Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Everything you missed in pickleball pop culture in April 2025

 

April’s Pickleball Dot Com Rap Report: The Month in Pop Culture

A play-by-play of April 2025’s biggest moments—from epic upsets and record-breaking rallies to celebrity cameo serves—framed by our new anthem, April’s Pickleball Dot Com Rap Report.


Introduction
April was a whirlwind on and off the courts. Major League Pickleball kicked off a landmark sponsorship with DoorDash, PPA stars stunned fans in North Carolina, and pickleball devotees shattered a Guinness World Record with marathon rallies. Alongside these feats, WWE icons grabbed paddles, JOOLA rolled out fresh graphic tees, and Orlando Magic legends matched up for charity. All this and more inspired our rap-report anthem, capturing the pulse of pickleball pop culture this month.


0:00 Intro

  • DoorDash becomes the title sponsor of Major League Pickleball.

  • PPA’s Violia North Carolina Open sets the scene.

Major League Pickleball announced a multiyear title sponsorship deal with DoorDash, rebranding the league as “MLP presented by DoorDash”, complete with branded food pickup zones and perks for DashPass members Sports Business Journal. Simultaneously, the PPA opened its Violia North Carolina Open, teasing the upsets to come PPA Tour.


0:08 PPA North Carolina Upsets

  • Top seeds Anna Leigh Waters & Catherine Parenteau fall in women’s doubles.

  • Roscoe Bellamy and Jorja & Tyra Johnson shock the bracket.

Defending women’s doubles champions Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau, the No. 1 seed, were upset by Jorja Johnson and Tyra Black in straight games, marking Waters’ first tournament without a gold since 2021 PPA Tour. In mixed doubles, Roscoe Bellamy’s first championship-Sunday run added to the toppling of favorites, underscoring the tournament’s unpredictable energy PPA Tour.


0:47 Christian Alshon Flicks Off Eric Oncins

  • Texas Ranchers teammates clash on court.

  • A moment of heat at the PPA North Carolina Open.

During a heated men’s doubles match, Christian Alshon was caught on camera flicking off teammate Eric Oncins after a stunning upset, sparking debate over on-court decorum and sportsmanship YouTube.


1:08 Guinness World Record Marathon

  • Pickle Breakers stage a 36-hour rally in Texas.

  • Record triumph benefits charitable causes.

In Carrollton, Texas, four pickleball enthusiasts played 36 consecutive hours, smashing the previous record of 34 hours and 5 minutes UPICBS News. Their marathon raised over $18,000 for Taylor’s Gift, supporting organ-donor families in need 107.9 RGV FM.


1:17 Anna Leigh Waters & Catherine Parenteau Split

  • The most dominant women’s doubles partnership ends.

  • Waters teams up next with rival Anna Bright.

After years atop the women’s doubles rankings, Waters and Parenteau announced their split, surprising fans who had seen them storm national championships together The Kitchen. Waters’ new partnership with former rival Anna Bright promises fresh rivalries and storylines.


1:55 WWE Stars Play Pickleball

  • Celtic Warriors wrestlers swap the ring for the court.

  • Celebrity crossover boosts viewership.

In their hit YouTube series, Celtic Warriors, WWE stars challenged pickleball pros, serving up dramatic rallies that blurred the lines between sports entertainment and athletic competition YouTube.


2:41 JOOLA Launches New Graphic Tees

  • Fresh apparel line debuts at MLP Orlando.

  • Bold designs marry style and function.

Pickleball gear maker JOOLA unveiled a spring/summer 2025 graphic-tee collection, featuring vibrant court-inspired artwork and performance fabrics, timed to coincide with Orlando’s MLP season opener Pickleball.com.


3:05 Anna Leigh Waters’ Masterclass

  • A 45-minute coaching session streams online.

  • Waters shares pro tips with rising talents.

Waters led a masterclass with content creator Kyle Kotzuta, breaking down advanced dinks, third-shot drops, and mental strategies in a session that drew thousands of views and rave reviews YouTube.


3:22 Orlando Magic Alums for Charity

  • Bo Outlaw, Terrence Ross, Brandon Bass & Rashard Lewis join.

  • Proceeds support the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation.

Orlando Magic legends teamed with the Orlando Squeeze for a fundraising event, blending NBA star power with pickleball’s growing appeal and raising funds for local youth programs YouTube.


3:37 Hayden Patriquin’s Outburst

  • The St. Louis Shock pro lashes out on court.

  • “Effing b----” comment about Waters goes viral.

Hayden Patriquin’s profane remark toward Waters during an MLP Orlando match was captured live, igniting conversations about player conduct and social-media moderation YouTube.


4:46 Orlando Squeeze Enjoy Orlando

  • Team explores local attractions post-tournament.

  • Disney World visits and Magic games underscore team camaraderie.

Following competition, the Squeeze visited an Orlando Magic game and Disney World, highlighting the lifestyle and travel perks of professional pickleball YouTube.


5:00 Maggie Brascia Graduates College

  • Conferred with a computer-science degree at Concordia University.

  • Balances athletics and academics.

MLP pro Maggie Brascia celebrated her bachelor’s degree in computer science, exemplifying the student-athlete journey in pickleball’s professional ranks YouTube.


5:23 James Ignatowich Gets Christian Alshon’s Autograph

  • A fan-favorite moment captured on camera.

