The Kitchen's most-read stories of 2025
Last Edited
Dec 30 2025
Category
News
There were a ton of big stories in the pickleball world in 2025. We almost had a fight on the sidelines at a Major League Pickleball event, there were huge equipment and rule changes for pros and amateurs, a few people got arrested ... and much more.
Below you will find our Top 10 most-read stories from the year that was, so you can refresh your memory before turning the page to 2026. We're sure to have some more crazy stories in the year ahead, too.
Our Top 10 most-read stories of 2025
NO. 1 -- SEVERAL POWER PADDLES BANNED BY USA PICKLEBALL
USA Pickleball announced in late 2024 that several popular paddle models had failed a new test measuring paddle/ball coefficient of restitution (PBCoR), which is intended to limit the "trampoline effect" that can lead to increased ball speed coming off the paddle. USAP said the increased power that comes from the "trampoline effect" can compromise the integrity of the sport by reducing the emphasis on finesse, control and skill. The following paddles exceeded testing standards and were sunset and removed from certification, effective July 1, 2025.
JOOLA: Perseus 14mm Mod TA-15
JOOLA: Perseus 16mm Mod TA-15
Gearbox: Pro Power Elongated
ProKennex: Black Ace Ovation
ProKennex: Black Ace Pro
ProKennex: Black Ace XF
NO. 2 -- ANNA LEIGH WATERS, HAYDEN PATRIQUIN CLASH AT MLP ORLANDO
Things quickly took a turn during an MLP match between the New Jersey 5s and St. Louis Shock when Patriquin appeared to call Waters a "F***ing B****" as they walked off the court. What happened next was pure chaos and involved a lot of shouting, an alleged shove and MLP's head ref trying to de-escalate the situation.
NO. 3 -- ANDRE AGASSI, ANNA LEIGH WATERS COMPETE AT U.S. OPEN
This story reached beyond the picklesphere, with several major media outlets covering Agassi's first (and only to date) pro pickleball tournament. He and Waters didn't hit the medal stand, but they did win a match and entertain a packed house at one of the biggest tournaments of the year.
NO. 4 -- ANNA LEIGH WATERS, CATHERINE PARENTEAU END PARTNERSHIP
This one came as a shock to pretty much everybody. Waters and Parenteau had won 30 gold medals together on the PPA Tour and were a force on the women's side. But a couple losses in the spring was enough for Waters to make the switch to Anna Bright, while Parenteau played the remainder of the season with several different partners.
NO. 5 -- TESLA & SELKIRK DROP UNEXPECTED PADDLE COLLAB
This was a paddle nobody was asking for, but it definitely achieved the desired buzz that both brands were looking for. It sold out in a few hours, and several have since appeared on eBay going for more than $1,000. According to the marketing materials, the Tesla Plaid paddle is the result of wind-tunnel testing, aerodynamic modeling and a design approach that treats a pickleball paddle like a performance machine.
NO. 6 -- MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL ELIMINATES RALLY SCORING
Major League Pickleball announced several major rule changes in January, including the elimination of rally scoring in doubles matches. The change marked a huge shift, as rally scoring was a big part of the league in its early years, and fans were divided -- some loved rally scoring, some hated it. In the end, we think it was a good call.
NO. 7 -- BEN JOHNS & COLLIN JOHNS PULL OUT OF MLP COLUMBUS MATCHES
The Johns brothers sparked a huge conversation in the pickleball world when they pulled out of their matches at MLP Columbus because of lighting concerns. The event was being played indoors at Pickle & Chill, a large facility that has 12 indoor and 10 outdoor courts. Ben Johns has said in the past that he struggles to track the ball in indoor lighting because of an eye injury he suffered when he was younger.
NO. 8 -- GROUPS ORGANIZING EFFORT TO PREVENT COUNTERFEIT PADDLES
Counterfeit paddles became a huge problem in the industry in 2025. Fake paddles claiming to be from top brands such as Selkirk, JOOLA, CRBN, Six Zero and others are now common on sites like Alibaba, Temu and Facebook Marketplace. Recently, several major pickleball organizations have been working together to try to solve the issue.
NO. 9 -- ARIZONA MEN ACCUSED OF DEFRAUDING INVESTORS OUT OF $284M TO BUILD HUGE PICKLEBALL FACILITY
Two Arizona men were arrested in April after investigators alleged they used one of the largest pickleball and sports facilities in the country "as a means to exploit and defraud investors," according to the FBI. The pickleball side of the operation has hosted several PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball events over the past several years, as well as the USA Pickleball National Championships last fall.
NO. 10 -- BEN JOHNS SENT TO LA MAD DROPS IN HUGE MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL TRADE
The Los Angeles Mad Drops acquired World No. 1 men's player Ben Johns in a blockbuster trade in July that drastically changed the outlook for LA as the Major League Pickleball season entered its closing stretch. Spoiler alert: It didn't net the Mad Drops a title this year, but they have one of the strongest rosters on paper heading into 2026.
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