USA PICKLEBALL
2025 National Championships
IMPACT REPORT
The 2025 USA Pickleball National Championships rallied not just athletes, but an entire community. Held at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego from November 15–23, the event showcased pickleball’s rapid growth and meaningful cultural and economic impact. More than 2,500 players from 47 states and 20 countries competed, supported by thousands of passionate fans. As the National Governing Body, USA Pickleball continues to drive momentum for the sport, its athletes, and host cities. Explore the impact and relive the highlights of this premier tournament.
video recap
The 2025 Nationals at the Barnes Tennis Center in beautiful San Diego, CA, featured 2,500 athletes competing in a display of skill and endurance. Over nine action-packed days, players competed in 3,910 intense matches, totaling 120+ hours of nonstop competition across 48 courts. This year's nationals showcased the dedication and talent of the pickleball community, making this year’s Nationals an unforgettable celebration of the sport at its highest level.
Total Attendance
Players
Matches
Days of Competition
Courts In Play
Volunteer Hours
Certified Referees
Economic Impact
Pickleball truly is for everyone. At the 2025 USA Pickleball National Championships, competitors ranged from our youngest player at just 11 years old to our oldest at 87, highlighting the sport’s incredible ability to unite athletes across generations. With dedicated divisions for juniors, pros, and wheelchair athletes, Nationals showcased the diversity, inclusivity, and spirit that define our sport. Whether you’re a rising junior, a seasoned competitor, or somewhere in between, pickleball brings people together through strategy, skill, and the pure joy of play.
Youngest Player
Oldest Player
Wheelchair Division Players
Junior Division Players
Pro Division Players
total reach generated across media coverage and social reach from earned, paid, owned, and shared assets
minutes of Livestream viewership
Unique visitors streamed on-court action through VS Sports
Of live broadcast via QVC+ and HSN+
Economic Impact
The 2025 USA Pickleball Nationals generated an estimated $3 million in economic impact, contributing significantly to the San Diego, CA economy through increased visitor spending. This premier tournament drew thousands of players and spectators, providing a strong boost to hotels, restaurants, and local businesses. The event highlighted the sport’s rapid growth and reinforced the USA Pickleball Nationals as a major driver of sports tourism.
The 2025 USA Pickleball National Championships brought star power to Center Court with two unforgettable appearances. NFL legend Drew Brees joined us for a special exhibition event, bringing incredible energy, competitive spirit, and a spotlight on pickleball’s growing presence among elite athletes. Fans packed the stands to watch Brees take the court alongside pickleball pros, creating one of the most memorable moments of the tournament.
We were also thrilled to welcome Gerry Turner, beloved from The Golden Bachelor, who brought his signature charm and enthusiasm to Nationals. Gerry connected with fans, celebrated the sport’s inclusive community, and showcased the joy and accessibility that pickleball brings to players of all ages.
As part of its mission to expand access to pickleball, USAP Serves has donated four newly renovated courts to the Barnes Tennis Center. Named the USA Pickleball Serves Community Courts, these additions will help grow Barnes’ youth pickleball program by providing more space for clinics, play opportunities, and open access for kids throughout the San Diego community to try the sport anytime. Due to recent rain, the official unveiling and ribbon cutting has been postponed to Spring 2026, when USA Pickleball returns to San Diego.
To help expand access to the sport among underserved communities, USA Pickleball Serves selects one local organization in each Golden Ticket tournament city to host a learn-to-play clinic and receive a full equipment donation to launch their own pickleball program. In San Diego, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego was selected based on its strong commitment to youth development. Even with the clinic delayed by rain, the organization now has all the equipment necessary to start introducing pickleball to the kids they serve.
For the first time, USA Pickleball Serves recognized one of its Play It Forward grant recipients on center court with a $50,000 check presentation. This year’s award went to the Emerald Valley Pickleball Foundation, which plans to build several covered pickleball courts as part of a broader community initiative to make pickleball a regular part of everyday life for Emerald Valley residents.
USA Pickleball National Championships, first held in 2009 in Arizona, has traveled to destinations including California and Texas featuring the best in pickleball competing at the highest level. This year we headed to the West Coast for nine days of pickleball action at Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego.
Dreaming of playing on pickleball’s biggest stage? The USA Pickleball National Championships, the longest-standing and only National Championships in the sport, bring together the very best players from across the country. Earning your place starts with understanding the qualification pathways. Every USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament helps you progress in your qualification journey, but Golden Ticket Tournaments are the fastest path since gold medal winners earn priority registration and the highest number of Tiered Point System (TPS) points. You’ll earn TPS points each time you compete and medal, with higher-tier tournaments awarding more. Even without a Golden Ticket, accumulating enough TPS points can still qualify you for Nationals, while winning a Golden Ticket event automatically gives you the required points. Whether you win gold or steadily build points over time, sanctioned tournaments keep your Nationals journey moving forward.