NOX USPA Circuit prize pool rises to $140,000 for 2025

All four USPA 2000 tournaments will now offer a minimum $20,000 purse as the association looks to build on strong growth for padel across the US.

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Padel Business Magazine
February 06, 2025

The United States Padel Association (USPA) has announced unprecedented prize pools for this year’s NOX USPA Circuit calendar, as well as an expansion of its Age Group Circuit. 

The USPA is also making changes to include more competition and a new ranking system amid rapid growth for the sport across the US, highlighted in the association’s first annual report published last month. 

All four USPA 2000 tournaments will now offer a minimum $20,000 prize pool, with the USPA 1000 tournaments offering $7,500. 

The top nine events will feature a combined minimum purse of $140,000, which the USPA said demonstrates a commitment to attracting the best talent. Previously, prize money ranged from $4,000 to $21,000. 

In addition, the USPA men’s and women’s divisions will now include 35+, 45+, and 55+ age groups. Rankings will be based on a best-of-four results formula compared to the best-of-three method previously used. 

A third change includes a three-tier tournament structure. Age Group Local Tournaments is a new category aimed to attract new players to padel. No USPA membership is required to play and participants can earn 250 points. 

The Age Group Regional Championship is worth 1,000 points and is meant for advanced players travelling to play stronger competition. The Age Group National Championship is worth 1,500 points as the premier event crowning the national champions. Nationals will take place at U-Padel in Woodlands, Texas. 

The USPA is aiming to increase the level of competition while welcoming more participation. Image credit: USPA.

The USPA said its goal is to expand the NOX USPA Circuit to clubs nationwide of all sizes and locations. It said the popularity of the sport will allow it to add more host clubs in the future, with 50 clubs currently designated as such at present. 

Meanwhile, beginning on 8 February, all tournaments will use the new USPA and World Padel Rating (WPR) Tournament Management System. WPR Circuit events will award 750 points to winning pairs, following the same formula as other USPA tournaments. 

The USPA said it is now targeting further expansion of the NOX USPA Circuit. It wants to continue increasing the prize money, feature more matches, and improve level-based play. Its primary goal is to improve the player experience, regardless of the level of the player. 

The association said adding changes like the prize money simultaneously with expanded age group competitions will increase the level of competition while welcoming more participation. 

The 2025 Circuit will be the largest and most diverse version of the tournament to date. Registration began in early January, allowing interested players to join for tournaments from 8 February onwards.