What is Powerball's relationship with pickleball?
On February 9, 2026, the Professional Pickleball Association announced Powerball as the official title sponsor of its Pickleball State Championship Series. The competition became the Powerball Pickleball State Championship Series.
The relationship is national rather than a one-off event sponsorship. The series covers more than 55 tournaments across all 50 states and is focused primarily on amateur players competing for state titles. Powerball also receives prominent naming exposure at the Pickleball World Championships through the Powerball Championship Court.
That makes the partnership distinct from a conventional advertising deal: Powerball has naming rights attached to both the nationwide state series and a major championship court.
What is the Powerball Pickleball State Championship Series?
The series gives amateur pickleball players a structured state-level route into national championship competition. Events are organised across the United States, with divisions based on factors such as age and skill level.
Some states can host more than one event, which is why the total tournament count is greater than 50. Winners are not simply receiving a Powerball-branded medal: eligible gold medalists can progress through the PPA competition structure toward the Pickleball World Championships.
Powerball is part of the competition's official name
This distinction matters when describing the relationship. Powerball is the title sponsor of the series, rather than merely an advertiser appearing around selected courts or tournaments.
How can state champions reach the Pickleball World Championships?
The pathway begins at state level and is deliberately straightforward.
- Enter a state championship. Players register for an eligible division at a PPA State Championship event.
- Compete for gold. Events crown winners within their relevant age and skill divisions.
- Earn state-champion status. Eligible gold medal winners become state champions in their division.
- Advance to Worlds. State champions receive automatic qualification into designated state-champion brackets at the Pickleball World Championships.
What is the Powerball Championship Court?
The PPA partnership announcement states that the Championship Court at the Pickleball World Championships carries the Powerball Championship Court name. It is the showcase court on which leading professional players compete for championship honours.
This gives the partnership two different levels of visibility: grassroots exposure through state amateur championships and high-profile exposure at the sport's World Championships.
Why did Powerball partner with pickleball?
Public statements from the organisations emphasise community participation. PPA founder and CEO Connor Pardoe described the agreement as an investment in local amateur pickleball, while Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn connected the series with opportunity, community and athletes pursuing championship ambitions.
PIVOT Agency's role
The official announcement also identifies PIVOT Agency, the PPA's sponsorship sales agency of record, as having assisted in developing the partnership. That detail is useful for researchers examining how the commercial relationship was created rather than only how it appears to spectators.
What the agreement does not establish
The documented sponsorship is with the PPA State Championship Series. It should not be interpreted as evidence that Powerball sponsors every U.S. pickleball organisation, every pickleball tournament, or the sport's governing bodies generally.