Recovery-focused brand Picklebalm is doubling down on elite athlete alignment, announcing a new partnership with Kate Fahey, the world’s No. 2 ranked women’s singles player. The agreement strengthens Picklebalm’s growing presence at the top of the professional game, pairing Fahey with Hunter Johnson, the No. 1 ranked men’s singles player, on the brand’s ambassador roster.
The partnership positions Fahey as a visible on- and off-court representative for Picklebalm, integrating the product into her recovery routine while engaging fans through tournaments, social media, and player-focused activations. For Picklebalm, the move reflects a broader strategy to speak directly to high-performance athletes who treat recovery as a competitive advantage, not an afterthought.
“Adding a female athlete of Kate’s caliber is incredibly important to us,” said Tony West, Senior Vice President of Retail at Picklebalm. “Having both the No. 1 men’s and No. 2 women’s singles players representing the brand ensures we’re supporting elite competitors across the sport who are serious about longevity and performance.”
Fahey’s rapid rise has made her one of the most compelling figures in professional pickleball. A former standout collegiate tennis player at the University of Michigan, she transitioned to pickleball with immediate impact, notching wins over top-10 opponents and becoming a consistent presence in the semifinals and finals of major PPA Tour and APP Tour events during her breakout 2024 season.
According to Fahey, the relationship began organically after she tried Picklebalm during tournament play. “I only work with brands I genuinely believe in,” she said. “The physical demands of competing week after week are real, and having a product designed specifically for pickleball makes a noticeable difference.”
Beyond competition, Fahey brings significant commercial appeal. She has built a strong social following, appeared in a Joola commercial alongside Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, and earned exposure across ESPN, Tennis Channel, and Amazon’s Freevee platform. Brand partnerships with Mizuno and St. Louis Shock Pickleball further underscore her growing mainstream reach.
For Picklebalm, the Fahey partnership is part of a broader effort to cement its identity as the category-defining recovery solution in pickleball’s fast-expanding ecosystem. As the sport continues to professionalize, the brand’s focus on athlete credibility and sport-specific formulation reflects a maturing market where performance, recovery, and personal branding increasingly intersect.
