The United Pickleball Association (UPA) terminated the contracts of pros James Ignatowich, Ryan Fu, and Vivian Glozman on Wednesday for violating their respective exclusivity clauses.

According to a statement from PPA Tour CEO Connor Pardoe, the three players participated in multiple pickleball related events sponsored by the Pickleball Japan Federation in Tokyo’s Ariake Tennis Park earlier this week.

“The advertising for these events prominently featured their statuses as top MLP and PPA players and champions, explicitly using the reputation and likeness we pay for to promote a direct competitor,” said Pardoe. “This is not a gray area and is a clear breach of their contracts.”

Contracted pro Parris Todd also participated in the events, but Pardoe says her sanctions might be different because she asked for and received prior approval to participate in a singular camp overseas.

“Parris did proactively reach out in advance and requested permission to conduct a single camp in Asia, and we granted a limited, written waiver for that specific camp only. Our team explicitly told her in writing that if the trip evolved, if new events were added, or if any other pickleball-related activities (exhibitions, play-with-a-pro, clinics tied to other tournaments, etc.) were contemplated, she was required to come back to us for additional approval. The actual itinerary and activities ended up being materially different and broader than what was disclosed and approved. That said, unlike the other three players, Parris did follow protocol by asking first and did not deliberately hide her plans. She at least attempted to do the right thing, even though the final scope far exceeded the waiver she was given.”

With the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) in active negotiations to bring their events to Japan, Pardoe emphasized the strain that moments like this put on the organizations’ efforts to become truly global entities.

“I have personally made two trips to Asia and UPA Chief Strategy Officer Samin Odhwani just returned from Japan this month to work on these partnerships. Allowing players to represent competing interests in the exact market we are entering would be catastrophic to those negotiations and would render player exclusivity meaningless across the board.”

This is the second time this year that breaches of exclusivity have led to the termination of UPA contracts. Quang Duong’s contract was suspended, and eventually terminated in July, due to repeated participation in unsanctioned events.

Pardoe explained why exclusivity in UPA contracts is so crucial to the long-term viability of professional pickleball.

“To recap why exclusivity matters so much to our business: the UPA pays professional players more than $30 million annually combined, and, in return, players are required to do two primary things - participate in UPA-sanctioned events and activities while remaining exclusive to the UPA for all pickleball-related activities (exhibitions, clinics, camps, play-with-a-pro events, etc.). We pay for this exclusivity because it is the foundation of our ability to attract investment, secure ​​television and streaming deals, sign major sponsorships, and grow the sport and our leagues (PPA/MLP) in a highly competitive landscape. Without enforceable exclusivity, we simply cannot build and protect the value of our brand.”

What this means: PPA, MLP, and Otherwise

These terminations will effectively end the playing careers of James Ignatowich and Ryan Fu on the PPA Tour. We won’t be seeing Glozman either, but that’s not as big of a surprise since she was only playing MLP for most of 2025.

Speaking of MLP, Glozman and Ignatowich will leave the Chicago Slice with two roster spots to fill. The SoCal Hard Eights, of which Fu was a member, will also have to add a player to replace him for the 2026 season.

Ignatowich, who co-founded paddle company RPM earlier this year, will continue serving as the organization’s CEO and lead engineer. RPM currently has two models on the UPA-A Approved Paddles List, a status that will not be taken away even with Ignatowich no longer competing.