What is the PPA Tour?
The Carvana PPA Tour is professional pickleball's premier circuit — singles, doubles and mixed at events across the U.S., its biggest branded as Slams — unified since 2024 with the team-franchise Major League Pickleball under the United Pickleball Association, a merger sealed by a $75 million investment round.[1] [2]
How does it work?
Players compete under contract to the UPA: PPA events award ranking points and prize money across three draws, while MLP by Margaritaville drafts pros to city franchises for team seasons — its co-ed format and rally scoring built for television. The two calendars interlock, making the UPA the employer of essentially the entire professional field.[1] [3]
Why does it matter?
A UPA contract, PPA ranking or MLP draft slot is the professional credential of the sport — the unified tour concentrates pickleball's elite, money and audience in one structure, growing year over year since the merger.[2] [3]
References
- PPA Tour — PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball close merger. Accessed August 2026.
- PPA Tour — Full merger forms unified professional pickleball organization. Accessed August 2026.
- MLP — PPA Tour & MLP year-over-year growth, 2025. Accessed August 2026.