Colorado Pickleball, a franchising partner for Utah-based The Picklr indoor pickleball, announced that the Pickleball Hall of Fame has selected Kyle Yates as one of two professionals to be inducted. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 14, 2024, in Mesa, Ariz.
Yates, 29, a partner in Colorado Pickleball, is the youngest member elected. He became a professional pickleball player in 2015, moved to Colorado in 2023 and became a co-owner of The Picklr Colorado. His goal is to connect the pickleball communities by developing The Picklr franchises across Colorado and Wyoming.
Kyle Yates
“I was once told, ‘Find a job you love, and you never have to work a day in your life.’ Well, I’ve found that through pickleball,” Kyle says. “I’m excited to keep sharing that pickleball passion with the rest of the world, especially right here at home in Colorado.”
Kyle played tennis and soccer while growing up in Florida, finding pickleball in 2011 at age 15. At 21, he became a US Open Pro Pickleball Champion, a title he’d claim seven times in as many years. In 2018, the World Pickleball Federation officially named him the number-one ranked player. His reign of victories continued with seven U.S. Open pro doubles titles, two Tournament of Champions pro doubles titles and four USAP National Championships pro doubles titles. In 2018, the World Pickleball Federation named him the world’s number one doubles player.
Kyle competed in Major League Pickleball for five seasons and still plays on the Association of Pickleball Players tour. He competes in international events and promotes the sport around the world. He’s currently the first-round draft pick for the Brisbane Breakers MLP team in Australia.