Copyright news18
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
