Professional Pickleball Players Create World Association: WPPA

Pickleball Professionals Unite to Form the World Players Association

Professional pickleball players are taking significant steps by joining together to create the World Pickleball Players Association (WPPA). This initiative represents the first time professional players have formally organized, unifying under a single entity. The official announcement from the WPPA is scheduled for Friday.

“This is something we’ve needed for a long time,” commented Collin Johns, board member and player. “It’s the right time. We have many important issues for the players.”

Collin Johns

The association will be led by a board of directors of seven players, who will focus on key priorities such as health, safety, and transparency in compensation. The consolidation between the professional leagues, which led to the formation of the United Pickleball Association, spurred players to organize.

“I don’t see the formation of this association as conflicting with the tour,” Johns added. “It can be as collaborative as they want. It’s about establishing minimum standards that we can all agree on… We want to make sure everyone is treated the same, regardless of whether they are player number 1 or number 100.”

Collin Johns

Previous player council initiatives sponsored by the circuit lacked the necessary independence to achieve significant changes in player affairs.

The creation of the association was supported by Sports Solidarity, founded by former baseball player Harry Marino, who helped unionize minor league baseball players in 2022.

“We created Sports Solidarity to help groups of players like those participating in this circuit, who work hard, dedicate hours, and make the sport progress, they simply want to have a voice,” Marino stated. “This is not a quest for money for them. We want professional pickleball to thrive, and we know that, as a group of players, they can help change things in a positive direction.”

Harry Marino

Initially, the WPPA will resemble more an organization like the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) than a union like the MLBPA or the NFLPA, as pickleball players are currently classified as independent contractors. The WPPA simply seeks an independent voice for the players and considers it a natural progression given the growing popularity of the sport.

“This really gives legitimacy to the players and the tour,” Johns said. “I also feel that there has been quite a bit of frustration among the players about certain basic things that don’t even necessarily cost money.”

Collin Johns

Johns mentioned the classification system as an example of something that could be reviewed under the guidance of the WPPA. This is just one of the issues they consider important, along with security, scheduling, and player discipline.

“There are many problems that can be solved,” Johns said. “We are not going to ask for anything unreasonable, but we must stay focused to get all the players to join. That’s what has been missing in previous years.”

Collin Johns

The PTPA also issued a statement supporting the creation of the WPPA.

“This is a significant and commendable milestone, representing the crucial first step towards independent representation led by the players,” stated the tennis association. “We firmly believe in the importance of athletes having a unified voice that is free from the control or interference of the league or circuit. Such independence is vital to ensure that the interests, rights, and well-being of the players remain the priority in all decision-making processes.”

PTPA Statement

Pickleball has experienced massive growth in the last five years, with professional players earning hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on tournament prizes and sponsorships.