The Kitchen's Pickleball Power 50 list: Ranking the 50 most influential people in pickleball

Alex Lantz

Director of Content

Last Edited

Jan 07 2026

Category

News

We are now six years removed from pickleball’s pandemic-fueled boom, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most consequential periods in the sport’s history. The initial stardust of rapid growth has settled. Pickleball is now entering its next phase, transitioning from a moment of cultural acceleration into a durable, mainstream force.

A few months ago, an internal debate began at The Kitchen headquarters: Who is the most powerful person in pickleball?

To answer that question, we began speaking with dozens of industry insiders and experts across every corner of the sport. As names surfaced repeatedly, a clear pattern emerged.

That process led to the creation of the Pickleball Power 50, our ranking of the 50 most influential people shaping the sport today, including investors, CEOs, players, league executives, team owners, creators, podcasters, operators and more.

To build the list, we evaluated candidates across the following six factors:

REACH: How many people are in their ecosystem, how many impressions they generate, and how substantial their influence is.

AUTHENTICITY: How genuine their reach is, including the quality and legitimacy of their audience. (Who has real vs. fake followers).

EXISTING GROWTH: Who has driven the sport’s growth and brought in the most new players and attention.

RELATIONSHIPS: Who has partnerships with the most influential people and brands, and the ability to activate those relationships when it matters.

REVENUE: How much money they generate and reinvest across the sport’s ecosystem.

FUTURE GROWTH: Who is best positioned to help take pickleball to the Olympics and beyond.

Throughout the month of January we’ll be releasing the list piece by piece.

Last updated: Tuesday, Jan. 7

41. Steve Kuhn – Founder of Major League Pickleball and DUPR, he was a central architect of the modern pro game and a key figure in the 2023 “Tour Wars.” Steve also founded DUPR, which became the sport’s first widely adopted global rating system, and Dreamland, a now-closed facility that helped set the early standard for professional pickleball training.

42. John Kew – YouTube paddle reviewer, John is widely respected for his technical knowledge of paddle performance. Known for maintaining one of the sport’s most comprehensive paddle statistics databases, his data-driven reviews and testing methodology strongly influence consumer perception, purchasing decisions, and how new paddles are received across the market.

43. Zane Navratil – Pro player and podcaster, Zane serves as president of the newly formed UPA Pro Player Committee, the first official player representation body formally recognized by the UPA. In this role, he sits at the center of player advocacy, governance dialogue, and collective input on issues impacting contracts, competition structure, and the future of professional pickleball.

44. Tim and Ashley Owens – Co-founders of Court Reserve, a leading platform powering pickleball facilities worldwide. They have helped professionalize the sport’s infrastructure by enabling clubs, tournaments, and communities to operate and scale more efficiently, positioning the Owenses as key behind-the-scenes figures in pickleball’s continued growth and commercialization.

45. Jorge Barragan – Co-founder and CEO of The Picklr, Jorge leads the largest indoor pickleball facility chain in the United States. He is also an investor in STACK Athletics and Vulcan Sporting Goods, and a part-owner of MLP’s California Black Bears, placing him squarely at the intersection of facilities, equipment, and league ownership within the pickleball ecosystem.

46. Robert Elliott – Founder and CEO of Engage Pickleball, he is one of the earliest architects of high-performance pickleball equipment. Robert helped define modern paddle innovation well before the sport’s commercial explosion, particularly around spin, feel, and competitive design, playing a meaningful role in transitioning pickleball paddles from recreational gear into serious performance equipment.

47. Seymour Rifkind – President of the World Pickleball Federation, he played a central role in expanding pickleball into dozens of new countries and establishing the sport’s early global governance framework. Seymour also founded the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association to establish professional standards for pickleball instruction.

48. Roscoe Bellamy – Pro player and co-host of the Pickleballers Podcast, he is one of pickleball’s top content producers and digital influencers. Currently ranked No. 9 in singles, Roscoe combines elite-level competition with media reach, using storytelling and access to shape fan engagement and amplify the sport’s biggest voices.

49. Jimmy Miller – Podcaster and General Manager of MLP’s California Black Bears, Jimmy is one of the few figures willing to openly address the politics, disputes, and behind-the-scenes drama shaping professional pickleball. Through candid commentary and team leadership, he influences both league conversation and competitive strategy.

50. Courtney Johnson – Director of Team Competition for the United Pickleball Association, Courtney oversees competitive structure across Major League Pickleball. Previously serving as Head of Competition and Director of Officiating, she has been central to shaping match formats, officiating standards, and on-court consistency.

This list will be updated daily until we reach No. 1.

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