The PicklePod closes out the year with a wide-ranging look at the stories that will shape pro pickleball in 2026.
This episode breaks down what actually mattered at PPA Daytona, why the Jorja Johnson–Anna Lee Waters discourse has gone off the rails, and how recency bias continues to distort conversations around Anna Bright. We also look at emerging singles talent, including former tennis players making legitimate career moves into pickleball—and what that means for the competitive landscape next season.
- On the business and governance side, we unpack:
- The latest UPA contract fallout involving Ignatovich, Fu, and Glozman
- Why an appeal likely isn’t the real endgame
- The motivations behind the “You Can’t Trust a Fake” counterfeit paddle campaign
- The official ProXR–PaddleTek merger and what it signals for paddle innovation and pricing
You’ll also hear updates on:
- DUPR’s new expected score system
- The full 2025 Major League Pickleball schedule, including Junior MLP and Disney World
- Thomas recovering his infamous Tesla-Selkirk paddle
- Early thoughts on nominations for the 2025 Dink Awards
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0:00 Intro
2:23 PPA Daytona Recap
7:09 New beef between Jorja and Jessie?
9:36 Who is the better fit to partner with ALW?
15:53 The Anna Bright vs Thomas match
18:05 DUPR now shows predicted match score
19:49 Can’t trust a fake campaign
23:24 ProXR and PaddleTek merger
25:06 MLP is headed to Disney World
28:12 Ignatowich & Co appeal termination
31:11 Zane makes his Dink Awards nominations
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