North Plainfield residents gathered Saturday for the grand opening of new basketball and pickleball courts at Green Acres Park. The project adds fresh public recreation space and gives local players another dedicated place to play in Somerset County.
The St. Louis Shock beat the Los Angeles Mad Drops 3-0 to win the Super Sunday belt at MLP St. Petersburg, their second straight sweep of Los Angeles. The result gives St. Louis 25 standings points from the event and extends the team's match winning streak to 11 as the league heads to New York next week.
A St. Augustine pickleball match turned violent when police say Michele Bannister struck a man several times with a pickleball paddle during an argument, leaving him bleeding from the head. Bannister was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and giving false identification to law enforcement, according to the report.
OutKick/Fox News reported on a St. Augustine case in which a woman was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after deputies said she hit another pickleball player several times with a paddle. The underlying local report says the May 31 incident happened at Treaty Park after an argument over retrieving a ball and a later exchange involving the woman's son.
The Kitchen's Week 5 MLP power rankings keep the New Jersey 5s at No. 1 but highlight St. Louis' unbeaten St. Petersburg run and second straight Super Sunday win. Columbus, which entered the week with major roster buzz after acquiring Tyra Black, finished fifth after group-play losses to Palm Beach and St. Louis.
WATE reported that a Father's Day weekend Purple Pickleball Tournament raised funds for the Alzheimer's Association in East Tennessee. The local fundraiser tied a community pickleball event to dementia awareness and charitable giving.
The TimesDaily reported that the Long-Lewis Foundation will present Cramer's Paddle for a Cause Pickleball Tournament on July 17-18 at Veterans Park Pickleball Complex in Florence. The event will benefit Cramer Children's Advocacy Center.
KSNT, syndicated by AOL, reported that Emporia State University students are using a pickleball tournament as a class project with real-world community impact. The event is raising money and awareness for a local cause in Emporia.
Pickleplex Social Club is preparing to open an indoor pickleball facility at 2649 Main Street South in Airdrie, Alberta, taking over the former Peavey Mart space. The location will be Pickleplex's second Alberta club after Red Deer and is expected to offer beginner sessions, drop-in play, leagues, and tournaments, though an opening date has not yet been announced.
Pickleball.com reported that Major League Pickleball's St. Petersburg event has reached its final day, with four matches left to decide standings points. The headline matchup is St. Louis Shock vs. Los Angeles Mad Drops, their third meeting of the season.
The Star Beacon reported that a plaque was dedicated Saturday morning at the Harbor Topky pickleball courts in honor of Jerry Maunus. The ceremony recognized a family-led effort to memorialize him at a local pickleball facility.
The Post Register reported that bids for pickleball and basketball courts in Challis City Park came in higher than city estimates and above the current budget. City officials and consultants are now weighing how to move the project forward.
The U.S. Sun reported that Tom Dundon, owner of the Portland Trail Blazers and Carolina Hurricanes, led Apollo Sports Capital in raising $225 million tied to Pickleball Inc. The report says the raise values Pickleball Inc. at about $750 million and leaves roughly $100 million available for growth after debt restructuring, shareholder returns, and investor buyouts.
The Ladysmith Chronicle reported that upgrades at Lot 108 in Ladysmith are moving toward completion, including a new four-court pickleball area, expanded parking, trails, and bike-park work. Town staff said the pickleball courts and bike park could be ready for use as early as July, with the courts open first come, first served.
The Dink published a mixed doubles strategy guide focused on partner positioning, stacking, middle coverage, and movement through the transition zone. The article argues that many teams lose points because of court-positioning mistakes rather than shot-making problems.
The Dink published a new five-drill pickleball workout routine focused on lateral movement, split-step timing, court coverage, transition-zone movement, and paddle-ready footwork. The piece frames agility as a practical performance and injury-prevention priority for recreational and competitive players.
