Over 55,000 spectators passed through the turnstiles at Brookhaven Country Club onto Pickleball Boulevard in the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch to enjoy a momentous celebration of America’s fastest-growing sport - the 2024 Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® Pickleball World Championships.

The New York Times labeled the event the ‘Superbowl of Pickleball’ for good reason. It featured over 4,200 participants from 49 states (plus the District of Columbia) and more than 30 countries competing at the world-class facility in conjunction with the PPA Tour’s fourth and final Grand Slam of the season. 

“What we did at Worlds was something beyond anything that’s ever been done in pickleball before. The PPA is always one to really push the boundaries and take the next step,” said Kristen Russell, who managed the multi-faceted project from start to finish on behalf of the PPA Tour. “We went into it with the intent of putting on the best pickleball event that’s ever been had, the be-all, end-all, and Worlds 100 percent did just that.”

 

 

 

 

 

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The top pickleball athletes on the planet didn’t disappoint, delivering memorable performances all tournament long.

From Anna Bright and Rachel Rohrabacher claiming gold in women’s doubles with a decisive Championship Sunday victory over perennial favorites Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau, to Waters and Ben Johns cementing their dominance in mixed doubles by handily defeating Etta Wright and Christian Alshon, the stars shined in every discipline.

“It’s a very special tournament,” said Johns, the most decorated pickleball player of all-time. “The crowd’s the biggest here out of all the tournaments, and I think it means a little more to each player. It’s a major, it’s the same amount of points, but there’s definitely something special. I mean, it’s the World Championships.” 

One competitor even shocked the men’s singles field to begin one of the more notable runs in recent memory, and he quickly made a name for himself in the process.

No. 21 seed Michael Loyd defeated Johns in the Round of 16, before ousting JW Johnson and Quang Duong en route to a gold-medal matchup with top seed Federico Staksrud on Proton Championship Court.

Staksrud ultimately emerged victorious, but Loyd relished his entire Worlds experience.

“Between the venue and the crowds, it felt like the biggest tournament of the year. On that center court, I felt like I was a professional athlete in the middle of it, kind of reaping the rewards of everybody in the stands with all the energy,” he praised. “I kept saying it throughout the week, I was like, ‘How lucky am I? It’s crazy that God put me in this spot at a time where pickleball is at the level that it’s at’ because there are a lot of people that have come before us and paved the way for events like this, guys that stuck around like Ben and Tyson McGuffin. They were there when this wasn’t the case.”

 

 

 

 

 

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If the pros had a blast, the same can be said for the thousands upon thousands of amateurs ranging in age between 8 and 89 years old who enthusiastically turned out to play and showcase their passion for the game.

Maximizing the amateur experience was a top priority for organizers in the planning stages all year long.

“Amateurs were at the forefront from the beginning. We started off by adding viewing areas onto all courts. We wanted somewhere for friends and family to get cozy right next to the court, cheer them on, and watch every great play from their loved one,” explained Russell. “We also made sure that courts weren’t overbooked. We didn’t want  players to have long waiting times, so they weren’t stuck there from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. We had really great court turnover. It was a nearly flawless system.”

Amateur Wonda Uy, who competed in 3.5 mixed doubles, can certainly attest to that.

The Dallas native is already setting her sights on returning in 2025.

“It was my first “big” tournament, and it wasn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be, especially with it being the PPA Tour. It was so well organized with letting us know what court we needed to be on and the referees. It was just so welcoming and social out there, even though it was still a competitive environment,” shared Uy. “After we were done, I told my partner that I couldn’t wait to try and play again and compete to do better because we were so close to medaling in the bronze-medal match. That gave me a kick in the butt to drill a little more, practice my craft, and come back next fall. If you’re thinking about coming to Worlds, just go for it!”

Pickleball Boulevard was, of course, a hub of activity with over 45 programming events, including the Deep Eddy Vodka Celebrity Pickleball Showdown featuring the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Terrell Owens, Adrian Peterson, and John Isner competing in front of a sold-out crowd alongside the PPA’s finest, a host of educational clinics led by top pros, a daily concert series with country music’s top artists like Justin Moore and Morgan Evans, XGLOsive glow-in-the-dark pickleball sessions, pickleball speed dating, a wooden paddle contest, and a parent-child tournament.

 

 

 

 

 

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“The goal was really to create something for everyone, from the six-year-old coming with mom and dad who could get their face painted and get an airbrush tattoo, to the teenager who could get customized sneakers done, to the guy in his mid-30s wanting a guys’ trip,” said Russell. “We really wanted something for every single age, activity level, interest level, all of it. We wanted people to walk away from Worlds with 20 stories to tell, and the programming on Pickleball Boulevard made that a possibility.” 

The Pickleball Central store and demonstration court were main attractions as well.

Store manager Maxwell Cowley says the buzz around tournament merchandise and equipment was undeniable.

“People always want memorabilia and they want the chance to try out new paddles and talk to an expert. There was all that energy and excitement of going into this pickleball Disneyland gift shop, but it was combined with different interactive activities on our demo court to drive traffic and bring people over. That just elevated the experience,” mentioned Cowley. “This was a level we haven’t had before. There were people lining up to play games like “Fill Santa’s Stocking” and “Deal or No Deal” and to meet players like Anna Leigh Waters, Connor Garnett, and Collin Johns for autograph signings and photos. It was electric energy. Once people got a taste for it, they didn’t want it to end.”

That encapsulated the general feeling up and down Pickleball Boulevard from the first match to the last.

It’s no surprise that the PPA’s social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube were firing on all cylinders with the fervor on-site reaching a fever pitch during the seven-day extravaganza. Over 1,000 posts generated an astounding 28 million impressions and 510,000 interactions from fans across the globe.

It’s safe to say that Worlds was a towering home run. And the best is yet to come.

“In true PPA fashion, 2025 is going to blow 2024 out of the water,” concluded Russell. “That’s the story of the PPA. Conversations have already started to find new ways to make Worlds the ultimate experience for every pickleball fanatic. We want people to mark this week off their calendar a year in advance because they just can’t wait to get back.”

This article appeared in the November/December 2024 edition of Pickleball Magazine.