From Grammy-award winning celebrities playing pickleball to multiple SportsCenter Top 10 clips, June was action-packed with pickleball. 

So here’s everything you missed in pickleball last month. 

Pickleball Industry News

Anna Leigh Waters was named to the 2026 Time100 Sports List. 

In one of the biggest trades of the season, Hurricane Tyra Black was dealt from the Dallas Flash to the Columbus Sliders. 

There were also many drops, trades, and pick-ups during the MLP windows. Notable trades include Elsie Hendershot and John Lucian Goins being sent from the St. Louis Shock to the Chicago Slice, and the Palm Beach Royals picking up newcomer Casey Diamond. Hunter Johnson was also traded to the St. Louis Shock. 

John McEnroe called pickleball “stupid” during a French Open broadcast. 

Billie Ellish and her brother, FINNEAS, played pickleball with Angelina Jolie, Kristen Bell, and Dax Shepard for charity. 

PPA and MLP announced their first trip for Pickleball Vacations in the Dominican Republic. 

Apple TV released the trailer for their upcoming pickleball comedy movie, The Dink.

Terrell Owens launched a custom pickleball recovery shoe.  

A woman in Florida was arrested for assaulting another player with her pickleball paddle. 

LA Dodgers player Mookie Betts shared that he plays pickleball on his days off. 

Comedian Trever Noah played pickleball with Terrell Owens. 

Anna Leigh Waters went on CNN to promote pickleball. 

Pro Pickleball News

Here’s what your favorite pros were up to off the court. 

Anna Leigh Waters attended Nike’s "Just Do It Day" and met other Nike athletes. 

Hunter and Yates Johnson celebrated their birthday, and Yates shoved cake in Hunter’s face.

Alex Walker and Greg Dow celebrated their two-year anniversary. 

Angie Walker and Ryan Fu became Instagram official.

Caden Nemoff announced he’s moving to Asia for the summer. 

Ben Johns and Collin Johns attended the Stanley Cup Finals to support the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Lead guitarist for Maroon 5 and avid pickleball player, James Valentine, played pickleball with Mary and Maggie Brascia.

Rising Australian pickleball star Danni-Elle Townsend went on the Pickleballers Podcast. 

Anna Bright shared her bold idea to shake up the DreamBreakers in MLP to bring more intensity and encourage a "battle of the sexes." 

John Lucian Goins and Jalina Ingram went to Universal Studios. 

For Father's Day, a few of the pros shared sentimental pictures with their dads. 

Tammy and Martin Emmrich announced they’re expecting their second child. 

Blaine Hovenier signed with Skechers. 

Eric Oncins pranked Christian Alshon in the streets of New York. 

Ben Johns released a new episode of his favorite eats in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

Meghan Dizon, Will McKinnon, Cailyn Campbell, Rafael Lenhard, and Armaan Bhatia went to a Michelin star dinner together.  

With the World Cup in the U.S. this year, Anna Leigh Waters and Blaine Hovenier went to a game to watch some of the action. 

Rachel Rorhabacher started an apparel partnership with Moorlow.

Genie Bouchard attended Wimbledon and did a photoshoot with Ralph Lauren alongside tennis legends Andre Agassi and James Blake. 

Major League Pickleball Recap

Major League Pickleball made several stops across the country in June. The St. Louis Shock emerged victorious on home turf at MLP St. Louis.

At MLP Austin, the New Jersey 5s took home their second victory of the season in the pouring rain.  

There was a bit of drama on court. Lea Jansen, Nico Acevedo, and Jay Devilliers got into quite a verbal sparring match. 

Then, the tour went to the Sunshine State for MLP St. Petersburg where this pickleball fan got a tattoo in CJ Klinger's honor. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Elsie Hendershot from the St. Louis Shock got to play and secured her first pickle alongside Hayden Patriquin.  

The real drama centered around the Palm Beach Royals, who substituted Casey Diamond, an on-site alternate for MLP. He went on to hit two shots that were both featured on the SportsCenter Top 10 that week. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Pickleball.com (@pickleballdotcom)

In the final stop of the month, MLP went to New York where Roscoe Bellamy got pooped on by a bird in the middle of a match. 

After becoming the youngest gold medalist in PPA Tour history at the Boise Challenger tournament, Kelly Goodnow was drafted by the Carolina Hogs and helped the team win their first match. 

The New Jersey 5s continued their hot streak and won MLP New York. 

What was your favorite pickleball moment from June? Let us know on Instagram.