ASSOCIATION OF PICKLEBALL PLAYERS AND HUMANA ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION
CHICAGO
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February 04, 2025 12:46 PM Eastern Standard Time
The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) has announced a multi-year extension of its partnership with leading health and well-being company Humana Inc. as the official healthcare partner of the APP Tour. Humana has joined forces with the world’s first pickleball tour on a variety of initiatives, including the return of the season-long Humana Cup pro player competition and title sponsorship of the season-opening 2025 Humana APP Fort Lauderdale Open.
“We are proud to see our partnership continue to grow with Humana, who are steadfast supporters of pickleball and the sport’s role in a healthy lifestyle,” said APP Chief Revenue Officer Ryan McSpadden. “Together, we’ll continue to share the benefits of pickleball for staying active and maintaining good health, both on and off the court.”
"This exciting opportunity not only builds upon our already successful partnership with APP but also our strong commitment to putting health first for our members and the communities we serve," said Humana Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Ilecki. “Supporting the APP – along with its groundbreaking initiatives and competitions – showcases the importance of staying active for both physical and mental fitness. Whether you are a professional player, new to the sport, or prefer to come out and watch or volunteer at a tournament, pickleball offers something for everyone.”
First introduced in 2024, the Humana Cup is the first-of-its-kind season-long team competition format exclusively for professional pickleball players in two divisions – Champions (50 and older) and Masters (60 and older). The 2025 Humana Cup will take place over seven APP Tour events throughout the country, with season-long prize money, and the title of Humana Cup champions up for grabs. Ten total Humana Cup teams competed in 2024, with full results available at theapp.global.
“The Humana Cup showcases some of the best pickleball players in the world and is a truly unique part of the APP Tour,” added APP Founder Ken Herrmann. “The competition brings intensity, camaraderie, and a level excitement you won’t find anywhere else at this level and with such an important group of players. May the best team win!”
The Humana Cup is scheduled to take place at the following events in 2025:
- APP Vlasic Classic – Daytona Beach | Feb. 4-9
- APP Sacramento Open^ | Feb. 25 – Mar. 2
- APP Fort Lauderdale Open | Apr. 1-6
- APP New York City Open^ | May 20-25
- APP Newport Beach Open | July 1-6
- APP Dallas Open% | Oct. 8-12
- APP Boca Raton Open^ | Nov. 4-9
- APP International Championships (Fort Lauderdale) | Dec. 9-14
^ Champions (50+) division only
% Masters (60+) division only
*All dates and locations subject to change
The 2025 Humana Cup competition will feature six Champions pro teams of 14 players—seven men and seven women—and six Masters pro teams of 10 players—five men and five women—totaling 84 Champions players and 60 Masters players. Players will be drafted by team captains to their respective teams in the coming weeks.
The teams will go head-to-head in men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles in a round-robin format for the majority of its 2025 events leading up to a semifinal weekend. The 2025 Humana Cup season will then conclude with a final weekend held at the APP’s global headquarters at The Fort in Fort Lauderdale to determine the overall Humana Cup team champions.
The 2025 APP Tour season began with the Humana APP Fort Lauderdale Open, held Jan. 15-19 at The Fort. Players and spectators were part of pickleball history with a first look at the world-class venue, which boasts 43 courts and the world’s first pickleball stadium. The Humana brand was immersed prominently within the event, and will continue at all APP Tour events throughout 2025, with the Humana Backcourt recovery lounge, the Humana Human Care Spotlight featured on the APP’s national television broadcasts, signage and more.
Player registration for 2025 APP Tour events is now live via theapp.global. The pickleball community can stay in the know on the latest APP updates by following the APP’s Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn channels.
# # #
APP Media Contact: Daniel Sagerman, dsagerman@theapp.global or 847-800-8182
Humana Media Contact: Kelli LeGaspi, klegaspi1@humana.com
About the APP:
The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) provides opportunities for pickleball players of all ages and skill levels—professionals, amateurs and recreational—to compete in world-class pickleball events for the opportunity to win prize money and be featured on nationally televised broadcasts on CBS Sports, ESPN and FOX Sports. Since its launch in 2019, the APP has operated the first and only pro and amateur pickleball tour fully and officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball. The APP opened its official headquarters and player development center in January 2025 at The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., while its corporate offices continue to be located in Chicago. The APP Tour’s 2025 schedule will feature the most robust pickleball showcase across pro and amateur competitions accompanied by youth development programs, grassroots charity initiatives and international partnerships to continue to grow the game. Schedules, recent news and additional information about the APP are available at theapp.global and on Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Humana:
Humana Inc. is committed to putting health first – for our teammates, our customers, and our company. Through our Humana insurance services, and our CenterWell health care services, we make it easier for the millions of people we serve to achieve their best health – delivering the care and service they need, when they need it. These efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, Medicaid, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. Learn more about what we offer at Humana.com and at CenterWell.com.
The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) provides opportunities for pickleball players of all ages and skill levels—professionals, amateurs and recreational—to compete in world-class pickleball events for the opportunity to win prize money and be featured on nationally televised broadcasts on CBS Sports, ESPN and FOX Sports. Since its launch in 2019, the APP has operated the first and only pro and amateur pickleball tour fully and officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball. The APP opened its official headquarters and player development center in January 2025 at The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., while its corporate offices continue to be located in Chicago. The APP Tour’s 2025 schedule will feature the most robust pickleball showcase across pro and amateur competitions accompanied by youth development programs, grassroots charity initiatives and international partnerships to continue to grow the game. Schedules, recent news and additional information about the APP are available at theapp.global and on Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Contact Details
Association of Pickleball Players
Daniel Sagerman
+1 847-800-8182
Humana
Kelli LeGaspi
