The World Pickleball League (WPBL) took another giant leap on Monday as the Season 2 Player Draft brought together global pickleball talent like never before.
Seven franchises finalized their eight-member
squads in a thrilling selection event in Mumbai, locking in 56 athletes from 18 countries across five continents.
The 2026 season promises to be WPBL’s most competitive and diverse yet, with a powerful blend of elite veterans and rising stars. From 114 registered players representing 25 nations, franchises deployed sharper scouting strategies and tactical planning to build well-rounded, high-performance squads ahead of the league’s return in January.
Gaurav Natekar, Founder and CEO of WPBL, called the event a milestone moment.
“This draft is reflective of the future we’re building,” said Natekar. “Over a year ago, WPBL was an idea—now it’s a global destination. The energy this year was different: more strategic, more ambitious. The influx of young players and stronger participation from Indian athletes shows how fast the sport is growing. Season 2 will raise the bar on and off the court.”
The league, which blends sport with entertainment, will once again turn Jio World Garden, Mumbai, into a festival-style pickleball arena from January 24 to February 8, 2026.
Positioned as a premium sportainment property, WPBL promises fans an immersive mix of fast-paced pickleball, live music, curated fan zones, and hospitality experiences — all designed to make the game a lifestyle spectacle.
Full Team Lists
BENGALURU JAWANS
Kat Stewart • Dusty Boyer • Brooke Revuelta • Vrushali Thakare • Mauro Garcia • Eungwon Kim • Molly O’Donoghue • Eduardo Irizarry
PUNE UNITED
Vanshik Kapadia • William Sobek • Katie Morris • Madalina Grigoriu • Balint Bako • Thaddea Lock • Sarah Jane Lim • Bartosz Karbownik
MUMBAI PICKLE POWER
Brandon Lane • Glauka Carvajal Lane • Jada Bui • Tejas Mahajan • Max Green • Helen To • Santhosh Narayanan • Sabrina Mendez
HYDERABAD SUPERSTARS
Hong Kit Wong • Seone Mendez • Mayur Patil • Kaitlynn Hart • Louis Laville • Lauren Mercado • Pep Canyadell • Talia Saunders
CHENNAI SUPER CHAMPS
Simone Jardim • Hoang Nam Ly • Carlota Trevino • Sonu Vishwakarma • Tanner Tomassi • Rika Fujiwara • Quan Do • Tea Pejic
DILLI DILLWALE
Max Manthou • Trang Huynh-McClain • Erik Lange • Anuja Maheshwari • Mihae Kwon • Hien Truong • Alejandra Lopez • Rob Cassidy
TEAM JAIPUR
Amanda Hendry • Giang Trinh • Naveen Beasley • Ritam Chawla • Lorena Duknic • Jack Foster • Isabella Nelson • Connie Lee
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-176279959791870378.webp)
