USPA membership rises by 53.5% to almost 3,000

The United States Padel Association (USPA) has revealed that its membership climbed by 53.5% to 2,915 in 2025, marking the latest indication of an acceleration in padel’s expansion across the country.

The jump in individual membership numbers, detailed in the USPA’s latest annual report, follows the increase of 10% seen in 2024 when the number rose to 1,917.

The USPA previously saw a huge jump from 394 members in 2022 to 1,742 in 2023. The new figure represents a 18x increase since 2020, when membership stood at just 163.

The USPA said the surge in 2025 marks the “second wave” of expansion in player participation. It added that following a consolidation period in 2024, the USPA saw “unprecedented growth metrics this past year”.

Alongside the rise in individual membership, which comprises players and coaches, the number of active USPA member clubs rose to 108 in 2025, up from 53 at the end of 2024.

The number of ‘premier’ clubs grew from 32 to 63 and the number of ‘official’ clubs increased from 13 to 36, while there are now nine registered clubs, up from eight in 2024.

Padel’s rapid expansion in the US in 2025 was also illustrated by the number of open tournaments sanctioned by the USPA, which more than doubled from 48 events hosted in 2024 to 104 in 2025.

The domestic calendar was headlined by the 2nd Annual US Open Padel Championships, held at Padel Haus Atlanta. The event featured a record 240 participants and a prize pool of over $35,000, more than double the previous year’s payout.

The USPA report also reflected on 2025 as a “watershed year” for American national teams, “proving that US players are closing the gap with traditional powerhouses in Latin America and Europe”.

At the Pan American Senior Championships in Paraguay, the US national senior team finished third overall, winning five gold medals, while at the Padel America Absolute Championships in Chile, the US women’s team achieved a new high, finishing fifth.

At junior level, the US girls’ team secured a landmark victory over Ecuador at the FIP Junior World Cup qualifiers, marking the first time the US has defeated the South American nation in FIP competition.

The USPA said it “aggressively targeted youth development in 2025”, with junior initiatives a key focus.

These included the launch of the Junior Elite Padel Program in partnership with Padel X, designed to centralise resources and create a clear pathway for top-tier talent to reach the US national team.

Additionally, the Junior Grant Program was renewed to provide funding and equipment to clubs, and ensure cost is not a barrier for new young players.

Looking ahead to 2026, the USPA projects the US market is now shifting from an “initial phase” to a robust “growth phase”.

It said that USPA president Bill Ullman and the board of directors have laid out an “ambitious roadmap” for the future, with key initiatives for 2026 including:

• Digital transformation: Developing a new USPA app to improve connectivity across tournaments, rankings, leagues, and events.

• Olympic ambitions: Aligning closely with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee framework as the sport pushes for inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Games.

• FIP tournaments: USPA member clubs hosting International Padel Federation circuits, including Cupra FIP, Promises and Beyond tournaments.

The USPA said its 2025 Annual Report details a “historic year of expansion, competition, and international success”, adding: “from surging membership numbers to record-breaking tournament prize pools, the report paints a picture of a sport transitioning from a niche interest to a major competitive discipline nationwide”.

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