The Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) has announced the Women's World Championship and the Champions Cup, two new annual signature events, both of which will launch in 2024. With a combined prize pool of $150,000, state-of-the-art venues, and strategic partners, these APP signature events create incremental opportunity for two important player segments - women and players over the age of 50.
The two new APP events join the already announced Atlantic Cup – the first international team-based professional pickleball tournament – as part of the APP’s initiatives to showcase elite pickleball beyond the traditional APP Tour stops. Broadcast plans for each event will be announced by the APP at a later date.
The APP Women's World Championship is a first-of-its-kind global platform for female competitors at all levels to compete, designed to elevate and fuel the growth of the women’s game. With pickleball as the main feature, the APP Women’s World Championship will be a vibrant multi-day celebration of women. All key elements of the event will be presented by women – from players, referees, and announcers to chefs and entertainers. Details of the event will be released by the APP in the coming months.
“For the first time ever, there is a sport that is truly equitable from its inception,” commented Shannon Dan, EVP of Global Partnerships for the APP. “Women play side-by-side with men, get equal exposure, equal pay, equal opportunity. The latest research indicates that the growth of female pickleball participation has been outpacing male participation and the APP Women’s World Championship gives more women the opportunity to play. This is an incredible time for the sport of pickleball and for women’s sports overall. We are here to fuel further growth of both, give back to the women helping build our sport, and showcase the incredible talents of female players.”
In addition to the APP Women's World Championship, the APP has also unveiled the launch of the APP Champions Cup, the first annual event to showcase the best professional and amateur pickleball players 50 years or older. The event will take place in early 2024 at a venue to be announced.
"The APP is delighted to announce two new headline events for 2024," commented Tom Webb, Chief Marketing Officer of the APP. "The women's game in pickleball creates some of the most compelling competition our sport ever sees, so giving female athletes another opportunity to showcase their talents is a good opportunity for the APP to reinforce our commitment to growing that side of the sport. Additionally, senior and super senior players are a core pillar of the pickleball community, so we are pleased to unveil a new event that will cater specifically to players in those categories. Both events further reinforce our long-term plan, to help grow the sport of pickleball across the USA and worldwide."
