The Taste Northwest launches first annual pickleball tournament
May 24, 2025, 11:00 AM
A collection of pickleball equipment on display. (Photo: Presley Ann, Getty Images)
(Photo: Presley Ann, Getty Images)
Many call pickleball Washington’s official sport—a sport more popular than ever.
Next month, paddlers and pickleball enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest have a chance to compete in a brand new competition: The Puyallup Paddle Battle.
A limited number of teams can register now, but anyone can go watch the action on professional courts. The tournament lasts from June 27 to 29 at The Taste Northwest, a weekend event featuring food, drinks, and entertainment at the fairgrounds in Puyallup.
It’s the first annual pickleball tournament within The Taste Northwest’s festivities.
June 27 is dedicated to women’s doubles, June 28 is for mixed doubles, and June 29 is for men’s doubles.
Washington’s love for pickleball
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Washington has had a burgeoning pickleball movement over the last five years. In May 2023, it was announced that Seattle had the most pickleball courts per 100,000 people in the U.S., though it has since been passed up by Louisville, Kentucky, Madison, Wisconsin, and Honolulu, Hawaii.
For the third year in a row, pickleball, which originated from Bainbridge Island just outside of Seattle when it was invented in 1965, was crowned the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., according to SFIA’s Topline Participation Report. Pickleball has grown 51.8% from 2022 to 2023, and by 224% over the last three years. Every age demographic saw a growth in participation during this span.
But pickleball enthusiasts in the Puget Sound region have struggled to enjoy the sport as most of the courts for pickleball are outdoors, conflicting with the region’s rainy climate. Luckily, the Puyallup Paddle Battle is an indoor tournament.
Last December, Side Out Pickleball Centers opened the first indoor facility dedicated to pickleball in the Seattle metro area, with plans to open a 26-court center later this year in South Seattle. Former NFL star quarterback Drew Brees’ pickleball company, Picklr, quickly followed suit, replacing Theo Chocolate in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood.
In April, Pickleball Kingdom announced it will inhabit a 40,000 square foot facility in Lynnwood, replacing a now-shuttered Bed Bath and Beyond located at 3115 196th Street SW.
Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest
