The Tour Wars were a crazy time, and its effects are still showing across the pickleball world.

You have Jorja and JW Johnson playing in the APP Tour Sacramento stop instead of the PPA’s Indoor USA Championships, and now there’s news that Riley Newman might not play on the PPA Tour, or at least not as much as he has in the past.

"Back in August of 2023 when I agreed to my original MLP contract I was very excited about the next 3 years of my pickleball career," Newman texted The Dink.
"The MLP deal allowed me to play my favorite events in pickleball (team tournaments), teach engaging clinics across the country, and continue to travel all over the US and beyond spreading the love of pickleball.

"When PPA made their offer, I was grateful and appreciative, but at the end of the day I wanted to do what I thought was best for me and my future (both on and off the pickleball court). I have thoroughly enjoyed competing on the PPA Tour since the start of 2020, but I’m ready to look ahead and embark on a new pickleball journey with MLP!"

It’s interesting that he doesn’t go so far as to say he won’t play in the PPA but instead seems to be carefully avoiding making any definitive statements. 

Zane Navratil, Thomas Shields, and Jimmy Miller discussed the situation Riley and some other pro pickleball players find themselves in on the latest episode of the PicklePod.

While Riley has to make the best decision for himself and his family, it'll be disappointing to not see Riley competing against the best on the PPA Tour.

Let’s hope whatever this contract situation is gets settled and we get to see Riley bring his talent back to the PPA.