  • Highlights the community spirit of the tour.

Rising player James Ignatowich sought Alshon’s autograph in a lighthearted tableau, illustrating the camaraderie and mutual respect among pros and fans alike YouTube.


5:31 Rohrabacher & Parenteau Partner for PPA Atlanta

  • A “revenge tour” duo forms.

  • Fans anticipate intense matchups.

Rachel Rohrabacher and Catherine Parenteau announced their PPA Atlanta partnership, teasing a storyline built on past rivalries and championship aspirations YouTube.


5:43 Lady Gaga’s Designer Pickleball Dress

  • Pop icon dons a Norma Kamali creation.

  • Fashion meets sport in a viral Instagram post.

Lady Gaga shared images of herself in a custom pickleball dress by Norma Kamali, spotlighting the sport’s crossover into high fashion and celebrity culture YouTube.


5:54 Outro

  • Invitations to follow on Instagram and visit Pickleball.com.

  • Teaser for next month’s coverage.

The segment closed by urging viewers to scan QR codes for exclusive content and PPA tour information, ensuring the community stays engaged and in the loop YouTube.


In-Depth Summary

April 2025 solidified pickleball’s place in mainstream culture. The DoorDash sponsorship deal underscores the sport’s commercial growth Sports Business Journal, while the Veolia North Carolina Open upsets demonstrated the depth of competition at the pro level PPA Tour. Record-setting marathon rallies showed the community’s passion and charitable spirit UPI. Celebrity involvement—from WWE stars to Lady Gaga—amplified pickleball’s crossover appeal, and apparel collaborations like JOOLA’s graphic tees confirmed that pickleball isn’t just a game, but a lifestyle Pickleball.com. Through coaching masterclasses and heartfelt graduation milestones, the human stories behind the headlines shone brightly. As the sport continues to evolve and expand, April’s Pickleball Dot Com Rap Report captured a snapshot of a moment when pickleball truly served up culture, community, and competition in perfect harmony.  

  1. 0:00 Intro
  2. 0:08 PPA North Carolina Upsets
  3. 0:47 Christian Alshon flicks off Eric Oncins
  4. 1:08 Pickleball players break Guinness World Record
  5. 1:17 Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau Split
  6. 1:55 WWE stars play pickleball
  7. 2:41 JOOLA launches new graphic tees
  8. 3:05 Anna Leigh Waters teaches a pickleball masterclass
  9. 3:22 Orlando Magic alums play pickleball for charity
  10. 3:37 Hayden Patriquin calls AWL an f****** b****
  11. 4:46 Orlando Squeeze enjoy Orlando
  12. 5:00 Maggie Brascia graduates college
  13. 5:23 James Ignatowich gets Christian Alshon's autograph
  14. 5:31 Rohrabacher and Parenteau partner up for PPA Atlanta
  15. 5:43 Lady Gaga wears designer pickleball dress
  16. 5:54 Outro

April's Pickleball Dot Com Rap Report v2 [Verse 1 – Jazz] (0:000:47) Walk in the court, smooth like satin, neon beams, DoorDash fueling dreams, PPA North Carolina scenes. Roscoe’s on the rise, Jorja’s lightning strikes, Anna Leigh and Parenteau split, raising hearts alike. Christian Alshon’s flick, snapped off in a Texas breeze, Eric Oncins in the rearview, no time to freeze. Guinness rally marathon—thirty-six hours strong, Sweet triumph in each point, like a midnight jazz song. [Chorus – ’90s Rap] (0:471:08) Yo, it’s pop culture pickleball, hear the beat drop, WWE legends serve, watch those rallies bop. Graphic tees by JOOLA, style on the rise, Masterclass with Waters, wisdom in her eyes. Orlando Magic alums spin, charity’s the play, Big H calls ALW a F ** B ****, chaos in the 5's fray. Orlando Squeeze livin’ large, Magic city pride, “Pop ‘n’ Serve” worldwide—we ride or die! [Verse 2 – Folk] (1:082:41) Soft strums under Florida sky, Maggie Brascia walks the stage, Graduation cap in hand, she’s turned a new page. Big Poppa Jimmy lines up, autograph in hand, Christian Alshon smiles wide, fans across the land. Rohrabacher and Parenteau join forces for Atlanta’s fight, Revenge tour glimmers in the Georgia night. Lady Gaga’s designer dress sways, couture meets the court, Agassi helps grow the sport—tennis legend’s sweet retort. [Chorus – ’90s Rap] (2:413:37) Pickleball pop culture, legends in the frame, From film set to paddle set, it’s more than just a game. Flicks, flips, marathon grips—we break the world mold, New chapters every serve—stories to be told. Pop ‘n’ Serve an anthem, feel the bass drum thump, Every time the ball flies, feel your spirit jump. [Bridge – Jazz] (3:374:46) Cool piano runs, brushes on the skin, Big H's outcry, then the crowd jumps in. Squeeze under spotlights, Disney dreams in tow, Alli and Michael roam, where magic moments grow. [Verse 3 – Folk] (4:465:54) Maggie’s cap aloft, cheers echo through the hall, Stack Athletics summers rise, fashion answers call. Clint Frasier pairs with Nevel, diamond fields to courts, Rivals find respect, friendship holds the fort. QR codes on your screen, join the pickleball tide, Scan, follow, live the dream—come along for the ride.

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