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These pro players just got fired
Looking for pickleball gift ideas? Might we suggest a new bag ...
In a shocking announcement Wednesday, the United Pickleball Association terminated the contracts of pro players James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu and Vivian Glozman after they participated in an event in Japan recently without proper approval from the UPA, according to the organization.
Parris Todd was a late addition to the clinic and pro exhibition and had reached out to UPA officials for permission ahead of time, which is a required step for players in these situations. But the event still involved more than Todd initially indicated, according to the UPA, so officials are still discussing what her punishment might be.
Read our full story on the saga here or learn more below.
Also in this issue:
Lucy Kovalova on the evolution of women’s pickleball 🎧
This shot blew our minds 🤯
Looking for gift ideas? Might we suggest a new pickleball bag 🎒
TeachMe.To can help you find a qualified local instructor 🔍
Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
You won’t find a more insane shot than this
We almost fell out of our chairs when this highlight came across our desk earlier this week.
Our guy in the navy shirt was in a terrible situation just a split second before the screenshot above was taken. He popped a ball up and his opponent capitalized with an aggressive Erne.
But what should have been an easy point for the team on the far side of the court turned into an amazing behind-the-back winner that you have to see to believe.
đź”— Check out this highlight on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok
PICKLEBALLERS
Lucy Kovalova: Becoming world No. 1 and the evolution of women’s pickleball
Lucy Kovalova is one of the OG queens of pickleball — a former World No. 1, multiple-time Triple Crown winner and one of the most feared right-side players of all time.
She has lived every chapter of pickleball’s rise, and in this episode of Pickleballers, she sits down with Roscoe and Jared to share the full story: chasing pro tennis across Europe, landing in Kansas without speaking any English, discovering pickleball through a made-up paddle game … and then quietly becoming one of the best players on the planet.
PICKLEBALLERS DOORDASH & JOOLA GIVEAWAY: Each week we’re doing a Pickleballers giveaway to celebrate the latest episode. This week we are giving away a $500 DoorDash gift card & a JOOLA pickleball paddle. Enter here!
THE PROS
UPA terminates contracts of James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu and Vivian Glozman
The pickleball world was stunned Wednesday afternoon when the United Pickleball Association announced it had terminated the contracts of pro players James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu and Vivian Glozman after they participated in an event in Japan recently without proper approval from the UPA, according to the organization.
The UPA (the governing body of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball) said its contracts with the players are confidential, "however, participating in competitor events is a black-and-white violation of UPA agreements."
Parris Todd, who was a late addition to the trip and filling in for another player who couldn't make it, also participated in the event after initially reaching out for permission, but with "incomplete context."
According to the news release, UPA leaderships is still reviewing the full details and discussions are ongoing regarding Todd's punishment, which could range from a fine to a suspension or termination.
"UPA and its leading properties, the PPA Tour and MLP, have put significant resources into building goodwill, branding and name recognition, which, when leveraged by competing organizations, contradicts our efforts to build and grow pro pickleball’s business," the news release said.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE JAPAN EVENT
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.
There also was a tournament with more than 1,000 registered players attached to the clinics, and paddle company RPM was a sponsor of the event. RPM is a brand co-founded by Ignatowich earlier this year that also has Fu on its roster of pro players.
In a statement to Pickleball.com, PPA Tour CEO Connor Pardoe explained the decision to terminate the contracts of Ignatowich, Fu and Glozman.
“The advertising for these events prominently featured their statuses as top MLP and PPA players and champions, explicitly using the reputation and likeness we pay for to promote a direct competitor,” Pardoe said. “This is not a gray area and is a clear breach of their contracts.”
Pardoe said Todd's case is different because she asked for and received prior approval to participate in a singular camp overseas, although Fu also claimed in a post on X that the trip had been approved by the UPA back in July.
The UPA maintains that they have no record of Fu himself asking for permission, and that the event Ignatowich pitched earlier this year was different in scope from what it eventually became.
WHAT’S NEXT?
It seems like a safe bet that this won’t be the last time we discuss this saga. But for now the terminations will effectively end the playing careers of Ignatowich and Fu on the PPA Tour. Glozman only participated in three PPA Tour events this year -- all in the spring -- as her contract was essentially exclusive to MLP.
The loss of Glozman and Ignatowich will leave the Chicago Slice with two roster spots to fill. The SoCal Hard Eights will also have to add a player to replace Fu for the 2026 season.
Do you think the contract terminations for Ignatowich, Fu and Glozman are warranted? |
FEATURED STORY
TeachMe.To makes it easy to find qualified, local pickleball instructors
Pickleball can be intimidating at first.
The rules are a little tricky, and if you’re like most players, your first experience with the game comes at a local park, where strangers try to help you along by offering random (and often unsolicited) tips.
While some players like the communal nature of public recreational pickleball and eventually figure the game out through trial and error, that approach is certainly not for everybody.
That’s where TeachMe.To comes in.
The company helps pickleball players find qualified instructors in their area who can help them learn the sport in a more structured way.
“Think of us like Airbnb for private lessons,” said Tyler Maloney, Founder and CEO of TeachMe.To. “We make it really easy to search, find and book in-person instructors, serving everybody from the player just getting into the game to those who have been playing for a while and are now looking to take their game to the next level.”
Thousands of coaches across the U.S. and Canada have joined the platform since the company started in 2022, and TeachMe.To is now the No. 1 provider of pickleball lessons in the world. They also facilitate lessons for golf, tennis, surfing and more.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING
The best bags designed specifically for pickleball
If you’re Christmas shopping for a pickleballer in your life, but aren’t sure what paddle they would like, a new pickleball bag might just be the perfect gift option.
There's no shortage of great pickleball bags these days, so we’ve put together a helpful guide to compare features, price and more.
We've broken it down into two categories: Tour bags, which are larger and good for long tournament days, and backpacks, which are smaller and more convenient for everyday use.
đź”— Shop our top picks for pickleball bags or find our complete holiday gift guide here
QUICK HITS
What did you think of this week's newsletter? |