DUPR invests in RacquetX and announces 18 annual pickleball awards
Summary by Coachino Daily Digest · Original reporting by DUPR Official Announcement
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DUPR announced a strategic investment in RacquetX on November 5, alongside 18 DUPR Awards categories covering players, coaches, clubs, events and technology. Nominations begin December 1, public voting runs February 15–March 15, 2027, and the first ceremony is scheduled for April 10. Most categories split votes between the public and expert panel.
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Coachino Insight: recognising coaches and organisers alongside stars rewards the broader sports ecosystem.
MLP Asia has named Franklin Sports its Official Ball Partner and JOOLA its Official Net Partner for the league’s inaugural season, which begins 13 November. Franklin’s X-44 will be used throughout the season, while JOOLA nets will be installed at every court across match days in six cities, through the MLP Asia Finals.
The six-team season runs over five weeks, with the top four advancing to the finals. The partnerships bring consistent equipment to the new league as Major League Pickleball arrives in Asia.
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For players and coaches, a league-wide ball and net standard means match conditions will be consistent across the season’s six host cities.
Anna Leigh Waters shared a video tour of Nike’s custom pickleball booth at the Pickleball World Championships, underway this week at Brookhaven Country Club outside Dallas. The modern display includes merchandise themed around Waters, and she revealed a new shoe colorway in the video.
The booth brings the apparel and footwear brand’s partnership with Waters into view at the event, giving attendees a chance to see its pickleball-focused setup in person.
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For players and clubs, Nike’s on-site display shows how a major apparel partnership can connect athlete branding, product launches and direct engagement with pickleball fans.
DUPR has appointed JOOLA as title sponsor, expanding a partnership that already includes college competition and an official ball agreement. The announcement also adds a shopping benefit: eligible DUPR+ members receive a $30 gift card for JOOLA products, while annual membership costs $19.99.
The offer applies only in eligible countries, but the announcement does not identify them. JOOLA already sponsors the DUPR College Pickleball Tour, and its JOOLA HC-40 serves as DUPR’s official ball for competitions it operates or sanctions.
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For athletes weighing DUPR+, the gift card exceeds the annual fee in face value, but country eligibility remains an important unanswered detail.
