not competition. Singles courts, swipe-free mingling, and just enough pickleball to keep things interesting. Coming soon to Chicago, Austin and Miami. Nico Valencia pulled up to the PicklePod with hot takes, wild theories, and a suspiciously interrogation-room-looking podcast setup. He and Zane Navratil handed out some very unofficial MLP awards and built some bold first-team rosters while they were at it.

The Palm Beach Royals are the latest expansion franchise joining Major League Pickleball for the 2025 season. It was purchased at a record-high valuation by Zach Hunter and Taylor Meyer of Hyperspace Ventures. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/edi6HDRx

CityPickle is bringing seven pro courts, a full bar, and a permanent home for pickleball to Times Square. Their new flagship location will open in fall 2025 inside the iconic Paramount Building. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eWsTcK8i

Pickleball made it to Freakier Friday, but not without taking a few hits. In the new Disney sequel, Jamie Lee Curtis and Mark Harmon square off on the pickleball court in a scene that clearly got… some of the sport right. A 14-12 semifinal match ending on a foot fault call? That’s what allegedly happened in a Reddit-submitted tourney recap, where a kitchen violation call stopped play at match point. Turns out, under USA Pickleball rule 13.D1.c, the point should’ve been replayed, not handed over. Wondering why top players drive the third and drop the fifth? It’s not just vibes. It’s geometry, pace, and court positioning. Pro player Tyson McGuffin breaks it all down in a recent film session, and yes, it’ll make you rethink your third-shot drop obsession.

Life Time Inc.'s LT Pro pickleball has been named the official ball of the Carvana PPA Tour. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eYPFahYv

For the first time, state pro leagues and the National Junior Pickleball Tour will feed directly into The Dink Minor League Pickleball National Championships. That means rising talent from across the country will get their shot in Dallas this December and the path to $100K just got a lot more crowded. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/efUSquGa

One of the first families of pickleball — Julie, Jack, J.W. and Jorja Johnson — donated $600,000 to a new 12-court facility opening in their hometown of Pittsburg, Kansas. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ecnwXz4X