DUPR Launches Wheelchair Pickleball Rating System to Expand Inclusion

Wheelchair pickleball athletes will soon have their competitive development tracked within the same global rating infrastructure as every other player on the planet. DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) announced on February 27 that it is developing a dedicated wheelchair pickleball rating system, built in partnership with wheelchair athletes, tournament organizers, and the Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships. The system will debut at the 2026 Franklin US Open in Naples, Florida, an event that already runs a dedicated wheelchair division and will mark its 10th anniversary this year.

The new rating category will slot directly into DUPR's existing platform, the same ecosystem that evaluates players across a 2.000–8.000 scale and serves as the official rating system for USA Pickleball, the Professional Pickleball Association, Major League Pickleball, the United Pickleball Association, and several other major organizations. DUPR also owns and operates Minor League Pickleball and Collegiate Pickleball. The wheelchair rating will extend that unified structure to adaptive athletes, enabling tournaments and clubs to generate more balanced matchups, sharpen seeding accuracy, and give players a precise measure of their progression over time.

"Inclusion is at the heart of pickleball's growth, and this rating system is a critical step forward," said DUPR CEO Tito Machado.

Wheelchair pickleball athlete and advocate Ryan Anthony framed the announcement in terms of what a dedicated rating structure means on the court. "This partnership with DUPR is a milestone for adaptive athletes," Anthony said. "Having a rating system that recognises our skill level and progression means we can compete with confidence and continue growing the sport we love."

Ben Weinberger, President of Pickle4 and the US Open Pickleball Championships, pointed to the athlete-first design of the initiative. "This is exactly the kind of progress our sport needs — measurable, meaningful, and built with athletes at the center," Weinberger said.

The specific methodology for calculating wheelchair ratings has not yet been disclosed. DUPR said further details on the system's features and rollout timeline will be released as development continues. The 2026 Franklin US Open debut is positioned as the foundation for standardized wheelchair pickleball competition and recognition beyond a single event, with the longer-term aim of bringing the same competitive infrastructure to adaptive players worldwide.