Most people know the distinctive pop of pickleball. Fewer know the stories of the people who helped transform a backyard game into one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.
To celebrate, the Pickleball Hall of Fame is hosting a weekend celebration from Thursday, Nov. 12, to Saturday, Nov. 14. The party begins with a benefit screening of the documentary “The Power of Pickleball” at the Gold Canyon Resort & Spa, 6100 S. Kings Ranch Rd., Gold Canyon.
Up next is the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 14, also at the Gold Canyon Resort & Spa. The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the formal induction ceremony at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $10, while full-event tickets, including dinner, are $65.
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The 2026 inductees will be honored on the courts at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa on Saturday, Nov. 14. For tickets and more information, visit pickleballhalloffame.global.
This year’s induction ceremony will recognize five people who helped shape pickleball’s evolution. The Class of 2026 includes players Lucy Kovalova, Matt Wright and Dave Weinbach, along with contributors Marsha Freso and Linda Laymon. Freso and Laymon are the first referees inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Kovalova is a singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles champion, while Wright is “one of the most accomplished doubles players. Weinbach is a multi-time U.S. Open champion across open professional, skill/age and senior professional categories.
“As a sport that’s growing as quickly as pickleball, it’s very important that we have something like the Hall of Fame that is preserving the history, connecting the legacy with the future,” said Melissa McCurley, the Pickleball Hall of Fame’s acting president.
“That way, we don’t run the risk of losing the sport’s history.”
The Pickleball Hall of Fame was founded in 2017 by Seymour Rifkin, the founder of the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association. He has visited more than 40 countries to certify people to teach pickleball.
Pickleball’s visibility increased during the COVID-19 pandemic because social distancing was easy to maintain. The sport’s popularity grew as celebrities and athletes became involved. LeBron James bought a Major League Pickleball team with Kevin Love. Drew Brees co-founded pickleball festivals and is an active investor and supporter. Peyton Manning invested in companies that produce pickleball gear. And that’s just a few.
“It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t thought or heard the name ‘pickleball.’ But when you say Pickleball Hall of Fame, people are like, ‘There’s a Hall of Fame for pickleball?’”
Unlike many sports halls of fame, pickleball’s Hall of Fame does not yet have a permanent physical home. A major step is scheduled for January, when the Hall of Fame plans to launch an online museum that will let fans learn more about the sport’s history and notable figures. The digital platform is expected to serve as a virtual gateway to the hall’s collection and educational efforts.
The organization is also exploring partnerships with major tournaments and events, where traveling exhibits could introduce thousands of spectators to the Hall of Fame experience.
At the same time, supporters are helping fund future growth. Recently, the organization launched the Keepers 100 initiative, inviting 100 people to contribute $500 each to build a sustainable foundation for the Hall of Fame’s work. According to McCurley, the effort exceeded expectations in awareness and participation.
For now, the Hall of Fame is excited about its induction ceremony. After this year, the Hall of Fame will have 41 honorees.
“It’s fun to connect with the pioneers, the people who blazed the trail,” McCurley said. “It’s fun to see new people get exposed to the Hall of Fame who just didn’t have any idea, and they become somewhat fascinated with the history they’re now a part of.”
