From record-setting pro tournaments to a stolen paddle testing machine, marquee partnerships ending to multiple pro contracts being terminated, it's been an eventful year in pro pickleball to say the least.
We looked back at the hundreds of stories we published over the past 12 months.
Here, presented in chronological order from the first of the year to present day, are 25 of the biggest stories in pro pickleball from 2025.
- adidas goes big on pickleball
The year started strong when global sports brand adidas announced it was signing the #1 player in the world at the time, Federico Staksrud.
After a few fits and starts – including Fed being spotted at tournaments playing with his beloved JOOLA – the two parties ultimately agreed to part ways just six months later.
Adidas Signs World No. 1 Federico Staksrud
Federico Staksrud, the world’s top-ranked men’s pickleball player, has joined forces with adidas Pickleball in a groundbreaking multi-year partnership. The collaboration marks a significant milestone for both Staksrud and adidas, as the brand continues its expansion into the growing sport of pickleball. A central highlight of the partnership
The Dink Pickleball Luke Burton
- Head-hunting takes some heat
The UPA-A first introduced a "reckless targeting rule" intended to deter players from bodybags above the shoulders. The only problem? It required court officials to make a determination of a player's intent in real-time. Not easy.
So a few weeks later, the r... FULL ARTICLE FOUND ON: https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/the-25-biggest-stories-in-pro-pickleball-from-2025/
