Challenger · 50085 Days Out
Pathway to the Pro Tour
PPA Tour Challenger Series
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A PPA-run tournament at clubs across the country. Skill divisions 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.
The PPA Challenger Rankings award players points based on their results at PPA Challenger tournaments, and top finishers will earn their spot in the “PPA Challenger Showdown in Dallas,” where players will battle 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 Stops
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 · 50099 Days Out
Challenger · 500113 Days Out
PPA Tour
Peachtree Corners PPA ChallengerFeb 5–7, 2027
Life Time PeachTree Corners · Peachtree Corners, GA
Event DetailsChallenger · 500141 Days Out
Challenger · 500183 Days Out
PPA Tour
Auburn-Opelika PPA ChallengerApr 16–18, 2027
Opelika Pickleball Club · Opelika, AL
Event DetailsChallenger · 500197 Days Out
Challenger · 500204 Days Out
Challenger · 500218 Days Out
Challenger · 500232 Days Out
Challenger · 500246 Days Out
Challenger · 500267 Days Out
Challenger · 500281 Days Out
Challenger · 250295 Days Out
PPA Tour
Seattle PPA ChallengerAug 6–8, 2027
Sideout Tsunami Pickleball Center · Seattle, WA
Event DetailsChallenger · 500330 Days Out
Challenger · 500344 Days Out
Challenger · 500372 Days Out
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 | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Jul 17–19, 2026 | Macon PPA Challenger | Macon, GA | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Jun 26–28, 2026 | Portland PPA Challenger | Westbrook, ME | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Jun 12–14, 2026 | Boise PPA Challenger | Meridian, ID | 500 | Results ↗ |
| May 29–31, 2026 | Fracas in Fort Collins PPA Challenger | Fort Collins, CO | 500 | Results ↗ |
| May 22–24, 2026 | Wilson PPA Challenger | Wilson, NC | 500 | Results ↗ |
| May 1–3, 2026 | Black Desert PPA Challenger | Santa Clara, UT | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Apr 17–19, 2026 | Opelika PPA Challenger | Opelika, AL | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Apr 3–5, 2026 | Newport Beach PPA Challenger | Newport Beach, CA | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Mar 6–8, 2026 | AdventHealth Tampa Bay Challenger | Tampa, FL | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Feb 20–22, 2026 | Houston PPA Challenger | Atascocita, TX | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Jan 23–25, 2026 | Tucson PPA Challenger | Tucson, AZ | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Jan 9–11, 2026 | Punta Gorda PPA Challenger | Punta Gorda, FL | 500 | Results ↗ |
| Dec 12–14, 2025 | Raleigh PPA Challenger | Raleigh, NC | 500 | Results ↗ |
How It Works
Divisions, Prize Money and the Wild Card
01
Who Can Play
Every stop runs skill divisions 3.0 through 5.0 and a Pro Division. PPA Tour pros ranked inside the top 20 of a division are not eligible to enter that division at a Challenger.
02
What the Pros Play For
Each event carries a $10,000 prize pool, split among the Pro Division's podium finishers. Champions in men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles earn PPA ranking points.
03
The Wild Card
Win a Challenger pro event and you earn a wild-card entry into the main draw of a PPA Tour Open of your choosing. Each Open takes at most two wild-card winners.
Points
How Challenger Points Work
Each Challenger awards 125 or 250 points to the champion, and points go deeper into the draw at both levels. Every stop's level is on its card in the schedule above.
| 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
The Challenger rankings update after every event. They count points from the past 52 weeks and from the current calendar year. A player's best 16 finishes count toward the leaderboard.
Five divisions
Points are awarded in 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 a stop
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 ends at the Opendoor Pickleball World Championships, the largest event in pickleball. The highest-ranked players without a PPA Tour contract are invited to Brookhaven Country Club to play for one.
8 players leave signed: a 2027 PPA Tour contract and professional status on the tour.
- WhenNov 5–7, 2026
- WhereBrookhaven Country Club · Farmers Branch, TX
- Field8 teams per event, in two pools
- 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 & 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 on Challenger ranking. Pool play is round robin, and the top two from each pool reach the semifinals. Every match is best of three.
In both doubles events the top seed picks a partner, and the picks run down the rankings from there. Both players have to agree, and every team is confirmed by October 26.
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 stop.
Put Your Brand in Front of Players in 15 States
Challenger stops 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 Stop
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