What’s the Score?
The National Collegiate Pickleball Association (NCPA) is bringing the heat to the Midwest this winter. The National Collegiate Pickleball Championship is set to return to St. Louis, Missouri, taking over Arch Pickleball from February 27 through March 1. While the season saw participation from over 120 universities, the field for this championship has been narrowed down to the top 64 teams, who will compete for national glory (Note: This specific team count is based on your update and differs from the broader season participation figures in the source text). This premier event will feature live national broadcasts through a partnership with Amazon Prime and PickleTV, marking a significant step up in visibility for collegiate pickleball. Adding to the excitement, Rovr Coolers has just joined the roster of sponsors (Note: This sponsorship information is based on your update), supporting a massive event that features a prize pool and equipment value exceeding $50,000.
Hit it deeper!
This championship serves as the grand finale for the NCPA season, transforming Arch Pickleball into the epicentre of the collegiate game. Organisers anticipate over 2,000 spectators will attend the three-day event to experience the “high-energy competition, school pride, and championship-level play”. The atmosphere is expected to be electric as more than 500 student-athletes arrive in St. Louis.
A key storyline for the 2025 Championship is the exclusivity of the competition. While the NCPA supports competition across more than 30 states and over 120 universities throughout its season, the nationals have been tightened to a 64-team bracket (Note: Team count per your update). This “March Madness” style filtering ensures that spectators and the national broadcast audience will see the absolute highest level of play the collegiate circuit has to offer.
The commercial backing for this event highlights the surging value of the collegiate demographic. The tournament has secured JOOLA as the Official Ball Sponsor to guarantee “professional-grade performance standards for every match”. In addition to the newly signed Rovr Coolers, the sponsorship portfolio includes major brands such as IceShaker, Rally Republic, Tyrol, Vorzani, NetGains, and Catalyst clean energy drinks.
Noah Suemnick, CEO of the National Collegiate Pickleball Association, highlighted the magnitude of this year’s production. “With the support of partners like JOOLA, Amazon Prime, and PickleTV, we’re not just hosting a tournament — we’re putting collegiate pickleball on the national stage,” Suemnick said. He emphasised that this event represents an “incredible moment” for the athletes and the host city.
The NCPA has framed this event as a critical milestone in their mission to build a “nationally recognised pipeline” for future professional talent. By securing a broadcast deal that places these student-athletes on Amazon Prime and PickleTV, the NCPA is offering a level of exposure previously unseen in the collegiate version of the sport. For those unable to squeeze into the venue, the matches will be available via the “watch live” link on the NCPA homepage.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The 2025 National Collegiate Pickleball Championship is a clear signal that collegiate pickleball is graduating from recreational club play to a structured, high-stakes sport. The shift to a 64-team national bracket (Note: Per your update) suggests a move toward a more elite, merit-based championship model, distinguishing the “best of the best” from the broader participation base of the 120-school season.
Furthermore, the rapid addition of sponsors—including the late-breaking support from Rovr Coolers —alongside established names like JOOLA and Amazon Prime, validates the commercial viability of the NCPA. This is no longer just a grassroots movement; it is a broadcast-ready product. As the sport continues to grow, this St. Louis event may well be remembered as the moment collegiate pickleball officially arrived on the national stage.
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
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