Challenger · 12574 Days Out
Pathway to the Pro Tour
PPA Challenger Series
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A PPA-run tour at clubs across the country. Skill divisions from 3.0 to 5.0 for amateurs, and a Pro Division that earns PPA ranking points, prize money and a wild card into a PPA Tour Open.
About
What Is the Challenger Series?
Founded in 2025, the PPA Challenger Series is a grassroots tour designed to provide aspiring pickleball professionals a pathway to the PPA Tour, the pinnacle tour of global pickleball.
Players earn ranking points based on their performance at PPA Challenger tournaments throughout the season. The top-ranked players will qualify for the PPA Challenger Showdown in Dallas, where they’ll compete for a PPA Tour contract.
With a deep commitment to fostering growth and development within the pickleball community, the PPA Challenger Series nurtures emerging talent, encourages participation, and ultimately elevates the sport at all levels.
- WhoSkill 3.0–5.0, plus a Pro Division
- Pro prize pool$10,000 per event
- Points125 or 250 to the champion
- Wild cardInto a PPA Tour Open main draw
Follow the Challenger Series
Schedule
Upcoming Challenger Events
Every U.S. Challenger, from the same live feed that runs the tour calendar. The points level is on each card. Register on pickleballtournaments.com.
Challenger · 12588 Days Out
Challenger · 250102 Days Out
PPA Tour
Peachtree Corners PPA ChallengerFeb 5–7, 2027
Life Time PeachTree Corners · Peachtree Corners, GA
Event Details
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PPA Tour
Auburn-Opelika PPA ChallengerApr 16–18, 2027
Opelika Pickleball Club · Opelika, AL
Event Details
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PPA Tour
Seattle PPA ChallengerAug 6–8, 2027
Sideout Tsunami Pickleball Center · Seattle, WA
Event Details
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PPA Tour
Harbour Island PPA ChallengerOct 22–24, 2027
Life Time Harbour Island · Tampa, FL
Event DetailsPast Tournaments
| Dates | Event | City | Points | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25–27, 2026 | Charlotte PPA Challenger | Charlotte, NC | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Sep 18–20, 2026 | Grand Rapids PPA Challenger | Rockford, MI | 250 | Results ↗ |
| Aug 28–30, 2026 | Atlanta PPA Challenger | Atlanta, GA | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Aug 14–16, 2026 | Seattle PPA Challenger | Seattle, WA | 250 | Results ↗ |
| Jul 31–Aug 2, 2026 | Wisconsin PPA Challenger | Lake Hallie, WI | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Jul 17–19, 2026 | Macon PPA Challenger | Macon, GA | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Jun 26–28, 2026 | Portland PPA Challenger | Westbrook, ME | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Jun 12–14, 2026 | Boise PPA Challenger | Meridian, ID | 125 | Results ↗ |
| May 29–31, 2026 | Fracas in Fort Collins PPA Challenger | Fort Collins, CO | 125 | Results ↗ |
| May 22–24, 2026 | Wilson PPA Challenger | Wilson, NC | 125 | Results ↗ |
| May 1–3, 2026 | Black Desert PPA Challenger | Santa Clara, UT | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Apr 17–19, 2026 | Opelika PPA Challenger | Opelika, AL | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Apr 3–5, 2026 | Newport Beach PPA Challenger | Newport Beach, CA | 250 | Results ↗ |
| Mar 6–8, 2026 | AdventHealth Tampa Bay Challenger | Tampa, FL | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Feb 20–22, 2026 | Houston PPA Challenger | Atascocita, TX | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Jan 23–25, 2026 | Tucson PPA Challenger | Tucson, AZ | 125 | Results ↗ |
| Jan 9–11, 2026 | Punta Gorda PPA Challenger | Punta Gorda, FL | 250 | Results ↗ |
| Dec 12–14, 2025 | Raleigh PPA Challenger | Raleigh, NC | 125 | Results ↗ |
How It Works
Everything You Need To Know
01
Who Can Play
Each Challenger event features skill divisions from 3.0 through 5.0, along with a Pro Division. Players ranked in the top 20 of a PPA Tour division are not eligible to compete in that same division.
02
Prize Money and Ranking Points
Each Challenger event features a $10,000 prize pool for Pro Division competitors. Champions in all five Pro Division events also earn PPA Tour ranking points.
03
Earn a Wild Card
Win a Challenger Pro Division event to earn a wild-card entry into the main draw of a PPA Tour Open of your choice. Each Open accepts up to two Challenger wild-card winners.
