Tom Brady, Kim Clijsters latest professional athletes to become owners in pickleball
Major League Pickleball said Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Kim Clijsters have purchased an expansion franchise that is set to begin play in the 2023 season, the league announced Wednesday.
The league is set to expand from 12 teams to 16 when the next season starts, and also announced they will double the amount of events with prize money surpassing $2 million.
“Tom Brady, Kim Clijsters, and Knighthead Capital Management are champions in their fields and will now be champions for Major League Pickleball,” MLP Founder Steve Kuhn said in a statement. “What really shines through in working with these amazing individuals is their passion for the sport."
Brady and Clijsters join other sports figures, such as LeBron James, Draymond Green and Drew Brees, in owning a pickleball team.
The 2022 season comes to a close this weekend with the winning team taking home $100,000.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Brady becomes pickleball franchise owner with Kim Clijsters
