The Best Dressed Pros at the PPA Cape Coral Open
When professional pickleball players descended on Cape Coral, Florida for the latest PPA tournament, they brought more than just their A-game. The warm Florida weather and Valentine’s Day weekend timing inspired some of the most creative and stylish looks we’ve seen on the professional circuit. From coordinated couples outfits to bold individual statements, the fashion at this tournament proved once again that pickleball style has evolved far beyond simple athletic wear. This tournament showcased how the sport’s growing prominence has elevated court fashion to a new level, with players carefully curating looks that blend performance with personality.
The PPA Cape Coral Open became a runway as much as a competition venue, with players embracing vibrant colors, thoughtful coordination, and pieces that ranged from high-end athletic brands to surprisingly accessible finds from mainstream retailers. The Valentine’s Day theme was evident across multiple outfits, with pinks and reds dominating the color palette, but players also ventured into purples, oranges, and burgundies that popped against the sunny Florida backdrop. What made this tournament particularly notable from a fashion perspective was the diversity of approaches—some players went for sleek, monochromatic looks while others mixed patterns and textures to create visual interest.
Ben Johns Embraces Valentine’s Day Pink
The world’s top-ranked player showed that champions can be just as thoughtful about their appearance as their gameplay. Ben Johns arrived at the Cape Coral courts wearing a perfectly coordinated pink ensemble that captured the Valentine’s weekend spirit without sacrificing the performance qualities he needs to compete at the highest level. His outfit demonstrated how men’s pickleball fashion has expanded beyond basic athletic shorts and tees to include more intentional color coordination and style choices.
Johns selected the JOOLA Fluid Shorts as the foundation of his look, pairing them with the Court Short Sleeve from his signature line with JOOLA. The pink pieces worked together seamlessly, creating a cohesive appearance that felt festive without being over the top. To complete the ensemble, he played with the Perseus Pro IV paddle, which tied the whole look together with its complementary pink accents.
What makes Johns’s fashion choice particularly significant is how it challenges traditional notions of men’s athletic wear. Pink has historically been underutilized in men’s sports apparel, but Johns’s confident embrace of the color for a major tournament shows how pickleball culture is creating space for more expressive personal style. The fact that one of the sport’s most dominant players feels comfortable making these choices sends a message to recreational players that pickleball fashion can be both functional and fun, regardless of gender norms.
Alix Truong and Parris Todd Match in Candy Heart Pink
Doubles partnerships require chemistry on the court, and Alix Truong and Parris Todd demonstrated that this connection can extend to fashion choices as well. The duo appeared in matching ensembles that showcased the increasingly popular trend of coordinated partner outfits in professional pickleball. Their decision to wear identical pieces created a unified team appearance that’s become a trademark of Todd’s partnerships, reflecting her consistent aesthetic preferences across different playing partners.
Both players wore the Break Point Tennis Dress in Candy Heart Pink from Alo Yoga, a brand that has become synonymous with Todd’s on-court style. The dress perfectly captured the Valentine’s Day weekend atmosphere while maintaining the performance qualities necessary for competitive play. Alo Yoga has emerged as one of the crossover brands successfully making the transition from yoga and lifestyle wear into pickleball, offering pieces that balance fashion-forward design with athletic functionality.
The matching approach between Truong and Todd represents a broader trend in doubles pickleball where partners use coordinated outfits to strengthen their visual identity and team brand. This strategy serves multiple purposes—it creates memorable moments for fans and photographers, strengthens sponsor visibility when both players wear the same brand, and psychologically reinforces the partnership bond. The Candy Heart Pink dress became one of the most photographed looks of the weekend, demonstrating how strategic fashion choices can amplify a team’s presence both on and off the court.
Ashley Griffith’s Budget-Friendly Target Find
In a tournament filled with high-end athletic wear, Ashley Griffith proved that style doesn’t require breaking the bank. Her outfit choice became one of the weekend’s most talked-about fashion moments, not just for its appearance but for its accessibility. Griffith wore the Bubble Hem Active Dress from Target’s JoyLab line, priced at just forty dollars and available in three different colors.
This choice represents something important in pickleball’s fashion evolution—the recognition that looking good on the court doesn’t have to mean expensive gear. While many professional players receive sponsorships that provide their clothing, recreational players often struggle to find affordable options that match the style they see at professional tournaments. Griffith’s Target dress demonstrated that mainstream retailers are increasingly offering pickleball-appropriate athletic wear that delivers both style and value.
The red dress featured a distinctive bubble hem detail that added visual interest and a fashion-forward element often missing from budget athletic wear. The fact that it performed well under competitive conditions at a major tournament validates its quality and functionality for recreational players who might be considering similar purchases. Griffith’s styling proved that with the right piece, players at any level can achieve a professional, polished look without investing in premium athletic brands. The dress’s availability in multiple colors also means players can build a versatile pickleball wardrobe without significant expense.
Adam Harvey and Ashley Griffith Coordinate for Valentine’s Day
Mixed doubles partnerships sometimes take coordination beyond strategic court positioning, and Adam Harvey and Ashley Griffith created one of the weekend’s most cohesive couple looks. Harvey’s outfit choices demonstrated the growing sophistication of men’s pickleball fashion, moving beyond basic athletic wear into more curated, style-conscious territory. His selection of pieces from Lululemon showed how premium athletic brands are increasingly embraced by male pickleball players seeking elevated performance wear.
