A pro padel team is coming to D.C.

Why it matters: The District is becoming a hotspot for the world's fastest-growing racquet sport — with new courts, growing amateur leagues, and now, its first pro team.

Driving the news: Pro Padel League (PPL) franchise the Matrix is relocating from Arkansas to D.C. ahead of the 2026 season.

• Launched in 2023, the mixed gender team is owned by a women-led group — still a rarity in pro sports.

The big picture: As padel booms in the U.S., money and star power are following.

• Several PPL teams are valued at $10M+, with investors like tennis star Frances Tiafoe (New York Atlantics) and polo celeb Nacho Figueras (Florida Goats).

Zoom in: D.C.'s international makeup helped seal the deal. "It's a global sport, and this is a global capital," franchise founder Barbara Hudson tells Axios.

What's next: The team will compete in five North American events this season, starting in July.

• D.C. won't host matches until next year, but expect exhibitions, clinics and fan activations soon.

Between the lines: Building padel isn't plug-and-play like pickleball.

• Hudson says PPL courts — made of glass panels with turf-and-sand surfaces — take days to install.

Zoom out: D.C.'s pro moment comes as the broader padel ecosystem takes off. The National Padel League is bringing back its amateur USA Team League this year, with D.C. as a host city.

• Teams compete in a city-to-nationals pipeline, feeding regional and national championships.
• The league is expanding to 40+ cities and adding new women's divisions.

Meanwhile, new clubs are opening for all (and no) skill levels, joining venues in College Park, Sterling and beyond.

• Epic Padel, coming to Tyson's Corner
• Padel Social (outdoors) reopens this summer

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President Trump and his congressional allies are adamant that building his ballroom — which would sit atop a massive subterranean complex — is a national security need after the White House Correspondents' Association dinner attack.

State of play: Trump plowed forward with the project without review by Congress, irking a federal judge.

• However, an appeals court is allowing construction to move forward for now.

Here's where the ballroom debate stands.

🧑‍⚖️ In the courts

The latest: The Justice Department on Monday asked a U.S. District judge to lift his hold on the ballroom construction in a filing that reads like one of Trump's Truth Social posts.

• The motion accused the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged the project, of being "very bad for our Country" and suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
• "This Project will ensure that events like the horrific attack on Saturday night do not happen again," the DOJ argued.
• However, analysts note the president is a guest at the WHCA dinner, not the host, and the event welcomes more people than Trump's ballroom is set to hold.

The other side: "We are not planning to voluntarily dismiss our lawsuit, which endangers no one and which respectfully asks the Administration to follow the law," Carol Quillen, the trust's CEO, said.

What's next: A federal appeals court will hear arguments over the injunction June 5.

✍️ On the Hill

Republican lawmakers have pushed the ballroom project since the weekend shooting, but how they'll get it remains murky.

• Montana's Sen. Tim Sheehy plans to seek unanimous consent for legislation approving the ballroom project, though Democrats are likely to deny that.
• Kentucky's Sen. Rand Paul said he'd bring a bill to the floor allowing the project to move forward "without new taxpayer costs."

Meanwhile, several Republican senators are pushing legislation to fund the ballroom.

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More D.C. home sellers are becoming what Zillow calls "accidental landlords" — 2.5% of D.C. rental listings on its platform in October were previously for sale.

Why it matters: That's higher than the national average (2.3%), which reflects the highest level since late 2022, when mortgage rates topped 7%.

• As buyers gain leverage and homes take longer to sell, a growing share of homeowners are renting their properties out instead.

The big picture: Charging rent may help homeowners cover their mortgage payments, especially those with low rates.

• But being a landlord isn't easy — and costs can pile up, from repairs to property management fees.
• "I kind of wish that I'd sold and moved on," said a Maryland condo owner who'd relocated for work and was reluctant to sell at a loss.

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✈️ State Department officials are finalizing a redesign of U.S. passports that could include an image of Trump as part of America's 250th anniversary. The proposal — still awaiting approval and planned as a limited run — would mark an unprecedented break from tradition. (The Bulwark)

💲 The Dupont Circle BID is asking the D.C. Council for $2 million in grants to help small businesses hit hard by ongoing deckover construction. Business owners say the streetscape project has sharply reduced foot traffic and revenue, making it difficult to cover rent. (WTOP)

👑 Their Majesties are putting the "royal" back in Front Royal. Details on their Virginia itinerary have been sparse, but the King and Queen will attend a block party and parade tomorrow — a "short and festive moment" with serious security — down Main Street. (Royal Examiner)

🍽️ Last night's State Dinner leaned into classic French cuisine and seasonal ingredients, with a menu of dishes like garden vegetable velouté, Dover sole meunière and a vanilla crémeux with White House-made honey.

Austin's splashy sushi spot Uchi lands near Dupont Circle on May 12.

Why it matters: Omakase is everywhere. Uchi leans into the well-heeled party — think Nikko martinis, hot rock wagyu and a huge happy hour.

The big picture: The concept made waves in Austin more than 20 years ago, led by James Beard-winning sushi star Tyson Cole.

• Now parent company Hai Hospitality is in expansion mode — with each location tweaked to "feel immersed in the city," CEO Tony Montero tells Axios.

The intrigue: Two private rooms connect to "secret" back entrances — built for camera-shy D.C. VIPs.

• "Miami, they like to come in the front and let everyone know," says Montero, "but it's different in every city."

What to expect: Chef Rob Drennan (Rose's Restaurant Group) is running the kitchen, with a sprawling menu of hot and cold dishes, sushi, rolls and omakase — plus plenty for vegetarians.

• Can't grab one of the 14 sushi bar seats? They'll bring the experience to you, coursing nigiri in one- or two-bite servings so the rice stays just right.

💸 Happy hour might steal the show, with splurges small ($10 cocktails) and large ($120 tasting for two).

On the menu

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say Uchi opens May 12 (not May 8).