America’s fastest-growing sport just landed a game-changing partnership.
Corporate sponsors are finally taking notice of pickleball’s incredible rise.
And Sportiqe just made one major move that will have pickleball fans racing to buy gear.
Major League Pickleball scores big with premium apparel deal
Pickleball has become impossible to ignore over the past few years.
This sport has absolutely exploded across the country over the past few years.
Your neighbor probably has a pickleball paddle in their garage. Your local tennis courts have been converted to pickleball courts. Even celebrities like Tom Brady and LeBron James are getting in on the action.
What started as something retirees played at the community center has turned into a legitimate professional sport with serious money behind it.
Major League Pickleball has been leading this charge, turning weekend warriors into spectators who actually tune in to watch the pros compete.
The league announced this week that Sportiqe will become their official apparel partner.
That means the Phoenix-based clothing company will be outfitting everyone from the athletes to the staff to the fans with their premium gear.
Matt Altman, CEO and Co-Founder of Sportiqe, couldn’t contain his excitement about the deal.
“At Sportiqe, we believe comfort inspires confidence – and confidence drives performance,” Altman said. “We’re thrilled to bring our apparel to Major League Pickleball and support a sport that’s exploding in popularity, inclusivity, and energy.”
Smart money follows the action
Here’s the thing about business partnerships – companies don’t throw money around unless they see dollar signs.
Sportiqe has been around since 2006, so they know a good opportunity when they see one.
And right now, pickleball is about as hot as it gets in the sports world.
The numbers don’t lie. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball participation increased by over 650% between 2016 and 2021, reaching 4.8 million players.
By 2023, that number had exploded to 13.6 million Americans playing the sport regularly.
The Association of Pickleball Professionals reports that nearly 50 million adult Americans have played pickleball at least once in the past 12 months.
That represents about 19% of the total adult population.
Major League Pickleball features over 100 of the best athletes across 22 teams.
The league has iconic team owners and puts on some of the most entertaining live events you’ll find in sports today.
In 2024, MLP merged with the PPA Tour under the newly-formed United Pickleball Association.
Basically, they combined the two biggest professional pickleball organizations into one powerhouse.
DoorDash already signed on as the presenting sponsor, which tells you everything you need to know about where this sport is headed.
Fans get the good stuff
The best part of this deal? Regular pickleball players will finally get access to professional-quality gear.
Sportiqe plans to roll out a full collection of officially licensed MLP apparel during the 2025 season.
We’re not talking about cheap t-shirts with a logo slapped on them.
Sportiqe has built their reputation on creating premium athletic wear that actually holds up to repeated use.
Their stuff works whether you’re competing on the court or just want to look good while running errands.
The collection will be available online at Majorleaguepickleball.com and Pickleballcentral.com.
You’ll also be able to buy items at Major League Pickleball events throughout the season.
This gives everyday players the chance to wear the same gear that professional athletes use during competition.
That’s a big deal for a sport where most of the available merchandise has been pretty basic up until now.
Business follows the eyeballs
The business world has finally recognized pickleball’s massive potential.
Television networks are picking up more pickleball coverage because people actually watch it.
The format works perfectly for TV – fast-paced action, easy-to-understand scoring, and matches that don’t drag on forever.
Corporate sponsors love sports that deliver engaged audiences, and pickleball is delivering in spades.
The sport attracts players and fans across all age groups, which is gold for advertisers trying to reach different demographics.
Plus, pickleball has this unique ability to bring people together. It’s competitive but not intimidating. Accessible but still challenging.
That combination creates passionate fans who stick around and spend money on gear, lessons, and events.
Sportiqe is betting that this passion translates into serious sales for their apparel line.
Given the trajectory of professional pickleball, that looks like a pretty safe bet.
The sport shows no signs of slowing down, and partnerships like this one will only accelerate its growth.
Companies that get in early on trends like this often reap the biggest rewards.
Sportiqe appears to have positioned themselves perfectly to capitalize on America’s newest sports obsession.
