The National Pickleball League® (NPL) has announced a 100% expansion of its 2024 league structure. It will add a further six teams to make the league into a 12-team roster. The league has also introduced new ownership and new top-tier players, consolidating its position as the premier professional 50+ league in the sport.
New Teams And Ownership Groups
The new teams to come on board the National Pickleball League in 2024 will be:
1. Coachella Valley Scorpions (CA)
2. Seattle United Pickleball Club (WA)
3. Princeton Bruisers (NJ)
4. Kansas City Stingers (MO)
5. Houston Hammers (TX)
6. Columbus Hotshots (OH)
The ownership groups include:
- Coachella Valley (Kim Jagd, Rob Zwemmer, Don Zuker, and Ruth Ann Poppa);
- Seattle (Stephan Keller and James Main);
- Princeton (Vinay Bahuguna, Neil Shroff, Emil Pescatore, Karan Pescatore, Jeff Brody, Lisa Brody, Brad Wimmer, and David Slobotkin);
- Kansas City (Julie Gibson and Daryl Wyatt);
- Houston (Hugh Zhang, Amy Blumrosen, Hal Martin, and Rommie Maxey);
- Columbus (Paul McKnight and Jeff McKnight).
Dramatic Style
The Indy Drivers clinched the 2023 title in dramatic style: down 3-6 and needing nine matches to clinch, they pulled off an incredible feat by winning seven straight matches to bring the NPL Championship Trophy to Indianapolis.
The league is now set for its second season. It will be drawing in top-tier talent, such as returning NPL co-founders Beth Bellamy and Rick Witsken, alongside Pickleball Hall of Famers Jennifer Dawson and Scott Moore. Some of the higher-profile first-timers are Dayne Gingrich and Dave Weinbach, as well as NFL veteran and, excitingly, former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel.
A More Dynamic And Competitive League
Paul Bamundo, Chief Executive Officer of the National Pickleball League, said, “The NPL’s growth from six to twelve teams is a strategic move towards creating a more dynamic and competitive league.
“The demand for growth across the U.S. has been remarkable, and 2024 will be a groundbreaking year for our league. It reflects our dedication to providing fans with a thrilling, high-quality pickleball experience and ensuring the NPL remains at the forefront of the sport.”
Danny Wuerffel commented, “Winning the Heisman Trophy marked a significant milestone in my athletic career, but my journey continues to evolve.
“Joining the National Pickleball League provides me with a unique opportunity to further pursue my passion for sports and compete alongside the top-tier talent in this growing sport.”
“A Rising Tide Floats All Boats”
The six new franchises are selling for “around $750,000” each, according to Bamundo. He added the first batch of teams sold for about $300,000.
Major League Pickleball, one of the main professional leagues, had its team valuations hit as high as $10 million, according to the league’s CEO, Julio DePietro.
Bamundo also said that the extra teams and partners like CBS Sports and Corona Beer could mean club valuations reach seven figures next year:
“We had a tremendous amount of interest and demand for wanting to grow, and six is the right number for us. We want to grow the sport of Pickleball [so] we cheer on our fellow enthusiasts because we feel that a rising tide floats all boats,” Bamundo said.
Major League Pickleball valuations have gone through the roof lately, according to Bloomberg. Marc Lasry sold his 25% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks last year and bought the Milwaukee Mashers with former tennis player James Blake for $100,000. The valuation hit $10 million last year!
About The National Pickleball League®
The National Pickleball League was founded in 2022 by Champions Pro players Rick Witsken, Beth Bellamy, and Michael “Hammer Mike” Chen.
NPL Pickleball is a nationwide team competition for Champions Division (age 50+) professional pickleball players. It is made up of 12 teams in metropolitan locations in Indianapolis, Austin, Boca Raton, Naples, Denver, Oklahoma City, Houston, Seattle, Kansas City, Columbus, Coachella Valley, and Princeton.
National Pickleball League, LLC owns National Pickleball League®. The body is dedicated to expanding the reach of pickleball, fostering community engagement, physical and mental health, and elevating the sport to new heights.
Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities with NPL Pickleball can email [email protected] for more information or visit the league’s website at nplpickleball.com.
