Senior Pickleball Report
National Pickleball League Kicks Off Inaugural Season with Successful Draft Event
The National Pickleball League recently held its first-ever draft event, marking the beginning of a new era for professional pickleball players and fans alike.
The National Pickleball League (NPL) held its first-ever draft at the Hyatt House in Naples, Florida on Friday, April 14th. The event was hosted by Michael Chen, Beth Bellamy, and Rick Witsken, who welcomed potential NPL players and franchise owners from the first six teams in the newly established league.
The draft was not only about selecting and announcing nearly one hundred players, but it was also a celebration of the more than 50 professional pickleball communities. It was an incredible milestone for the sport, as establishing a new pro league created by professional players was not lost on those who attended or watched the live stream.
The six founding franchises in attendance were JBB United from Naples, the Boca Raton Picklers, the Denver Iconics, the Indy Drivers from Indianapolis, the Austin Ignite, and the Oklahoma City Punishers. Each of these franchises had the opportunity to select players from the pool of potential candidates to build their teams.
The league play will begin on June 3-4 in Grapevine, TX at Chicken N Pickle. After five events at different Chicken N Pickle locations throughout the country, the Championship will be held in Glendale, AZ on October 13-15. Fans of the sport are eagerly anticipating the start of the season, which will give them the opportunity to see some of the best players in the world compete in a new and exciting league.
The NPL’s draft was a significant moment for the sport of pickleball, and it marks the beginning of a new era for professional players. With such a strong foundation, the NPL has the potential to become one of the most prominent professional sports leagues in the country. Fans of the sport and supporters of the league are eagerly anticipating the start of the season and the opportunity to see some of the best players in the world compete for the championship.
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