The Kansas City Stingers, among the six newly established U.S. expansion teams, are set to join the National Pickleball League in 2024. This venture is led by partners Julie Gibson and former pro tennis player Daryl Wyatt, who also owns SW19 Tennis and Pickleball in Leawood.
“Everyone’s Caught The Bug”
Wyatt shared with Startland News that pickleball has revitalized his passion for sports, and now he aims to elevate Kansas City’s involvement in the rapidly growing pickleball scene.
“Everyone’s caught the bug,” Wyatt said. “Kansas City shows up for sports anyway. They’re very loyal to their sports teams. And I just think that a professional pickleball team is something people will really, really support.”
His connection to the NPL began with interest as a player, eventually leading to the initiative to bring a team to KC. The season kicks off in March with player combines, followed by drafts in April to select 14 players per team.
Read our recent article on the expansion of the NPL from 6 to 12 teams.
Wyatt anticipates a mix of local talent and players from across the country: “We’ll get some KC players, but they will be — by and large — from all over the country,” he says.
“PickleCon”
The league schedule involves monthly gatherings for six months, featuring league play and playoffs. Kansas City will host the August tournament at the Convention Center alongside “PickleCon,” with select matches televised on CBS Sports Network.
Wyatt, who participated in last year’s combine, aims to take on the role of player/coach/co-owner, driven by his competitive spirit and desire to assemble a strong team while retaining local talent.
“I’m competitive, I want to win this thing,” he explains. “I really want to go in and field as good a team as we can while at the same time keeping some Kansas City folks.
“We have a lot of good 50-plus players in Kansas City, as well, who have done well in national tournaments. So it’s going to be a little bit of a balance.”
Remarkable Growth
Originally from Washington, D.C., Wyatt’s tennis career moved to coaching after an injury ended his professional endeavors. About two years ago, he recognized the rising interest in pickleball in Kansas City, leading him to embrace the sport and witness its remarkable growth firsthand.
“There’s not been one day where I’ve not seen new members sign up,” Wyatt explained. “Even with our programming, our leagues, and everything, we’re almost at full capacity with court times. And there are plenty of clubs (in the area).”
“Just the sheer numbers of people that will play pickleball here, it’s amazing,” he continued. “I’ve never seen a sport grow like this. I’m 50, so I’ve been around a little bit to see racquetball and table tennis and all those sports grow, but nothing like this. Nothing like this.”
“Just Got Tired Of Money Walking Out The Door”
Despite initial reservations as a tennis traditionalist, Wyatt acknowledged the demand for pickleball and its potential for community engagement.
“I just got really tired of saying no and just money walking out the door,” Wyatt added.
He plans to expand access to the sport, particularly targeting underserved areas in Jackson County through clinics and youth programs, aiming to nurture talent and create pathways to future opportunities, including college scholarships.
“That’s one of our missions,” he explained. “By having a team, now we can start introducing it to some of the younger kids. This just gives us the visibility to be able to do it and to get a lot of momentum behind us so that we can get some support for that.”
