The National Pickleball League is Back and Better Than Ever for the 2024 Season
The National Pickleball League (NPL) Draft is happening on April 14th, 2024 in Naples, Florida.
Consider this your guide to learning about what the NPL is, which team won it all in 2023, and how you can watch the draft live.
What is the NPL?
The National Pickleball League was established in 2022 as the first pro pickleball league for the 50+ age group.
"We encourage athletes over the age of 50 to maintain a professional player status within the game of Pickleball. NPL gives fans a community to connect with, players a chance to pursue their passion, and reminds everyone that age should never be a barrier."
The Dink Media Team
Their inaugural season took place in 2023 and featured six teams from across the country.
NPL is Adding Six New Teams in 2024
For the 2024 season, the league is doubling in size and will feature a total of 12 teams.
The Six Original Teams
- Austin Ignite - Austin, TX
- Boca Raton Picklers - Boca Raton, FL
- Denver Iconics - Denver, CO
- Indy Drivers - Indianapolis, IN
- Naples JBB United - Naples, FL
- OKC Punishers - Oklahoma City, OK
New Teams for 2024
- Coachella Valley Scorpions - Coachella Valley, CA
- Columbus Hotshots - Columbus, OH
- Houston Hammers - Houston, TX
- Kansas City Stingers - Kansas City, MO
- Princeton Bruisers - Princeton, NJ
- Seattle United Pickleball - Seattle, WA
The 2024 NPL Draft order
- Naples
- Coachella
- OKC
- Seattle
- Denver
- Houston
- Austin
- Boca
- KC
- Columbus
- Indy Drivers
- Princeton
2023 Champions: The Indy Drivers
The first season of the NPL was won by The Indy Drivers based out of Indianapolis. The close-fought match was played against Austin Ignite and featured a come-from-behind victory.
After being down 3-6, they won seven straight matches to win the championship.
The championship was broadcast by CBS Sports Network earlier this year.
Jason Flamm
2024 Season Schedule
The 2024 season features six stops, ending with a championship weekend in late October.
- May 17-19: Season opener, Chicago
- June 21-23: Columbus, Ohio
- July 19-21: Cincinnati, Ohio
- August 9-11: Kansas City
- September 13-15: Houston
- October 17-20: Championship Weekend, Location TBA
How to Watch the Draft
The Draft Reveal will happen live on Sunday. You can tune in to the Facebook Live event at 4:45 PM EST. You can also check their social media pages for updates throughout the draft.
Follow NPL on Instagram and X.
The full roster and details will be released on the NPL website immediately following the event.
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