Everything you missed in pickleball pop culture in August 2025
Here is everything you missed in pickleball pop culture in August 2025.
The month kicks off with MLP Salt Lake City, which solidifies the MLP playoffs, and we get to see moments like an Erne from Alli Phillips.
Allyce Jones hits this crazy volleyball dive ATP.
Parris Todd, Tyson McGuffin and his wife, Meg, go on a brand deal trip with Reign Storm Energy.
The PPA tournament season resumes after a short hiatus for MLP and the tour heads to Bristol, TN.
Lucy Kovalova, Meghan Dizon, and Lauren Stratman all show up wearing the same outfit on the same day in Bristol.
Seventeen-year-old John Lucian Goins wins his first title after upsetting Ben Johns, Christian Alshon, and Gabe Joseph.
Dylan Frazier debuts a new look from Volair Pickleball and it’s SpongeBob themed. Even his paddle has the iconic cartoon.
Anna Bright plays singles for her first time since the Milwaukee Open and goes on to upset third-seeded Lea Jansen.
Federico Staksrud has a pretty dramatic reaction to getting beat by Gabe Joseph in men’s singles.
Yates Johnson makes his official return to competing on the pro court after injury.
Christian Alshon gets called for a distraction against Hayden Patriquin in mixed when he keeps stomping his foot during a point.
Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters win gold in women’s dubs. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters win mixed. And Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio continue to solidify themselves as the top seeds.
Parris Todd wins gold in women’s singles.
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The Best Dressed List for the Veolia Bristol Open is released and features Jorja and JW Johnson, Judit Castillo, Lea Jansen, Matt Wright, Blaine Hovenier, and Julian Arnold.
PPA and MLP owner Tom Dundon is set to acquire the Portland Trail Blazers.
Leigh Waters goes shopping on Rodeo Drive.
On National Pickleball Day, Zane Navratil, Genie Bouchard, and former NFL star Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson play pickleball on FOX & Friends.
NFL quarterback Joe Flacco credits pickleball for helping him stay sharp both physically and mentally.
Tyra Hurricane Black reveals that JW Johnson and Augie Ge are locked into Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Tyson McGuffin continues to add to his elaborate tattoos, and the latest installment is a neck tattoo.
Michael Loyd and his girlfriend, Juliet Steinhauer, go to the rodeo.
Alex Walker goes tubing with boyfriend and fellow pro, Greg Dow, and the picture is just too funny.
Genie Bouchard goes line dancing and embraces country living.
Maroon 5’s lead guitarist, James Valentine is revealed to be an avid pickleball player. Lead singer, Adam Levine, however, is still on the hate train.
Ensure Max Protein is named as the official protein shake for the PPA Tour.
Anna Leigh Waters throws the opening pitch at a Cubs game and leads the crowd in the classic song, “Take me out to the ball game.”
Former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart teams up with Ensure Max Protein and Callie Jo Smith to promote pickleball and a healthy lifestyle.
Major League Pickleball is now on Polymarket.
At MLP San Diego, Brooklyn Pickleball Team members sport birthday party hats for the team's COO, Adam, and his twin brother, Aaron.
Several pickleball pros hit the golf course, including Tyra Hurricane Black, Hannah Blatt, and Federico Staksrud.
Andrei Daescu shares some adorable first day of school photos with his kids.
MLP most valuable and most improved players are announced:
Jorja Johnson is Premier MVP. Kate Fahey is most improved. Brooke Buckner is the Challenger MVP. And James Delgado is the Challenger most improved.
Thomas Wilson goes on the Pickleballers podcast and vulnerably shares his health and family update.
Maggie Brascia gets a Tesla.
Camila Zilveti makes a pickleball rug.
The MLP Playoffs begin and the Dallas Flash receive some harsh criticism after making a strategic blunder by choosing to face the Columbus Sliders. Dallas subsquently loses.
Christian Alshon flicks off the entire New Jersey 5s bench and fan base after a point. And Zane Navratil is now really into bird watching.
Franklin releases a Parris Todd signature paddle.
Hunter Johnson pranks his twin brother, Yates to do the jumping fake-out trend.
Tennis stars Aryna Sabalenka, Taylor Fritz, and Carlos Alcaraz talk and play pickleball before the MLP Finals in New York City. Anna Leigh Waters also dinks around with Madison Keys.
The MLP season wraps up with the Finals, and let’s just say it was the result none of us were expecting.
The Columbus Sliders take out the heavy favorite St. Louis Shock and reigning champion Dallas Flash, before battling the New Jersey 5s. The Sliders get the job done and hoist the championship trophy.
The MLP Finals are also broadcast on CBS.
Meanwhile, in the MLP Challenger finals, the ref issues a blue card warning to both benches for unsportsmanlike conduct from the Nashville Chefs and Las Vegas Night Owls.
The Las Vegas Night Owls are crowned the MLP Challenger winners.
Hunter and Yates Johnson, Roscoe Bellamy, Sam Querrey, and Genie Bouchard walk the red carpet for an event with Taste of Tennis.
Meghan Dizon and AJ Koller take a quick trip to Montauk, NY.
Pickleball comedy movie “The Dink” is acquired by Apple Original Films.
Rachel Rohrabacher takes a trip to Maine.
Christian Alshon announces that Leigh Waters is no longer his pickleball coach and the two are going their separate ways.
Genie Bouchard hosts her third annual Joe’s Pizza meet up to meet fans and eat classic New York style pizza.
Hunter Johnson achieves a career high of World No. 1 in men's singles.
After officially retiring from tennis, Genie Bouchard attends the US Open.
Camila Zilveti continues to be the most well-traveled pro pickleballer, and she and her husband Brian visit Taipei.
In celebration of the opening weekend of college football, CJ Klinger shares a throwback photo of him repping his favorite team, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Connor Garnett wins a Triple Crown at the Sansan Fukuoka Open.
The PPA Tour heads to Las Vegas. And at the Walgreens Open at the Las Vegas Strip, John Lucian Goins earns his second consecutive title in men’s singles.
During the tournament, the players enjoy time on the Las Vegas Strip. Tyson McGuffin and his wife, Meg, attend a pool party, Tyra Black goes gambling, and Lucy Kovalova plays dress up.
And in what was definitely the most shocking event of the tournament, the unstoppable Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright are upset in the semi-finals by Jorja Johnson and Tyra Hurricane Black, who go on to win the gold in women’s doubles.
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