JW Johnson is a top pickleball athlete, the “Flickwizard” of MLP, and half of one of the sport’s most recognizable sibling mixed doubles duos on the PPA Tour. But if you’ve been watching closely, you may have noticed something’s shifted in his on-court style.

A few months ago, Johnson started showing up in muscle tanks. As the self-appointed pickleball fashion police, that didn’t go unnoticed. Bro tanks are always a bit of a gamble, but Johnson has the arms to make it work—and suddenly, those sleeveless looks started becoming a regular part of his rotation.

He kept leaning into it match after match. Sure, you could chalk it up to avoiding a farmer’s tan or just chasing comfort in the heat. But it also feels like something else is going on.

Is this his flirty era? A full “hot girl summer” moment? Single and ready to mingle, aura farming for a future courtside love story? Or maybe it’s simpler than all that and this is just his “silly goose” era. Either way, the pickleball world seems to be enjoying every second of it.

Fellow pros have even chimed in on Johnson’s physique, while fans are already half-joking about casting him on the next season of The Bachelor. Whether intentional or not, the thirst-trap energy hasn’t gone unnoticed, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon.

“JW is really doing his part to help grow the sport,” commented fan Corina Neilson-Thomas.

And there’s a broader point there. It’s similar to the argument Genie Bouchard has made when discussing criticism around showing off her physique: if you’ve got the confidence and the platform, why not use it? And if it helps bring new eyes to the sport in the process, even better.

Another fan even wondered if Johnson’s new wave of confidence has anything to do with Danni-Elle Townsend. After all, Townsend is known for her loud, energetic, and unapologetically expressive style of play. With the two sharing the court as mixed partners on the Flash, it’s not hard to imagine that some of that energy might rub off.

Another example of Johnson’s “aura farming” came via teammate Augie Ge, who recently shared a story on a podcast about a memorable moment. According to Ge, Johnson once spotted a woman courtside he thought was attractive, handed her a hat, and immediately went on to play some of the best pickleball Ge had ever seen him produce.

To keep up to date on all things pickleball, follow us on Instagram.