COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tuesday, March 4, 2025) – The Professional Pickleball Association is proud to bring the inaugural season of the PPA Challenger Series Powered by JOOLA to the Columbia region on March 28 – 30. The tournament will be held at the brand-new Cayce Pickleball Complex and player registration is now open for all amateur players through March 21.

Bringing together the power of the PPA Tour brand and the grassroots energy and passion of amateur pickleball players, the PPA Challenger Series will create an avenue for players across America to break into professional pickleball and earn a place on the Carvana PPA Tour. 

Spanning the country with over 16 tour stops this year, the series features amateur and aspiring professional pickleball players battling for victory and chasing their dreams. With a commitment to fostering growth and development within the pickleball community, the introduction of the PPA Challenger Series aims to nurture emerging talent, encourage participation and ultimately expand the sport into new frontiers.

The PPA Tour is partnering with two local host organizations. Experience Columbia SC Sports, an arm of the region’s destination marketing organization, is working to help promote the event via online calendars, social media signage and more, as well as organizing hotel information and arranging vendor connections. 

The Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission is providing the venue, the Cayce Pickleball Complex, which is a brand-new 16-court facility. The PPA Challenger Series is expected to be their first major event.

The Columbia PPA Challenger is estimated to generate around $700,000 in economic impact to the area by way of lodging, retail and food and beverage sales.

In addition to the competitive interest and appeal, this event features a $10,000 prize pool. Participants are encouraged to stay informed with the latest updates as they become available. 

The schedule runs Friday through Sunday, with men’s and women’s singles taking place on Friday, gender doubles on Saturday and mixed doubles on Sunday. The professional players will run on the same schedule as the amateur competitors. Additionally, each Challenger Series winner can choose one PPA Tour Open event for entry into the main draw (max of two challenger winners per draw per tournament).

The Columbia 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. With its enthusiastic grassroots approach and commitment to growing the sport, the PPA Challenger Series is set to make a lasting impact on the South Carolina pickleball community.

For more information, please visit the PPA Challenger Series website.