Edwardsville’s 2025 Challenger series: Professional pickleball is set to make waves in Edwardsville, Ill., next year as the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Challenger Series makes a tour stop at Plummer Family Park. From August 1 to August 3, 2025, the Edwardsville IL PPA Challenger Powered by JOOLA will give aspiring professional players the chance to compete for glory and a step closer to the elite Carvana PPA Tour.
The PPA Challenger Series is a brand-new professional league created to provide opportunities for up-and-coming players to show their skills. It serves as a bridge to the higher-level Carvana PPA Tour, where only the top pickleball professionals compete. Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy expressed excitement over the city being part of the league’s inaugural season.
“We are incredibly proud for Edwardsville to be one of the tour stops for the inaugural PPA Challenger Series. Our Plummer Family Park is a popular destination for the area’s enthusiastic community of pickleball players and fans. We’re excited to show off our terrific courts and our beautiful city.” – (Art Risavy)
What is the PPA Challenger Series?
The Challenger Series is a stepping stone for talented players aiming to join the Carvana PPA Tour. It gives players outside the Top 20 rankings a structured opportunity to compete and improve their standings. In 2025, there will be 16 tournaments as part of the Challenger Series, with Edwardsville proudly hosting one of these key events.
Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour, emphasized how the new league benefits pickleball players at every level.
“We have been excited to create more grassroots opportunities for amateur players as well as a structured pathway to the Carvana PPA Tour for aspiring professionals for a long time and we have done just that with the Challenger Series Powered by JOOLA.” – (Pardoe)
“This new tour will not only elevate the level of play but also inspire and motivate amateurs to reach new heights in their pickleball journey while bringing the PPA Tour’s brand of electric pickleball action to new levels of intensity.” – (Pardoe)
The Challenger Series Tour will feature a $10,000 prize purse for the pro divisions. Players can earn leaderboard points based on their performance, which count toward their Challenger Series rankings. Winners can also earn an entry into a PPA Tour Open main draw, further advancing their professional careers.
Excitement for Edwardsville and the Local Economy
The event is expected to bring significant benefits to Edwardsville and the surrounding areas. The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau estimates that the PPA Challenger Series will generate approximately $800,000 in revenue for the city.
“We are thrilled to bring this exciting new sporting event to Southwest Illinois. This is the first professional pickleball event in Illinois with the PPA, and it’s an incredible opportunity to showcase top-tier talent and bring the energy of this rapidly growing sport to the Edwardsville community.” – (Cory M. Jobe, president and CEO-Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau)
“We look forward to welcoming participants and spectators from near and far, and we are confident that this event will become an annual tradition that Edwardsville can be proud of.” – (Cory M. Jobe)
Who Can Compete in the Challenger Series?
Players eligible for the Challenger Series must be outside the Top 20 rankings of the PPA Tour at the close of entry. Top performances in the Challenger Series can help players move up in the standings and gain recognition within professional pickleball.
The Challenger Series features a clear point system:
- 125 points for winners
- 100 points for finalists
- 75 points for third place
- 50 points for fourth place
- 25 points for quarterfinalists
- 12 points for those making the round of 16
- 6 points for the round of 32
- 3 points for the round of 64
Points earned in Challenger Series tournaments will help players qualify for higher-level events and build their careers in the sport.
Tournament Schedule and How to Watch
The Edwardsville IL PPA Challenger will run over three days with competitions for professionals and amateurs:
- Friday: Men’s and Women’s Singles
- Saturday: Gender Doubles
- Sunday: Mixed Doubles
Tickets for the event will be available via TIXR, with grounds passes priced at $15. All participants receive grounds passes with their entry fee. For fans who can’t make it to Plummer Family Park, the event’s Championship Court matches will be live-streamed on the NEW Tennis Channel App and the PPA Tour YouTube Channel.
Growing Pickleball in Edwardsville
The PPA Challenger Series aims to grow the sport of pickleball across the United States, and Edwardsville’s inclusion in this inaugural season marks a milestone for the local community.
“The Edwardsville IL PPA Challenger Powered by JOOLA promises to be an exhilarating experience for amateur players, offering them an incredible opportunity to take their game to the next level alongside aspiring professionals seeking to join the ranks of the world’s preeminent pickleball tour.” – (Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau)
“With its enthusiastic grassroots approach and commitment to growing the sport, the PPA Challenger Series is set to make a lasting impact on the western Illinois pickleball community.” – (Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau)
With the Challenger Series’ grassroots approach, the event will inspire players of all ages to get involved in the sport. It is also expected to leave a lasting impact on Edwardsville’s growing pickleball community, providing a show for top-tier competition and talent.
News in Brief: Edwardsville’s 2025 Challenger Series
Edwardsville, Ill., will host the PPA Challenger Series at Plummer Family Park from August 1-3, 2025. As part of the new league for rising pickleball professionals, the event offers a $10,000 prize purse and leaderboard points that help players advance to the elite Carvana PPA Tour.
With a projected $800,000 boost to the local economy, this exciting event promises competitive action, community fun, and big opportunities for aspiring pickleball stars.
