This weekend in Columbus, it’s all about the women.  

As the calendar flips to October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there’s nowhere the APP would rather be than the second annual APP Women’s Open presented by The James. This one-of-a-kind event is a weekend-long celebration of women in pickleball, where they’ll compete, connect and fuel the growth of the women’s game, all in support of a common cause – breast cancer research.

Returning as the official presenting partner of the three-day APP Showcase Series event is The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). As one of the nation’s top cancer research and treatment centers, the OSUCCC – James will be front and center all weekend long, promoting the growth of pickleball, sharing cancer prevention messages, and supporting players and with giveaways and more.

The APP recently established the APP Women’s Cancer Fund at The James, which supports research and treatment of breast, gynecologic, and other cancers affecting women. Various elements of the APP Women’s Open, such as ticket sales and custom merchandise, will raise funds for this critical initiative.

As part of the festivities, the APP is joining forces with several community partners in addition to The James, including Victoria’s Secret & Co., AARP, CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, City Wide Facility Solutions of Columbus, Charles Smith Wines, Humana, iNCREDIWEAR, OWL, and Toyota.

The APP returns to Pickle N Chill in Columbus, Ohio – the Midwest's largest indoor/outdoor pickleball facility – for three days of elite pickleball action. Women pickleball players from around the world will hit the courts this weekend, featuring amateurs of all ages, pickleball’s elite pros and the AARP Champions (50+) and Masters (60+) Divisions. Medals and prize money are up for grabs on a national TV broadcast on ESPN2.

The APP Tour women’s pros are ready to show their skills. Here are the top pro storylines heading into the 2025 APP Women's Open presented by The James.

O-H-I-O

The APP returns to Columbus, Ohio for the second annual APP Women's Open presented by The James. Pickle N Chill, the largest dedicated indoor / outdoor pickleball facility in the Midwest, will host the world's top pro pickleball players and hundreds of amateur players over three action-packed days of competition.

SUPER SOFIA

Sofia Sewing has been a force to be reckoned with in 2025, emerging as the No. 1 women's singles pro and a No. 7 ranking in women's and mixed doubles. Sewing took home two more gold medals at the APP Chicago Open - winning her fifth women's singles title and second-straight women's doubles gold.

FUDGE ON TOP

Megan Fudge heads to Columbus as the APP Tour's all-time leader in total career medals (77). Fudge took home gold in mixed doubles and silver in women's doubles in Chicago, and was a women's doubles champion last year in Columbus.

LEGENDARY LEE

Lee Whitwell has been in a class of her own in the AARP Champions Division this year, winning multiple triple crowns and leading all players with 20 total medals, including 12 golds. Whitwell earned a bronze medal in split-age pro doubles at the 2024 APP Women's Open presented by The James.

BRAVERMANIA

Jill Braverman ranks third among all APP Tour women's pros with 13 total medals in 2025. Braverman and Megan Fudge are coming off of a silver medal performance in Chicago and are last year's APP Women's Open champions in women's pro doubles.

BATES BREAKS OUT

Longtime APP Tour pro Shelby Bates had a tournament to remember in Chicago, winning her first career APP Tour gold medal by taking home the women's pro doubles title with Sofia Sewing. Bates and Sewing return as the No. 3 seeds in women's doubles in Columbus.

OHIO'S CHAMPIONS RETURN

Sheri Courter (Dublin) and Shannon Pretorius (Chagrin Falls), both Ohio natives, took home gold medals at last year's APP Women's Open and are looking to defend their titles in Columbus. Courter won split-age doubles gold with Susannah Barr, while Pretorius won the women's singles title.

RAISING THE BARR

Susannah Barr won the split-age women's pro doubles title at last year's APP Women's Open alongside Sheri Courter, and the duo will look to defend their title in Columbus. Barr ranks third all-time in APP Tour history for total career medals (55) and eighth all-time for gold medals (17).

THE AMANDA SHOW

Amanda Hendry is the No. 2 seed in both women's pro singles and women's pro doubles in Columbus. Hendry has six total APP Tour medals in 2025, and is coming off of a bronze medal performance in women's doubles in Chicago.

DON'T MESS WITH DARIA

Daria Walczak owns the top seed in split-age women's pro doubles alongside Lee Whitwell. The Poland native took home silver in mixed pro doubles at the APP Chicago Open, and has five total APP Tour medals in 2025.

CAN'T STOP KARIN

Karin Ptaszek-Kochis has three women's singles titles in this season's AARP Champions Division, and owns the top seed in Columbus. Ptaszek-Kochis' 13 career women's singles golds are the most of any AARP Champions women's pro in APP Tour history.

ANGELA ALL DAY

Angela Simon has three AARP Champions Division gold medals in 2025, all women's doubles titles alongside Lee Whitwell. Simon and Whitwell are the top seeds in AARP Champions women’s pro doubles, and Simon and Megan Fudge pair up as the No. 2 seeds in split-age women’s pro doubles.

DON’T MISS THE ACTION

Live coverage from the 2025 APP Women's Open begins Saturday, October 4 on ESPN Plus, and continues through Sunday, October 5. ESPN2 will carry a linear television recap show in the coming weeks. Dorian Craft, pro pickleball coach Dominic Catalano and APP U.S. National Team head coach Chad Edwards will be on the call.  

Fans can stay posted on all the action on UTR Sports and by following the APP’s social media pages: @OfficialAPPTour on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Threads and APP Tour on Facebook.

Venue:

Pickle N Chill

880 W Henderson Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

Broadcast Info (all times Eastern):
Championship Court

Saturday, 10/4 | 12 – 6 pm | ESPN Plus

Sunday, 10/5 | 1 – 6 pm | ESPN Plus

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Full tournament schedule and results are available via UTR Sports.