Guaranteed contracts out: Prize money structure in

We’ve discussed it briefly on the pod, but more news is coming out about revisions to player contracts for 2026 and beyond. To understand what’s going on, let’s do a quick history lesson.

During Tour Wars in 2023, when the PPA-MLP merger suddenly and unexpectedly went awry, both PPA and MLP signed a flurry of deals for players, each trying to “win” exclusivity for their respective tours. Most of those were 3-year deals, through the end of 2026.

There’s little debate that this chaos (followed by a semi-collapse on MLP’s side, which re-established the merger into what is now UPA) lead to highly inflated contracts, some with clauses that have made the past 2 years a bit messy. (For example: some players were able to negotiate zero MLP participation; others had a much lower threshold for minimum number of events required)

There’s also little debate—among players, MLP owners, and UPA leadership—that the cost of these bloated contracts would not be sustainable for the league long-term. Something had to give.

As we mentioned on the pod, UPA started having re-negotiation conversations with players this spring, ahead of the final year of those Tour Wars contracts. And now, more details have emerged about what these revisions will look like. Currently signed players (“Gold Touring Pros”) are being offered this new deal essentially as a buy-out of the last year of their current contract.

The biggest, most significant change is a return to prize-money structure. No more flat-rate guaranteed contracts (though each player will have a minimum guarantee), expect to see a return to the performance-based model. Additionally, a few other features will be included:

• Replay and line cameras on the top 6 courts (Championship, Grandstand, and Showcase 1-4), which also means challenges available for all these courts, not just the top 2.

• An annual $33M prize pool, guaranteed not to go down.

• A PPA season that runs September - May, and an MLP season May - August.

• 3 tiers of prize money [see below for our detailed breakdown], with the highest tier for players who sign by this summer. Players who sign after Summer 2025 will only be eligible for half the prize money, and unsigned players will play for 25%.

• Players must play a minimum of 25 events (15 specific PPA + 6 MLP events + 4 additional PPA or MLP events)

• Signed players will have a minimum guaranteed salary, should their outcomes not be as expected. These vary by player.

These changes aim to boost the league's financial stability, add more structure, and ramp up the excitement, creating a more appealing product for media partnerships.

It’s completely understandable that some players feel disappointed or even frustrated by the revised contracts, especially those who secured high-paying deals during the chaos of 2023. These individuals made the most of a volatile moment in the sport’s history, and seeing those terms adjusted now can feel like a personal and professional setback. That frustration is valid. At the same time, it's clear that these changes are necessary for the long-term health and sustainability of professional pickleball. By shifting to a prize-money model and realigning incentives, the UPA is creating a more balanced and viable future for the sport. While not every player will be better off under this new structure, the league—and the broader pickleball ecosystem—will be. A strong, stable pro tour ensures there’s still a stage for players to compete, grow their careers, and inspire the next generation.

Let’s break it down

Now you know the basics, let’s take a more detailed look at prize pool money, and how the math works out for certain players.

There are 3 tiers of prize money:

• Gold Touring Pro Contract - available to currently signed players who agree to extend by summer 2025.

• Standard Contract - for any player who signs after summer 2025. Eligible for 50% of Gold Touring Pro winnings.

• Unsigned Players - players entering the main draw via pro qualifiers or wildcard. Eligible for 25% of Gold Contract winnings.

PPA prize grids provide winnings from R16 up to the gold medal, with different amounts depending on the finish and type of event. For example (Gold Touring Pro winnings listed):

• Slam 1st place

  • Gender Doubles $90k (per team)

  • Mixed Doubles $76k (per team)

  • Singles $23k

• Slam Round 16 (lowest round with winnings)

  • Gender Doubles $6k (per team)

  • Mixed Doubles $4k (per team)

  • Singles $1k

• Open 1st place

  • Gender Doubles $38k (per team)

  • Mixed Doubles $30k (per team)

  • Singles $9k

• Open Round 16

  • Gender Doubles $3k (per team)

  • Mixed Doubles $2k (per team)

  • Singles $750

For comparison, playing APP and triple-crowning every event, the max payout would be $144k annually. And unless you place in the top 9, you don’t make anything.

MLP prize money includes appearance fees for regular season events, and winnings for MLP Mid-season and Playoffs. Appearance fee is for the entirety of the MLP season, and is based on one’s PPA ranking at the start of the MLP season. Gold Touring Pro winnings:

• Appearance Fees: $5k - $40k, dependent upon PPA Rank

• Mid-Season Tournament: $5k - $50k per player, based on finish

• Playoffs: $10k - $250k per player, based on finish

A Real Life Example

We looked at a top player and a mid-range player, and ran the numbers to see what they would have made, based on their 2024 performance.

Hayden Patriquin

Hayden played 23 PPA events, including Finals, plus MLP where his team placed 4th at the Mid-Season event, and 3rd in Playoffs. Under the new pay structure, he would have netted around $350,000. While we don’t know his exact guaranteed contract value, this amount was in the ballpark of Tour Wars-era agreements for top 10 players. As much as Hayden has grown since 2024, his trajectory is looking consistently higher in 2026 and beyond.

Julian Arnold

Mr. Andiamo is what we are considering a mid-range player, currently ranked 23 in doubles and 43 in singles, and has a contract that exempted him from MLP. He competed in 20 PPA events in 2024, and of course 0 in MLP. Under the new pay structure, he would have netted approximately $83,000. Assuming the lowest rank completion of MLP, which will be required in 2026 and beyond, it would tack an additional $20k to his total winnings, at minimum. Again, not knowing what his guaranteed Tour Wars salary was, but given that many thought Julian was a top 10 player in 2022— this could be a pretty significant drop for him and players in a similar position.

RUMORS: The Picklr

Don’t miss Jimmy’s (and Tyler’s) future award-winning performance in the latest spot for The Picklr:

thepicklr

View more on Instagram

Up Next: UPA takes over San Clemente

PPA Orange County Cup (Progressive Draw) June 16 - 22

MLP (Premier + Challenger) June 26 - 29

Catch our most recent episode, recapping MLP Daytona Beach

PLUS: Check out the tour of the Lehi Picklr, home of our NEW podcast studio!