Top Pros Are Leaving: 'what's The Future Of The App Tour?'

The APP's number one singles player just made a major move – she's not the first top talent to jump ship, and she likely won't be the last.

Sofia Sewing's switch to the PPA Tour raises some big questions about the APP's ability to keep its best players and what it means for the future of professional pickleball, according to a recent video from PPA Tour pro Zane Navratil.

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The Pattern That's Hard to Ignore

Sewing isn't alone. She joins Chris Haworth, Hunter Johnson, and Parris Todd as former APP Tour number ones to make the jump to the PPA Tour.

That's not a coincidence. That's starting to feel like a trend.

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According to Zane, there are two main reasons why the APP keeps losing its top talent:

• The PPA has deeper pockets and can offer bigger contracts
• The PPA provides far more exposure for players at the top of their rankings

When you're the number one player in the world, you want to play where the cameras are and where the money is. The PPA delivers on both fronts, he says.

What About Tour Wars?

The APP could potentially be playing the long game. Tour Wars contracts are set to expire at the end of 2026, which could theoretically open the door for the APP to reclaim some talent.

But here's the catch: most top players have already extended their contracts through 2028. By the time those Tour Wars deals expire, the APP might be left with PPA leftovers instead of the stars they need.

Pro Pickleball Shake-Up: Insights & Implications for New Player Contract Extensions

If all goes according to plan for the UPA, players will shift from guaranteed contracts to an incentive-based model.

The Dink PickleballZane Navratil

What's Next for the APP?

The APP isn't going away, says Zane, but its domestic strategy appears to be struggling. The organization has pivoted toward building a global pickleball alliance, which is a smart move.

Still, the long-term strategy remains unclear.

APP Leads New Global Alliance to Unite Professional Pickleball

The APP has announced a partnership with the CNPL, Australia’s NPL, Global Sports, Pickleball England, and Vietnam’s Pickleball D-Joy for the 2026 year, forming a global alliance of pickleball with more than 30 combined events throughout the year.

The Dink PickleballErik Tice

The bottom line: competition in pickleball is good for the sport. But if the APP can't figure out how to keep its top talent, says Zane, it's going to be hard for them to compete domestically in the long-term.

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