UVA Pickleball has signed a historic multi-year sponsorship deal with HEAD USA, marking the largest partnership in collegiate pickleball to date. 

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This agreement—covering paddles, shoes, bags, accessories, and key program support—underscores both UVA’s leadership in the sport and HEAD’s commitment to the growing collegiate scene.

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A Partnership Sparked at DUPR Nationals

‍This collaboration took shape at the 2023 DUPR Collegiate Nationals, where UVA first connected with HEAD’s sponsorship team. From an initial shoe sponsorship and tournament support, the relationship has now expanded into a long-term commitment that will provide UVA’s 24-person tournament team with equipment for all competitions, including the 2025 Nationals in Atlanta.

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Elevating Collegiate Pickleball Through DUPR’s Platform

‍UVA Pickleball’s rapid growth is part of a broader movement powered by DUPR’s national exposure. The team’s success on and off the court continues to attract major brands to the space. HEAD’s investment reflects the increasing significance of collegiate pickleball, with UVA leading the charge.

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“UVA Pickleball is proud to partner with HEAD USA as it continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible for collegiate programs,” said Conor Burns, Head of Sponsorships. “With DUPR as the driving force behind the sport’s growth, this partnership is another step toward a bigger and brighter future for college pickleball.”  

“We are so excited to expand our relationship with UVA Pickleball,” said Katie Benson, Pickleball Promotions & Partnerships Manager for HEAD USA. “Over the past 2 years we’ve watched this team perform at the highest level of collegiate pickleball while also building an organization that pays just as much attention to building the sport recreationally on campus for the entire student body. The team’s energy is unmatched and we look forward to chasing this new horizon with them.” 

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About UVA Pickleball 

The University of Virginia (UVA) Pickleball Team is one of the most competitive and fastest-growing collegiate pickleball programs in the country. With a strong tournament presence and a thriving campus community, UVA Pickleball continues to push the sport forward, setting new standards for collegiate play.

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About HEAD

HEAD is a leading global provider of premium, high-performance equipment and apparel for athletes and players, at all levels. HEAD has five divisions: Winter Sports, Racquet Sports, Water Sports, Sportswear and Licensing. Since our launch in 1950, we’ve achieved a reputation for cutting-edge design, engineering excellence and a passion for championing all sport, everywhere. World-class performance demands the very best equipment and that’s why, at HEAD, our purpose is to give athletes and players at every level, exactly what they need to win. To learn more, visit head.com.

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About DUPR

DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the world's leading clubs, tournaments, leagues, and players. DUPR's dynamic rating system unifies pickleball across age, gender, and location by analyzing match results to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 - 8.000 scale. DUPR is the official pickleball rating of leagues, tournaments and clubs around the world, including United Pickleball Association (UPA), PPA, Major League Pickleball (MLP), Pickleball.com, Life Time, The Picklr, National Team Pickleball League, National Pickleball League. It also owns and operates Minor League Pickleball and Collegiate Pickleball, two of the biggest amateur leagues in the sport. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com or follow DUPR on Instagram to learn more.

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About DUPR Collegiate Pickleball

DUPR Collegiate Pickleball is the leading platform for college programs nationwide, providing structure, rankings, and tournament opportunities for student-athletes. Through high-profile events like DUPR Nationals and conference championships, DUPR is driving the growth of collegiate pickleball and helping teams secure major sponsorships.