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UPA & DUPR form new Collegiate Pickleball Tour

Adam Forziati
Director of Content

Last Edited

Jan 30 2025

Category

News

Collegiate pickleball just evolved, and student athletes will now have the chance to play at the top of the game.

The Collegiate Pickleball Tour (CPT)—a new nationwide series backed by DUPR and the United Pickleball Association (UPA)—is set to showcase college talent, award over $100,000 in prize money, and give top teams the chance to face off against the pros.

The 2025 slate features:

  • 30 Campus Regionals, 8 Super Regionals, and 2 Major Championships (Collegiate Nationals in the spring, Collegiate Worlds in the fall).
  • Over 4,000 players expected from 200+ schools nationwide.
  • $100K+ in prize money will help fund collegiate programs and keep the sport growing.
  • The top two teams at Nationals will compete at the Major League Pickleball (MLP) Mid-Season Tournament.
  • 10 Collegiate Showcases at PPA Tour events will put college teams on center stage.
A flyer for the 2025 spring season of the Collegiate Pickleball Tour

A path to Major League Pickleball

For the first time ever, collegiate players will have a direct path to compete against professional MLP teams.

The Collegiate National Champion and Runner-Up will head to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to play in MLP’s Mid-Season Tournament this summer. 

The 2022 DUPR Collegiate National Championship featured just 17 schools and 151 players. By 2024, it had grown to 125 schools and over 4,000 players. Last year, Utah Tech University took home the national title, proving that new powerhouse programs are emerging.

Championship format & prize money

The Collegiate National Championship will take place at Life Time Peachtree Corners in Atlanta, GA with 64 teams competing for the title. There’s also a 32-team Second Bracket for schools that didn’t qualify or want to send a second squad.

Prize Breakdown (First Team Bracket):

  • 1st Place – $15,000
  • 2nd Place – $5,000
  • 3rd & 4th Place – $2,500
  • 5th - 8th Place – $1,250

Prize Breakdown (Second Team Bracket):

  • 1st Place – $3,000
  • 2nd Place – $1,000
  • 3rd & 4th Place – $500

Additional Scholarships:

  • $1,000 for the school with the most players in the tournament
  • $1,000 for the best-performing challenger teams (minimum 3 teams)
  • $500 for the winner of each Challenger Bracket division

Super Regionals & PPA Showcases

Teams will need to earn a bid through Super Regionals, Campus Regionals, or Wildcards. The first major Super Regional of 2025—set for February 1-2 in Atlanta—will be the biggest collegiate regional of all time with 272 players from 25 schools.

The CPT is also partnering with the Carvana PPA Tour to host 10 Collegiate Showcase matches. These events will feature top college teams battling under the lights at PPA Tour stops, giving them a national audience and the chance to play on the same courts as the pros.

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