Harvey wore the Heavyweight Cotton Jersey T-Shirt in Berry Rumble, a rich burgundy shade that matched the red tones in Griffith’s dress. He paired this with the Pace Breaker Linerless Shorts in a complementary shade, creating a head-to-toe coordinated look that harmonized beautifully with his partner’s outfit.
The coordinated approach between Harvey and Griffith highlights an interesting dynamic in pickleball fashion—while they came from opposite ends of the price spectrum, with Harvey in premium Lululemon pieces and Griffith in budget-friendly Target wear, they managed to create a cohesive visual partnership. This demonstrates that successful outfit coordination depends more on thoughtful color selection and style awareness than on matching price points or brands. The Berry Rumble and red combination created a Valentine’s weekend aesthetic that felt intentional and romantic without being costumey or over the top.
Gio Morelli and Kiora Kunimoto in Pleated Pink
Gio Morelli and Kiora Kunimoto embraced the Valentine’s Day theme with matching dresses that showcased one of pickleball fashion’s most popular silhouettes—the pleated skirt dress. Their choice of the Sharp Move Pleated Dress from Altar’d State demonstrated how pickleball fashion is drawing inspiration from tennis’s classic aesthetic while developing its own distinct style identity.
The pleated dress has become a staple in women’s pickleball fashion for good reason—it offers freedom of movement, creates visual interest through texture and motion, and provides a feminine silhouette that many players prefer over shorts or skorts. The pink color aligned perfectly with the Valentine’s weekend atmosphere while the pleated skirt added dimension and movement that photographs beautifully both in action shots and posed images. Altar’d State, a brand that has been gaining traction in the pickleball community, offers fashion-forward pieces at moderate price points, filling a gap between budget options and premium athletic brands.
Morelli and Kunimoto’s matching approach reinforced their partnership identity and created a memorable visual statement on the court. The coordinated outfits signaled team unity while allowing each player to maintain her individual style through accessories and personal touches. This balance between cohesion and individuality represents an evolving understanding in pickleball fashion—matching doesn’t mean identical, and partners can coordinate without losing their personal style expression.
Abbigal Hatton’s Amazon Pleated Dress Discovery
Abbigal Hatton joined the pleated dress trend with an even more accessible option that caught attention for both its style and affordability. Her dress, sourced from Amazon for just under forty dollars, proves that online marketplaces have become legitimate sources for pickleball fashion, offering pieces that can hold their own against more expensive alternatives. The availability of stylish, functional athletic wear on platforms like Amazon has democratized pickleball fashion, making it easier for recreational players to emulate professional looks without significant investment.
Hatton’s dress featured the classic pleated skirt design with ruffle details that added extra visual appeal. The availability of multiple color options makes it a versatile wardrobe staple that players can purchase in several shades to mix and match with different tops or accessories. This versatility is particularly valuable for players who compete regularly and need multiple outfits without building an expensive wardrobe. The dress’s performance under competitive conditions at a PPA tournament validates its quality and functionality despite the budget-friendly price point.
The growing presence of affordable, stylish options from mainstream retailers and online marketplaces represents an important shift in pickleball fashion. As the sport continues to grow and attract players from diverse economic backgrounds, accessible fashion options ensure that everyone can participate in the style culture that has become part of pickleball’s identity. Hatton’s choice highlights how professional players are increasingly willing to mix high and low price points in their wardrobes, focusing on pieces that work rather than exclusively wearing premium brands.
Jay Devilliers Brightens the Court in Orange
While many players embraced Valentine’s Day pinks and reds, Jay Devilliers took a different approach with a vibrant orange ensemble that perfectly suited the sunny Florida setting. His bright top created an eye-catching contrast against the Cape Coral courts and demonstrated how players can make strong style statements with bold color choices. The orange shade felt fresh and energetic, standing out in a sea of pink outfits while still maintaining a festive, celebratory atmosphere.
Devilliers paired his orange top with balanced compression sleeves from LEOREVER that complemented the vibrant color scheme. The coordination between his shirt and accessories showed attention to detail in his overall presentation. Compression sleeves have become increasingly popular in pickleball not just for their performance benefits—improved circulation, reduced muscle fatigue, and protection from sun exposure—but also as fashion accessories that allow players to add color coordination and personal style to their outfits.
The bold color choice reflects a broader trend in men’s pickleball fashion toward more adventurous, expressive style decisions. Orange, as a color, brings energy and visibility to the court, making players stand out in photographs and tournament coverage. For players building their personal brand and social media presence, distinctive color choices like Devilliers’s orange ensemble create memorable visual moments that help them stand apart in an increasingly crowded professional field. His look proved that stepping away from trending colors and themes can be just as effective for making a fashion statement as following them.
Kaitlyn Christian’s Textured Coral Dress
Kaitlyn Christian brought sophistication to the Cape Coral courts with a printed tennis dress in calypso coral from Mizuno. Her outfit choice demonstrated how mixing textures and patterns can create visual dimension that elevates athletic wear beyond simple solid-colored pieces. The dress featured multiple design elements working together—printed details, varied fabric textures, and a flattering coral shade that felt both vibrant and refined.
Mizuno, traditionally known as a running and baseball brand, has been expanding its presence in racket sports including pickleball. Christian’s dress showcased the technical expertise these established athletic brands bring to pickleball fashion—moisture-wicking fabrics, strategic ventilation, and construction designed for the specific movement patterns of court sports. The fact that the dress was available on sale at the time of the tournament made it an attractive option for recreational players looking to replicate professional style at a more accessible price point.
