Kloss: 'pro Pickleball Is Best Served By A Prize Money Format'

Let’s examine the history of player contracts, what the changes are, how they are likely to affect the sport, and then examine whether these changes are good for the sport.

1. The history of player contracts

Pro pickleball tournaments are still relatively new, as compared to other sports.  Wimbledon, for example, started way back in 1877.  Of course, it was initially for amateurs only, but the first pro tennis events began 100 years ago, in 1926. Pro squash tournaments are even older, having started in 1904. Pickleball is a far newer sport. The first national tournament was held in 2009. The US Open started in 2016. Both the US Open and Nationals eventually began offering small prize money purses.

In 2019, the Professional Pickleball Association (“PPA”) was begun, with a true tour and prize money. The PPA has grown from there, just as pickleball has exploded. MLP began in 2017. In late 2023 and early 2024, PPA and MLP competed to sign players. This competition resulted in players broadly being given guaranteed contracts for the first time. Ultimately, PPA and MLP merged under the UPA banner in March 2024.

With the vast majority of player contracts expiring at the end of the 2026 season, UPA has now come forward early with a proposal to extend those contracts. Basically, UPA is trying to shift the sport from a guaranteed pay structure to a prize money structure. Under the new proposal, players would be put into three lanes to earn prize money. First, for players who have a contract and a year remaining on it, those players would receive 100% of the remaining guaranteed money, but spread out over the 2026-2028 seasons. Those players would also be eligible for the very significant prize money available from both PPA and MLP events. For example, the total prize money paid for a Slam for just gender doubles (men and women would be paid the same) is $194,000. Every player reaching the Round of 16 in any of the five events would earn prize money in the thousands of dollars. Win a Triple Crown? That nets you $106,000! Not bad for a week’s work. Prize money is lower for Cups and Open events, but again even a player losing in gender doubles in the Round of 16 in an Open event would net $1,500. These contracts are being called “Gold contracts.”

The next lane is for those players who are with PPA/MLP now, but signed after the guaranteed contracts were given out in late 2023 and early 2024. Those players still receive any guaranteed money per their contracts, but qualify for a lower tier in prize money. This level is called the “Standard Contract.” The prize money for players with Standard Contracts is lower than for Gold Contract players, but still quite significant. For example, making the Round of 16 in a Slam would earn the player $1,800. The Standard Contract prize money would also apply to any new players who sign contracts before November 1, 2025.

The third and final lane is for up and coming players, who develop after November 2025.  These “Futures Contratcs” provide a lower prize money table, but allow the players to move up to the Standard Contracts payouts, if they prove themselves. Specifically, if a Futures player can make the top 25 in any one event (gender, mixed or singles) or achieve a top 30 ranking overall, that player can then be moved up to the higher prize money table.

For all the players, regardless of which status they are, substantial prize money is also available from MLP. Players will be paid prize money in both the midsession and Finals tournaments. The payouts start at $2,000 per player for finishing 12th in the midseason tournament and up to $250,000 per player for being on the winning MLP finals team. Players are further provided guaranteed payments for playing MLP, ranging from $2,500 up to $40,000 per player, depending on their overall ranking.

Finally, signed players will have access to PPA international events. Those events have a completely separate prize pool. The international events are guaranteed to have a total prize pool of at least $5 million.

All in all, there is a substantial prize pool available to players, with many different ways to take advantage of that prize pool, either through PPA events, MLP events, and/or international events.

3. How the UPA changes are likely to affect the sport

A prize money structure has always made the most sense for a sport like pickleball. It is the format used for tennis, golf, and a whole host of other individual sports. As UPA also includes the team aspect of MLP, it also makes sense that MLP will include some guaranteed appearance fees. But, the vast majority of player payments in 2026 and beyond will be in the format of playing to win, so you get paid to win. The structure of both PPA and MLP will be to provide players with an increasing amount of pay, and substantial increases in pay the better they do.

The truth is that there have been some questions about effort put forward by some players in some situations. Certainly, it is human nature that if pay is guaranteed, some people may not put forth full effort. The new structure will reward performance and punish lack of performance, while providing players with a range of opportunities to earn, be it PPA, MLP, or international.

4. Are the changes good for the sport?

The main issue with any change of any kind to the sport is and always should be: What is in the best interest of the sport of pro pickleball? What is good for players might be bad for the sport, or what is good for UPA might be bad for the sport. What we all want, whether it is the UPA, the players, or the fans, is for changes to be made that are win-win-win. Changes that help UPA, that help players, and that help the fans enjoy the sport is where we want to go.

When we look at the new proposed prize money table, I think we are on track for that coveted win-win-win scenario. Let’s start with the UPA. A prize money structure lets UPA peg their player costs with certainty. Whether there are 100 signed players or 300 signed players, the tournament prize money is set. This is the same as the PGA Tour for golfers. No matter how many pro golfers there are, the prize money for each tournament is set. The same is true for pro tennis and other individual sports. Cost certainty is important for any business, so this is a win for UPA.

For players, the lack of incentive provided by guaranteed contracts has been an issue. I would not say it is a huge issue, but allegations in any sport that athletes are not giving 100% is never good. Further, there is a basic unfairness in an individual sport of having guaranteed contracts. Just look at golf. The best player makes the most money. The 10 most successful players make the top 10 in money earnings. If a player’s performance falls off, from lack of effort or otherwise, their earnings will decrease, as they should.  I am sure there are players now who are not happy that some of their peers, who may be lesser players, are being paid more just because of when they signed a contract. By paying players on a performance basis, the players should be satisfied that their efforts result in commensurate rewards. Thus, this is a win for players.

Finally, the most important people as always are the fans. The fans pay the money to watch and there are more and more fans each year. The fans want to see the best players and the best performances. The way to get the best play is to incentivize it. Pay for top play is the incentive which will give the fans what they want, the best pickleball by the best players in the world. The new structure is a big win for the fans.

5. Conclusion

An individual sport like pro pickleball is best served by a prize money format, which rewards the best players and the best performances. Winning leads to more pay, which means winning and playing better is incentivized. The new structure as proposed by UPA gets the job done. Let’s get it finalized and continue to enjoy the best play by the best players in the world.