Pickleball.com reported the Day 3 standings from MLP St. Petersburg, with Brooklyn leading Group A at 3-0 and St. Louis leading Group B at 3-0. The top four teams in each group will advance to Super Sunday standing-point matches, with group play continuing Saturday morning.
New Straits Times reported that a late-night pickleball game near a condominium went viral after a noise complaint allegedly escalated into a shouting match and physical confrontation. The story has sparked public debate in Malaysia over how late courts near residential buildings should operate.
Yardbarker, via Dodger Blue, reported that Mookie and Brianna Betts hosted their second annual Smash for Good pickleball tournament on June 18 at The Griffin Club in Los Angeles. Proceeds benefited the Betts family's 50/50 Foundation, with Dodgers players and celebrities including Simu Liu, Nicolas Cage, and Terrell Owens attending.
Cville Right Now reported that the Darden Towe Park pickleball courts will officially open Saturday after an expansion from six courts to 12. The project grew out of sustained local demand, with the Albemarle County Parks Foundation and Central Virginia Pickleball Association helping push the work forward after earlier community fundraising converted tennis courts into pickleball courts.
Spectrum News reported that professional pickleball has come to Tampa Bay for the first time, with St. Pete Athletic hosting a Major League Pickleball event. The story highlights the venue, the Florida Smash connection, and comments from local player Paula Rives about the sport's fast growth and accessibility.
Pickleball.com announced a June 23 live walkthrough for tournament directors interested in adding team events inside PickleballTournaments.com. The session will cover setup, customization, roster and bracket management, and tournament-day best practices.
Pickleball.com profiled Gio Morelli, who joined the PPA Tour last year after coming from a tennis background and grinding through qualifiers. Morelli said she funded her own travel, now coaches pickleball to support her career, and views the sport as the happiest she has felt playing.
Friday's MLP St. Petersburg slate includes Casey Diamond's MLP debut for the Palm Beach Royals after injuries and illness left Dekel Bar and Grayson Goldin unavailable. Other key matches include Chicago Slice trying to stay unbeaten against Brooklyn and Orlando Squeeze needing a response against St. Louis to keep its Super Sunday hopes strong.
The YMCA of Metro Atlanta celebrated the opening of eight new pickleball courts at the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA with a June 17 "First Dink" ceremony. The project was backed by the Trae Young Family Foundation, YMCA of the USA, and local donors, with Atlanta Bouncers players helping introduce community members to the sport.
Sports Business Journal profiled Pickleball Inc.'s next phase after its $225 million capital raise led by Apollo Sports Capital, with Tom Dundon and Connor Pardoe's company now spanning the PPA Tour, Major League Pickleball, retail, media, court construction, and management software. The company projects $140 million in 2026 revenue, with PPA and MLP making up roughly $80 million, and says first-half PPA ticket revenue and MLP attendance are both up sharply.
Matt's Pickleball published a 2026 review comparing Honolulu's J2CR and J6CR Crystal Blue paddles, highlighting lab-measured spin, swing weight, and shape differences. The review calls out the Crystal Blue surface as the grittiest the site has tested and focuses on which shape different players should choose.
Major League Pickleball's St. Petersburg event reached the halfway point of group play with Chicago Slice leading Group A at 2-0 and St. Louis Shock and Columbus Sliders both 2-0 atop Group B. The top four teams from each group advance to Sunday's standings-point matches, where the top cross-group matchup is worth 25 points to the winner.
A McClatchy national feature says pickleball remains the fastest-growing sport in the United States for a fifth consecutive year, citing nearly 20 million players and more than 300% growth over four years. The piece highlights the sport's low barrier to entry, social appeal, health benefits, pro-tour momentum, and possible Olympic ambitions.
Concrete slabs are now in place for new pickleball and tennis courts at Schon Park in Glen Carbon, Illinois. The courts are part of a $1.4 million third phase of park development that also includes basketball facilities and is expected to be complete by late October.