Meet a Few of the Pros Who Got Their Start in The Dink Minor League Pickleball

Though many of us want to believe we could, not everyone who plays pickleball ends up becoming a pro.

Even players who participate in amateur tournaments aren't necessarily determined to earn a living on the circuit.

However, there are some out there who desire to become professional pickleball players and would love to know what it takes to do so.

One path that we know works very well is through The Dink Minor League Pickleball (MiLP).

How do we know?

Because we've highlighted a group of pros who cut their teeth playing in it.

So you're saying there's a chance?

Let's meet a handful of today's pros who got started in Minor League Pickleball.

Jack Munro

The "Ambidextrous Assassin" participated in MiLP in 2023 and just a year later, he's ranked in the top five on the APP Tour. He also currently plays for the Chicago Slice Major League Pickleball (MLP) team.

Known for using both hands during play – and sharing some of the crazier shots you'll ever see on Instagram – Jack may be young, but he's a veteran of the sport. He started (and stopped) playing at a young age.

Now that he's back and full-time (minus time for school), the pickleball world is better because of it.

Connor Garnett

The "Twoey Nation" captain played in the Dink Minor League Pickleball tournament as one of his first tournaments and instantly fell in love with the format. The team atmosphere suits him well, as he consistently does everything he can to stay positive and uplift his teammates.

We interviewed Garnett earlier this year about his MiLP experience. He credited it with inspiring him to hang up his spreadsheets (he worked in investment banking) and pick up his paddle.

Alex Walker

One half of a dynamic sister duo, Alex Walker is currently No. 30 in Women's Doubles on the PPA Tour. She finished second (to her sister) in the DUPR 20 Division at a MiLP event in 2023, but clearly that success set her on a path to the majors.

Alex played tennis at the University of Montana and played one season in the Canadian National Pickleball League. She regularly creates content on her Instagram with her sister, Angie.

Angie Walker

Angie clearly has a lot in common with her sister because she is also currently ranked 30th in Women's Doubles on the PPA Tour. They both have 1,825 points in the PPA points standings.

She won gold at PickleMall MiLP in 2023 and was recently a member of the Atlanta Bouncers in MLP.

Both sisters played in the Arizona Pickleball League at the Orchard.

Kate Fahey

Perhaps no player in pro pickleball has had a meteoric rise quite like Kate Fahey has in 2024.

From relative unknown to being drafted by the St. Louis Shock of MLP, she is currently ranked No. 12 in women's singles after taking gold at last month's PPA Tour event in Utah.

She won the DUPR 18 division at a MiLP event in 2023 and now plays regularly alongside top pros Anna Bright, Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio, and former tennis pro Jack Sock.

Kaitlyn Christian

Kaitlyn Christian has also been moving up in the PPA Tour rankings lately. Though she lost to Fahey in Utah, she is currently ranked No. 7 in Women's Singles on the PPA Tour.

She played college tennis at the University of Southern California, where she won the women's doubles national championship. She also won MVP (and her team won second place) in the DUPR 22 event at the MiLP National Championship.

Max "Purple Jesus" Manthou

Having the nickname "Purple Jesus" is a great way to get noticed. When you start having the success Max Manthou has, those who notice quickly become fans.

Max was a DUPR 20 National Champion and MVP. He also recently signed on with the SoCal Hard Eights in MLP.

A few weeks ago, he won the 2024 English Open in Men's Singles in the UK.

The Dink Minor League Pickleball is just one part of his story. The rest is still being written.

Samantha Parker

Samantha Parker won the DUPR 20 division at Life Time at the Oklahoma City MiLP in 2023. She's currently ranked No. 24 in Women's Singles on the PPA Tour and plays for the Bay Area Breakers in MLP.

Her professional breakout came when she won silver in Women's Singles at the PPA Houston Open in April 2024, and our resident pro guru Erik Tice sat down with her in early May for an interview:

Lingwei Kong

A former Wichita State tennis team member, Lingwei Kong is ranked No. 29 in Women's Singles on the PPA Tour and won the DUPR 20 division at a MiLP event in 2023.

On the DJ Young podcast earlier this year, she expressed her disappointment with not being drafted in MLP, admitting she loves the MLP team format (the same format used in MiLP).

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How to get started playing in The Dink Minor League Pickleball

If these pros have inspired you to pick up your paddle and test your mettle against other competitive amateurs across the globe, be sure to check The Dink Minor League Pickleball schedule for an event near you.