Over one billion minutes of pro pickleball watched in 2024

Adam Forziati

Director of Content

Last Edited

Dec 20 2024

$30 million: breaking the pay ceiling

If you think pickleball is still a niche sport, think again. Pro players under contract with the United Pickleball Association (UPA)—which oversees the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP)—earned a combined $30 million this year.

What’s remarkable is that this pay was evenly split between men and women, uncommon in the world of professional sports.

The average salary for women in pro pickleball hit $260,000. That’s more than twice what National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) players earn and significantly higher than the top annual salaries in the WNBA.

Mixed doubles ensures female players are indispensable.

As pickleball continues to mature, don’t be surprised if other sports start looking at pickleball’s pay model as inspiration.

1 BILLION minutes: solidifying pro viewership

Pro pickleball has become a must-watch sport. Pickleballtv recorded over one billion minutes watched in 2024.

National broadcasts, including over 350 hours of coverage across CBS, FOX, and ESPN, took pickleball to households across the U.S.

One broadcast stood above the rest: the PPA Mesa Arizona Cup on FOX drew an audience of 501,000, outpacing even the MLS Cup final.

9% pro qualifier registration increase

The PPA Tour saw pro qualifier registrations more than double from 2023, rising from 7% to 16% of all participants, demonstrating a growing interest in going pro.

Unlike tennis or golf, where the path to professionalism can take years of grueling competition, pickleball has a relatively low barrier to entry.

The success of breakout stars like Anna Leigh Waters only adds to the allure. At 17, Waters dominated the tour, ending the year as World No. 1 in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

Her stardom, coupled with strong investment in youth programs like the Junior PPA Tour and collegiate events, ensures the sport’s pipeline of talent remains strong.

With 320,000 fans attending events in 2024, social followings up 40%, and brands like Carvana heavily investing in sponsorships, pickleball has firmly entered the mainstream.

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