The national governing body for padel in the United States enters its next chapter, building on a legacy that began in 1993.
June 29, 2026.
AUSTIN, Texas – USA Padel, the national governing body for padel in the United States, today announced it has officially changed its name from the United States Padel Association (USPA) to USA Padel. The organization remains the same nonprofit governing body, fully recognized by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and Padel America, with the same leadership, membership structure, and national mission of growing padel. All members and interested visitors can access our association’s news, tools, and resources at our primary website, which will live at www.usapadel.org in the future, in addition to our legacy website’s URL.
The name change marks the latest milestone in a history that stretches back more than 30 years. Padel was first introduced to the United States by Ed Thompson and Felipe Arnold, who founded the American Paddle Association as the sport’s first national governing body in the country. In 1993, the USA played in its first international match against Canada and Mexico, and in 1994 competed for the first time in the FIP World Cup – a commitment to international competition the organization has honored at every World Championship since. In 2007, Mike May, who served as the association president for 20 years, renamed the American Paddle Association the United States Padel Association, reflecting the sport’s growing national footprint and internationally accepted spelling of the sport. Today’s announcement is the next step in that evolution.
“From that first court in the United States in 1994 to more than a million Americans playing the sport today, everything we have built has been in service of growing padel at every level,” said Bill Ullman, President of USA Padel. “The name USA Padel is a reflection of that mission – direct, national, and built for the next chapter of this sport in America.”
USA Padel sanctions more than 250 tournaments annually, serving over 10,000 players, including the US Open Padel Championships, and supports USA National Teams across all competitive categories. As a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, the association reinvests all of its net income into developing the game, from beginner programming at local clubs to elite international competition.
“This organization has been building the foundation for American padel for over 30 years,” said Scott Colebourne, Executive Director and CEO of USA Padel. “The new name signals our rapid growth and the organizational foundation we are building across the United States. And we are moving fast: in the coming months, we will be announcing a series of partnerships, programs, platform investments, and a new logo that reflects our ambition for the sport and the community that has supported it from the very beginning.”
Clubs, players, members, fans, and partners can continue to access all resources, rankings, tournament information, and membership programs at padelusa.org.
About USA Padel
USA Padel is the national governing body for padel in the United States, officially recognized by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and Padel America. Founded in 1993, USA Padel has supported USA National Teams at every FIP World Championship since 1994 and today sanctions more than 250 tournaments annually across the country, including the US Open Padel Championships. A nonprofit organization headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA Padel reinvests all net income into growing the sport at every level. Learn more at usapadel.org or padelusa.org
Media Contact
Scott Colebourne
Executive Director and CEO
USA Padel
scott@padelusa.org