Pickleball is gaining popularity in the United States, with professional players earning higher salaries than stars in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) annually.
According to the Major League Pickleball (MLP), the average salary for over 60 women in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour was around $2.6 million, surpassing the highest-paid WNBA player and double the average salary of NWSL stars.
A report by Front Office Sports in April revealed that Las Vegas Aces’ Jackie Young, a two-time WNBA champion, is the highest-paid WNBA player with an annual income of $252,450, followed by Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd earning $245,508 annually.
On the other hand, the NWSL has increased its minimum salary from $48,500 in 2025 to $82,500 by 2030, as per the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Professional Pickleball has evolved significantly, especially after the merger of PPA and MLP to form the United Pickleball Association.
Despite the merger, both PPA Tour and MLP have maintained their individual branding, with PPA Tour organized in a bracket-style tour and MLP following a team format.
How much does a top-ranked pickleball star earn?
World No.1 Ben Johns’ annual earning rose to $2.5 million in 2021, and 17-year-old Anna Leigh Waters is projected to surpass him as the highest-paid pickleball player in 2024, earning over $3 million, as per her agent Kelly Wolf.
Similar to tennis, pickleball has seen rapid growth globally, including in India. There is a possibility of pickleball being included in the Olympic programme in the coming years.
