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Parris Todd fined $50K, suspended for 2 events
Revisiting our most-read stories of the year
From top pro players to business leaders to NFL legends, we saw it all on Pickleballers in 2025.
We didn't know what to expect when we started the podcast in the spring -- we just knew we wanted to bring something new to the pickleball podcast sphere and we wanted to learn more about the most influential people in the game.
We feel safe calling it a success on both counts. Below are the best episodes of 2025, and we can't wait to share what we have planned for 2026!
Also in this issue:
These senior players are LOCKED IN đź”’
Parris Todd fined $50K, suspended for two events đź’¸
Revisiting our most-read stories of the year đź‘€
Upon further review, you should try this Proton paddle 🦚
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳
AMATEUR HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Age is just a number for these players
You probably already know this, but one of the best parts about pickleball is its accessibility to players of all ages and skill levels.
In this super senior (70+) gold medal match, that’s on full display, as these guys are locked in and just as fiery as most 20-year-olds. They’re playing some pretty good pickleball in this point, too.
đź”— Check out this highlight on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
PICKLEBALLERS
Looking back at our best episodes of 2025
We released 26 episodes of Pickleballers in 2025, with guests from all walks of life who have one thing in common: They love pickleball.
There were plenty of smiles, many laughs and a few tears as we got to know the biggest names in the sport. These were our most-played episodes:
NO. 1 — ANNA LEIGH WATERS
Anna Leigh Waters, the most dominant pickleball player to ever live, joined the podcast along with her mother and coach, Leigh Waters, in June. Co-hosts Jared Paul and Roscoe Bellamy discuss their pickleball journey, Anna Leigh's climb to No. 1 and what it takes to stay at the top of a sport that is rapidly changing. Watch here.
NO. 2 — BEN JOHNS
Widely considered the Michael Jordan of pickleball, Ben has racked up 150+ gold medals and once ripped off a 108-match winning streak in singles. Mind-bending dominance. In this episode, Ben opens up about what it’s really like to be the greatest pickleball player alive. He takes us back to his childhood, the moment he fell in love with the game, and how Kyle Yates took him under his wing as he climbed to World No. 1. Ben also shares never-before-heard stories about his on-court dynamic with his brother, Collin Johns, the criticism that he can sometimes look too relaxed, and whether he believes the “next Ben Johns” even exists. Watch here.
NO. 3 — PARRIS TODD
Parris Todd joins us for one of our most raw, real conversations yet. She opens up about her early days as a tennis prodigy, turning pro at 14, and traveling the world alone as a teenager chasing a dream. We talk about the pressure, the sacrifices, and what eventually led her to walk away from the sport. Parris shares how she built a fashion brand from scratch, the mindset shift that brought her to pickleball and how she’s now redefining what it means to be a professional athlete in this sport. Watch here.
THE PROS
Parris Todd fined $50K, suspended for 2 events for participating in Japan event
Pro player Parris Todd has received a $50,000 fine and will be suspended for two events in 2026 for participating in an event in Japan recently without proper approval from the United Pickleball Association.
The suspension will include one PPA Tour event and one Major League Pickleball event, according to league officials.
Three other players -- James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu and Vivian Glozman -- had their contracts terminated earlier this month for participating in the same event, but the league said Todd's case was slightly different because she had initially reached out for permission, but with "incomplete context." She was a late addition to the trip and filling in for another player who couldn't make it.
Ignatowich, Fu and Glozman also claim they requested and were granted permission to participate in the clinics/exhibition, and have filed an appeal challenging their contract terminations.
The players say they have the support of the World Pickleball Players' Association, a group formed earlier this year that has pushed for increased transparency and a more consistent approach to contract disputes. The WPPA board includes several big-name pros, including Tina Pisnik, Dekel Bar, Jessie Irvine, Collin Johns, Jay Devilliers, Gabe Tardio and Donald Young.
"This has been an unsettling experience for all of us," Ignatowich, Fu and Glozman said in their statement. "We acted in good faith and sought and received approval from the league-appointed Players Council, even though no approval was required. Still, our intentions and integrity were questioned, and we were publicly terminated. We hope the league uses this moment to provide clearer guidance and a fairer, more consistent process for everyone moving forward.”
The UPA (the governing body of the PPA Tour and MLP) said in a written response to The Kitchen "(We have) received an appeal and will take the appropriate next steps to evaluate."
The organization said when it announced the decision to terminate the contracts of Ignatowich, Fu and Glozman that its contracts with the players are confidential, "however, participating in competitor events is a black-and-white violation of UPA agreements."
The event in question involved several days of clinics and pro exhibition matches organized by the Pickleball Japan Federation in Tokyo’s Ariake Tennis Park. The players were advertised as "PPA Top Pros" in signage and messaging to participants, and the event ended up being different from what UPA officials were told about, according to the organization.
WRAPPING UP 2025
Revisiting our most-read stories of the year
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 most-read stories from the year that was, so you can refresh your memory before officially turning the page to 2026. We're sure to have some more crazy stories in the year ahead, too.
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. Read the full story here.
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. Read the full story here.
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. Read the full story here.
GEAR
Is the Proton Peacock widebody a Top 5 paddle? We think so.
Several weeks ago Proton released its latest paddle — the full-foam Peacock. We initially reviewed the 15mm Elongated model and loved it. In fact, in came in at No. 4 on our latest list of the Top 10 paddles on the market right now.
In the weeks since, we have had more time to play with all of the different Peacock versions, and we’ve found the 13mm widebody to be our favorite.
It has great power/pop on third-shot drives, counters and putaways, the widebody shape gives it good forgiveness and the 13mm thickness combined with a low swingweight means it’s one of the most maneuverable paddles you can buy right now.
🔗 Shop the Proton Peacock here — use code “KITCHEN” at checkout to get 10% off
QUICK HITS
Dink clinic: This is what 6.6 level pickleball looks like
Perfection: Nothing better than playing in great weather
Throwback: Was this the shot of the year?
What did you think of this week's newsletter? |