Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is investing in professional pickleball — and he’s not alone.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is part of an ownership group that is purchasing a Major League Pickleball expansion team ahead of the league’s 2023 season, the league announced Wednesday.
The ownership group is led by Knighthead Capital Management and also features former tennis star Kim Clijsters along with a number of other investors.
“I’m super excited to announce that I’m officially joining the MLP family,” Brady said in an Instagram video. “We’re gonna keep bringing awareness of this thing all around the country, all around the world. Look, you know how I do with competition, right? I love that it’s become such a popular neighborhood sport. It’s a great way to get out of the house, but I’m coming to win. I’m coming to dominate the sport.”
Pickleball is a fast-growing sport across the United States, with the game gaining popularity among older populations. The sport is akin to table tennis with a much larger court and is more accessible to more players, especially those at advanced ages.
“Look, I’ve been trying to find a way to extend my professional sports career beyond my 40s, even into my 50s, 60s, 70s, as long as I can’t, right? And I think I got the answer. It seems like everyone else has the answer, too — pickleball,” Brady said in the video.
The Austin, Texas-based league said that the move is part of an effort to increase the number of events and numbers of teams in the league from 12 to 16. The league’s next event is MLP Columbus, a three-day event with a $100,000 cash prize purse.
Current MLP teams include: The 5s, Jackrabbits, ATX Pickleballers, Mad Drops Pickleball Club, Clean Cause, Chimeras, Lions, Florida Smash, The Bus, BLQK, Ranchers and Hard Eights.
Story by Nick O’Malley, MassLive.com.
