Danny Wuerffel Among Draftees for the 2024 National Pickleball League Season

The National Pickleball League held its draft over the weekend in advance of the 2024 season in Naples, Florida, marking a new chapter in the league's commitment to nurturing talent and reinforcing its status as the top professional 50-plus league in the sport.

Each of the rosters has up to eight women and eight men, and together is comprised of virtually all of the top Champions Pros in the sport.

National Pickleball League's Top Champions Pros and Notable Players

The field includes the likes of Hall of Famers Jennifer Dawson and Scott Moore, former top tennis professionals Jaime Oncins and Piet Aldrich, and top-ranked league co-founders Beth Bellamy and Rick Witsken. Perhaps the most high-profile name entering the 2024 NPL pickleball season is former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Danny Wuerffel, whose transition to senior professional pickleball has drawn nationwide attention. Danny Wuerffel is a member of the Denver Iconics.

As reported by Sports Illustrated, Wuerffel has drawn parallels between quarterback decision-making and the strategic demands of 50-plus pickleball, noting that the sport rewards players who think quickly and weigh risk at every moment.

2024 National Pickleball League Team Rosters

Here are the official player rosters for the 2024 NPL Pickleball season.

Austin Ignite

Women: Leslie Bernard, Connie Burnett, Taunya Davis, Jennifer Gallwas, Chris Karges, Tina Lum, Yvonne Ting, Carolyn Weed

Men: Lance Cowart, Daniel Gold, John Hostetler, Michael Pazourek, John Sperling, Scott Trevethan, Dave Weinbach, Chris Wilton

Boca Raton Picklers

Women: Yvonne D’Aquino, Tracey Flynn, Suzanne LeBlang, Pam Lippy, Ginny Purdy, Audra Spielberger, Taylor Taylor, Kara Williams

Men: Brian Levine, Alan Mendelson, Robert Mittleman, Mircea Morariu, Peter Prodanov, Mark Redding, Brian Shapiro, Tao Thongvanh

Coachella Valley Scorpions

Women: Kim Jagd, Julene James, Lily Kordic, Maggie Murch, Chrishawn Spackman, Brenda Tilford, Stacy Zelenski

Men: Piet Aldrich, Joe Frasca, Dayne Gingrich, Keith Jain, John Riedy, David Smith, Johan Svensson

Columbus Hotshots

Women: Eva Aguirre, Kris Anderson, Nathalie Bagby, Renee Chang, Beth Olivier, Tammie Steele, Lara Thornton

Men: Jim Bronson, Shay Coker, John Hedberg, Kristopher Heddings, Rich Lively, Jeff McKnight, Adam Painter

Denver Iconics

Women: Shelley Blanchard, Molly Carter, Cheryl Cartmel, Natalie Hill, Janey McKenna, Maureen O’Malia, Kelly Ojeda

Men: Reine Akebrand, Scott Fliegelman, Scott Johnston, Chris Montgomery, Bill Muno, Chad Shane, Danny Wuerffel

Houston Hammers

Women: Amy Blumrosen, Laura Boske, Sheri Courter, Missy Grant, Mary Henne, Mary Beth Henthorne, Stacy Potter, Helen Wilhelm

Men: Craig Bobo, Tony Hoang, Eric Kuo, Rich Lopez, Chris MacDougall, Scott Moore, Joe Paraiso, Dino Patane

Indy Drivers

Women: Liz Chaplinsky, Gina Cilento, Shaun Considine, Kristi Dorman, Heather Iffert, Jenny Marcos, Moira Roush, Linda Thompson

Men: Chad Flynn, Glenn Jordan, Ken Julian, Bernard LeBlanc, Christopher Miller, Craig Riley, Matt Troyer, Rick Witsken

Kansas City Stingers

Women: Leslie Bashinsky, Yannet Brister, Jennifer Dawson, Amy Honea, Kim Kesner, Cristen Kessler, Stacey McKay, Natasha Nuerge

Men: Michael Chen, David George, Saed Ibsais, Hugh Laroque, Reed Newhall, Stan Perry, Paul Salmela, Daryl Wyatt

