Franklin Sports Named Official Title Sponsor of US Open Pickleball Championships

Franklin Sports was named the Official Title Sponsor of the US Open Pickleball Championships in a multi-year agreement announced Feb. 26, 2026 via a Business Wire press release. The company, which lists Stoughton, Mass., as its base, moves from its prior role as the tournament’s Official Ball into a broader title-sponsorship position just ahead of the championships’ 10th anniversary in Naples, Florida, set for April 11 through April 18, 2026.

Ben Weinberger, president and tournament director of the US Open Pickleball Championships, framed the partnership as a milestone for the event and the sport. He said, "We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Franklin Sports at a milestone moment for The Open, Franklin elevated the player experience for years as our Official Ball, and as our new Title Sponsor, they will play a bigger role in delivering an unforgettable 10th anniversary celebration in Naples for athletes, fans, and the global pickleball community."

The press release described the deal as a "multi-year agreement" and used company positioning language that Franklin will "take center court at the world’s most iconic pickleball sporting event," reinforcing a stated commitment to "innovation, performance, and expanding access to the game for athletes of all levels." The announcement did not specify the exact number of years covered by the agreement or disclose financial terms.

Franklin Sports also highlighted its roster of sponsored professionals who will be competing at the US Open Pickleball Championships. The named athletes include Anna Leigh Waters, Leigh Waters, Megan Fudge, Sofia Sewing, Casey Diamond, Louis Laville, Aidan Schenk, Mark Dancuart, Ryler DeHeart, and Spencer Lanier. The company amplified the news on its LinkedIn account, which the captured post shows has 13,991 followers, opening with the line, "The momentum in pickleball is real, and we are all in." The LinkedIn post credited "Kelly Patterson, graphic," and a partial Facebook post captured by the release read, "Franklin is the official title sponsor of the 2026 US Open Pickleball Championships and we are thrilled! They have been a massive supporter of" (sentence truncated in the capture).

The announcement was distributed through Business Wire and reproduced on Yahoo Finance, where the item is labeled a paid press release. Beyond the sponsorship designation and the list of sponsored pros, the release contains no details on on-site activations, broadcast integrations, exclusivity terms, or whether the official event name will change to include Franklin.

With the US Open Pickleball Championships scheduled April 11–18 in Naples, the expanded role for Franklin Sports follows its years as the event ball supplier and signals a deeper commercial partnership timed to the tournament’s decade milestone. Organizers and the sponsor present the move as a defining moment as the sport’s biggest stage prepares for its 10th anniversary.