A look at the biggest US pickleball storylines this week — the Veolia National Championships coming to North Carolina, why foam-core paddles keep showing up on the winner's podium, and the sponsor move still shaping the pro tour.
By Deco
The PPA Tour’s Veolia Pickleball National Championships run August 31 – September 6 at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, North Carolina. It’s one of the biggest stops on the calendar, carrying 2,000 ranking points, and it kicks off a stacked late-summer stretch that runs straight through the Pickleball World Championships in November. If you’re watching the pro rankings shift this month, this is the event to keep an eye on.
A lot of this year’s gear conversation has centered on full-foam paddle construction, and the results keep backing it up. Engage’s second full-foam model, the X2, launched with a new “Quad Density” foam core earlier this year — and pro player Eric Oncins switched to it and climbed into the top 10 in both men’s and mixed doubles on the PPA Tour. That’s a useful signal for recreational players too: foam-core paddles aren’t just a marketing trend, they’re showing up in real competitive results. If you’re trying to figure out what “full-foam” and “Quad Density” actually mean for your game, our foam cores explainer breaks it down without the hype.
Anna Leigh Waters, the sport’s most dominant player, ended her long run with Paddletek and signed with Franklin Pickleball earlier this year — a deal that’s expected to shape Franklin’s paddle line going forward. It remains one of the largest athlete-brand moves pickleball has seen, and it’s worth watching how Franklin builds around her heading into the fall tour stretch.
With Nationals three weeks out, expect roster announcements, seeding previews, and probably a few more paddle updates timed to the event. We’ll have it covered here.
Shopping for a paddle before the fall season? Start with our paddle buying guide or browse paddles under $100 if you’re not ready for flagship pricing yet.
Coverage reference: source link (paraphrased; not a quotation).
Roundup
US Pickleball: PPA Goes Global, MLP Playoffs BeginThe PPA Tour unveiled a worldwide ranking system and launched PPA Tour Europe, while the MLP Playoffs opened in Dallas with a stacked Round 1 field.
Roundup
Gear Roundup: Onix Theory Foam Under $100Onix launched the Theory foam-core paddle as a sub-$100 play, 11SIX24 teased Jelly Bean 2 for late August, and budget foam continues to redefine what recreational buyers should expect from mid-tier specs.
Update
Anna Leigh Waters leaves Paddletek for FranklinThe sport's top women's player ended her longtime Paddletek sponsorship and signed a long-term deal with Franklin Pickleball in early 2026 — one of the biggest sponsor moves of the year. Franklin plans to build signature gear around Waters, including paddles in its C45 carbon-fiber line.
Founder & Editor
Deco (Declan Martin) is the founder and editor of US Pickleball Court and The Pickleball Court. He builds catalog-backed buying guides for paddles, court shoes, balls, bags, apparel, accessories, and portable nets, plus pro tour news and where-to-play coverage for US and Canadian players. Focus: verified facts, clear product comparisons, and honest disclosures — not hype.
