The nation’s first and only pro and amateur pickleball tournament dedicated to women is returning to Ohio this fall. Women’s pickleball players across Ohio and the country can now register the 2025 APP Women’s Open presented by The James Comprehensive Cancer Center at Ohio State, marking the Association of Pickleball Players’ second annual event in Columbus.
Coinciding with the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the 2025 APP Women’s Open presented by The James is set to take place October 3 through 5 at Pickle & Chill in Columbus. Evident in its name, the APP Women’s Open presented by The James will be a global platform for female competitors at all levels. Beyond being a premier women’s tournament for amateurs and pros, its impact is far greater than any tournament. It’s a celebration of survivorship, the strength and resilience of women, and women supporting women.
The event will be open to all pickleball skill levels from 3.0 to pro, across a wide range of age brackets. After a momentous inaugural event, players are encouraged to sign up quickly to secure their spots with registration now open through September 25.
All key elements of the vibrant, multi-day event will be presented by women—from players and referees to administrators and broadcasters. The event will also feature social programming and entertainment designed to celebrate and fuel the growth of pickleball for women, ultimately creating a healthier and more active community.
Professional players will compete in singles, doubles and split-age doubles for gold medals and their share of $75,000 in prize money.
Amateur players at the 2025 APP Women’s Open presented by The James will also compete in skinny singles and a brand-new team event. In skinny singles, a player’s side of the court is divided into two halves. The lines of each half determine the out of bounds area for the rally. Some rallies will be played cross-court (left to left, right to right) or directly across from each other, and every rally results in a point.
The Women’s Open team event will begin with round robin play for 32 teams of four players each, followed by a series of knockout rounds to determine the champions. Each round will feature two women’s doubles games and one skinny singles game.
New in 2025, the APP is offering the EmpowHER Girls Weekend at the Women’s Open that includes hotel accommodations, a two-hour clinic, sunrise yoga, an opening night mixer, and fun giveaways.
Additional updates will be communicated to media in the coming weeks. To stay tuned on all things APP pickleball, visit theapp.global and the APP’s social media channels Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn.
