Pickleball Meets The Hunger Games: Who Survives If The PPA Tour Turns Savage?

What if professional pickleball took a dark turn and transformed into a battle for survival, Hunger Games-style?

That’s the hilariously intense premise behind what might be one of the most entertaining segments on a pickleball podcast this year.

On a recent episode of Pickleballers, hosts Roscoe Bellamy and The Kitchen’s Jared Paul welcomed top pros Federico Staksrud and Dylan Frazier to discuss their careers and reflect on the state of the pro scene. But things took an unexpected—and wildly amusing—turn when Bellamy posed the ultimate hypothetical:

“If the PPA Tour turned into The Hunger Games, who would win it all—and who would be gone in the first five minutes?”

Source: Pickleball.com

Strategy, Smarts, And… Stature?

Bellamy clarified that this wasn’t just about physical ability. “You have to take everything into account—smarts, speed, strength, stature, maybe friends, since people team up in The Hunger Games. Alliances are huge,” he said.

From that moment on, the gloves came off.

Staksrud didn’t hesitate. “The one that’s going to die first for sure is Matt Wright.”

Harsh? Maybe. But possibly a nod to Wright being one of the more seasoned players on tour. Bellamy disagreed, citing Wright’s sharp mind as a potential survival asset: “He’s too smart.”

Frazier offered a different take, suggesting Gabe Tardio as an early casualty. “Gabe and JW [Johnson] came to mind, sorry,” he added, laughing.

The Sneaky Survivors

Some names came up not because of brute force, but because they’d find creative ways to survive.

“Connor Garnett,” said Staksrud. “I feel like he would find a way to start hiding in the trees and start killing people from up there.”

Gabe Joseph was another pick to watch—speed being his X-factor. “The guy is so fast, I think he would just outrun people,” Bellamy noted.

Other dark horse candidates mentioned? The Johnson brothers, Yates and Hunter, who could form powerful alliances given their strong relationships on tour.

The Front-Runners: Intensity And Instinct

Several names stood out as potential champions—and for good reason.

Anna Bright was pegged as a serious contender. Her on-court fire and intensity could translate into Hunger Games grit. “She’d be a beast,” was the general consensus.

And of course, no fantasy survival bracket would be complete without Anna Leigh Waters. With her fierce mentality and competitive drive, she’d be a force in the arena.

But there was one name everyone seemed to agree on as the likely winner: Ben Johns.

“Ben is super cerebral,” said Paul. “He’s strong. If Ben ever snapped… he would rip someone’s face off. I would not want to fight Ben.”

When the clip hit Instagram, Johns himself joined in on the fun, commenting: “Glad we all can agree here.”

The Comments Section, Chaos Included

Naturally, the conversation spilled into social media.

Bellamy doubled down on his opinions, adding that Pablo Tellez “would also die early,” suggesting, “He would take the first bait and die instantly.”

Meanwhile, Lucy Kovalova jumped in with a playful warning: “Watch your back guys!”

The whole segment brought out the humor, camaraderie, and unexpected imagination that exists behind the scenes on tour.

May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor

Of course, nobody is actually sending pickleball pros into a televised survival arena. But if they did? It turns out fans—and players—have very strong opinions on how it would play out.

From sneaky survivors to alliance-builders to outright warriors, the PPA Tour is stacked with personalities that go well beyond the court.

So next time you’re watching a final, just imagine: what if this was for more than a medal? What if it was for survival?

In pickleball’s version of The Hunger Games, it’s not just about serves and speed. It’s about strategy, smarts—and maybe a little chaos.