Points
How Challenger Points Work
Each Challenger event is designated as either a 125-point or 250-point event. See the schedule above for each event's point level, and the table below for the number of points awarded based on finishing position.
| Level | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Semifinal | Quarterfinal | Round of 16 | Round of 32 | Round of 64 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Challenger 125 | 125 | 100 | 75 | 50 | 40 | 25 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
| Challenger 250 | 250 | 200 | 150 | 100 | 80 | 50 | 24 | 12 | 6 |
Rankings window
Challenger rankings are updated after each tournament, with each player’s top 16 results counting toward their ranking. Rankings are calculated on both a rolling 52-week and calendar-year basis.
Five divisions
Points are awarded separately in all 5 pro disciplines: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. Each division keeps its own ranking.
Path to the Tour
How a Challenger Result Becomes a Tour Career
Challenger points do two things: they rank you against every other player on the series, and they get you into the room.
01
Win an Event
Every Challenger pro champion holds a wild card into the main draw of a PPA Tour Open. That is a place in the same draw as the tour's contracted pros, earned on court.
02
Finish the season near the top
The highest-ranked players without a PPA contract are invited to the PPA Challenger Showdown, played during the Pickleball World Championships, where they compete for a spot on the PPA Tour.
Showdown
The PPA Challenger Showdown
The Challenger Series season concludes at the Opendoor Pickleball World Championships, the largest event in pickleball. The highest-ranked unsigned players will be invited to compete at Brookhaven Country Club for a chance to earn a PPA Tour contract.
The Challenger Showdown will award eight winners 2027 PPA Tour contracts, officially granting them professional status on the tour.
- WhenNov 5–7, 2026
- WhereBrookhaven Country Club · Farmers Branch, TX
- Field8 teams per doubles event; 8 players per singles event
- On the line8 PPA Tour contracts for 2027
DayWhat is played
ThuNov 5Men's & Women's Singles pool play
FriNov 6Men's, Women's & Mixed Doubles pool play
SatNov 7Semifinals and Finals – All Events
Who qualifies
- SinglesThe top 8 men and the top 8 women on the Challenger rankings.
- Gender doublesThe top 16 men and the top 16 women — 8 teams in each.
- Mixed doublesThe top 8 men and the top 8 women — 8 teams.
Format
Eight teams — eight players in singles — are seeded into two pools based on Challenger rankings. Pool play is round robin and the top two teams/players from each pool will progress into bracket play. Every match is best of three to 11.
For doubles events, teams will be drafted. The top seed picks a partner, and the picks run down the rankings from there.
Standings
Challenger Series Rankings
Points earned at PPA Challenger Series events, by division. Pick a division or search a player.
Top 25 of 173 players
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jessica Ho | 450 |
| 2 | Masa Grgan | 448 |
| 3 | Jada Bui | 414 |
| 4 | Samantha Buyckx | 377 |
| 5 | Shannon Pretorius | 349 |
| 6 | Kelsey Laurente | 262 |
| 7 | Helen To | 249 |
| 8 | Eileen Wang | 243 |
| 9 | Anne-Sophie Courteau | 239 |
| 10 | Janet Liu | 236 |
| 11 | Amber Policare | 225 |
| 12 | Marianna Petrei | 225 |
| 13 | Naomi De Hart | 218 |
| 14 | Chantal Mabie | 212 |
| 15 | Chloe Diskin | 178 |
| 16 | Audrey Banada | 151 |
| 17 | Averee Beck | 134 |
| 18 | Morgan Downing | 118 |
| 19 | Madalina Grigoriu | 115 |
| 20 | Alexandra Valenstein | 112 |
| 21 | Courtenay Leonard | 108 |
| 22 | Caroline Maguire | 106 |
| 23 | Jessica Warren | 100 |
| 24 | Frida Mudsam | 92 |
| 25 | Alexis Almy | 87 |
Last updated October 6, 2026. Rankings update after each Challenger event.
Sponsors
Behind the Challenger Series
Powered by JOOLA
The Challenger Series carries JOOLA's name at every event.
Official Partner
Put Your Brand in Front of Players in 15 States
Challenger events reach the players, families and clubs that make up the fastest-growing part of the sport. Tell us about your company and we will come back with what a Challenger Series partnership looks like.
For Clubs and Cities
Host a Challenger Event
The PPA brings the registration system, an experienced event team, ticketing, professional play management, live streaming, balls, national marketing, signage and the prize money. You bring the courts, a championship court for 250 or more, WiFi that carries a stream, and the people to run the weekend.
What It Takes to Host →- CourtsAt least 16
- Championship courtSeats 250 or more
- Divisions3.0–5.0 plus Pro
- ApplyVenue application on the host page