Naples JBB United

Women: Electra Ariail, Mary Helen Atkins, Kristy Kind, Lora Charles, Carol Emanuel, Melissa LeBlanc, Sally Smithley, Aye Unnoppet

Men: Gerald Alvarado, Steve Dawson, Thomas DeCaprio, Joe Mlaka, Jaime Oncins, Scott Tingley, Tom Tueller, David Welles

OKC Punishers

Women: Leslie Ballard, Beth Bellamy, Mary Kelly Dakin, Patty Gallegos, Seyhan Hunter, Stroble Kelly, Natalie Todorovic-Shaw, Julie Weston

Men: Greg Boyce, Lowell Gunderson, Tommy Ho, Dave Johnson, Mark Milner, Brian Noble, Paul Olin, Glen (Randy) Parker

Princeton Bruisers

Women: Magge Camuti, Christie Domoracki, Roseann Heim, Aila Main, Jenny Merrill, Karin Ptaszek-Kochis, Alka Strippoli, Dana Wiatroski

Men: Vinay Bahuguna, Patrick Cote, Jose Derisi, Stephen Emmons, David Komie, Cord Robbins, Vivek Talyan, Tony Vassos

Seattle United Pickleball

Women: Paty Bennett, Raegan Ferguson, Cara Beth Lee, Natasha Linton, Lila Le Rawlings, Anna Shirley, Teresa Tarn, Adriana Tomazelli

Men: Stefan Andren, Greg Bennett, Martin Clark, Dave Furman, Eric Le, Troy Osborn, Jih-Shian Yeo, Eric Wold

A Message from the National Pickleball League CEO

"We are so excited to welcome these talented athletes who will represent the National Pickleball League teams and their respective markets during the 2024 season," said Paul Bamundo, Chief Executive Officer of the National Pickleball League. "NPL remains dedicated to advancing the sport and offering a platform for both seasoned players and emerging talents to flourish on a national scale."

Last year, the NPL concluded its inaugural season with the Indy Drivers clinching the championship. The 2024 NPL season is set to begin on May 17th in Chicago, featuring scheduled events once per month from May to September at state-of-the-art indoor facilities nationwide. The season opener will be livestreamed on the National Pickleball League YouTube Channel and details for each event can be found on the National Pickleball League website.

The regular season will culminate in October with the Championships, where teams will compete for the prestigious title and a chance to claim a share of the $150,000 prize money. The location for the Championships will be announced soon.

2024 NPL Season Schedule

Season Opener / Chicago, IL: May 17-19

Columbus, OH: June 21-23

Cincinnati, OH: July 19-21

Kansas City, MO: August 9-11

Houston, TX: September 13-15

Championship Weekend / Location TBA: October 17-20

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Pickleball League?

The National Pickleball League (NPL) is the premier professional team competition for Champions Division players aged 50 and over. It features some of the top senior professional pickleball players in the country, competing in a structured team format across multiple cities each season.

Who is Danny Wuerffel and why is he playing in the National Pickleball League?

Danny Wuerffel is a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback who led the Florida Gators before spending several years in the NFL. He joined the National Pickleball League as a member of the Denver Iconics, citing the strategic demands of 50-plus pickleball as a natural extension of the decision-making instincts he developed under center.

What is the prize money for the 2024 NPL pickleball season?

The 2024 NPL pickleball season features a total of $150,000 in prize money at the Championship Weekend. Teams compete throughout the regular season to earn their place in the championship bracket and a shot at the title.

How can fans watch the 2024 National Pickleball League season?

The season opener will be livestreamed on the National Pickleball League YouTube Channel, making it accessible to fans across the country at no cost. Additional broadcast and streaming details for the full 2024 NPL season will be announced as the season approaches.

When does the 2024 NPL pickleball season begin?

The 2024 NPL pickleball season kicks off on May 17th in Chicago, Illinois, running monthly events through September before concluding with Championship Weekend in October. Each event is held at state-of-the-art indoor facilities, giving fans in multiple markets the chance to watch top Champions Pros compete live.