BY DANI MACKEY, USLPL CORRESPONDENT
In just four short months of planning, the U.S. Legends Pickleball League (USLPL) brought together 12 teams of seven men and seven women, including dozens of elite 50+ champion and masters players, achieving its vision of launching a competitive pickleball league created for senior pros by senior pros.
At the heart of its inaugural season, which ran September 2025 – January 2026, was a depth of talent in the 50+ age division—players who throughout the season demonstrated more than just competitive play. By all accounts, they brought out the best in each other as teammates and sportsmen and women, building relationships, learning from and with each other – taking away a one-of-a-kind team pickleball experience that they are excited to return next season.
Among the athletes who competed this first season was Baton Rouge, Louisiana, based Cindy Kuragami, a college tennis player turned pickleballer who entered the draft, without knowing many of the team owners or players – or they knowing her. Kuragami was drafted by the Northern Virginia SuperNovas who selected her in the draft after watching her game tape.
“As a competitive team tennis player, I didn’t realise how much I missed and value the team format,” said Kuragami. “I’m looking forward to playing again next year, seeing the growth of the friends I made this season, and meeting new players in season two.”
The 168 players of the USLPL 50+ inaugural season ranged in age from 50 to 67 years of age, with an average rating of 4.9, and ranging up to 5.8. Players included names that will be familiar to the pickleball community including Youssef Bouzidi, who is currently the #1 ranked 50+ singles player in the country (Team Roanoke Shine), David Spearman (Team Richmond Rocketeers), Kristin Hickman (Team Buffalo Blizzards), among many others.
The Heart of the League: Players, Passion, and Camaraderie
What made the league’s launch even more impressive was the speed and scale of its formation. From concept to competition. In roughly four months, the USLPL and its founders Ron Cortese and Michael Cao, both from Virginia, built infrastructure, recruited players, assembled ownership groups, and established a professional league identity. The result is a platform to showcase senior professional pickleball as elite sport, entertainment, and community movement all at once.
Through a series of events known as Showdown Weekends, teams that began as rosters of individuals quickly became families. During the season, chemistry developed, trust formed, and lifelong bonds grew. Within just a few competitions, players were no longer simply teammates—they were brothers and sisters in sport.
“The sidelines were filled with encouragement,” said USLPL Co-founder Michael Cao, also a senior pro player. “It was fulfilling watching players who didn’t know each other when the season started, grow as teammates and compete intensely with a combination of both rivalry and respect.”
Creating a Team Experience That Energised Players and Fans
From the start, the USLPL was built around a team-based format designed to be exciting for players, engaging for spectators, and accessible for fans. The league’s first season brought together 12 teams primarily from the East Coast of the United States, including Buffalo, Boston, New York City, Washington D.C., and the states of New Jersey, Florida, and Virginia. The ownership groups, mainly one or two individuals per team, collectively are some of the most well-known players in the sport in the U.S. Players travelled from California, Texas, and even Canada to participate, creating a truly special competitive environment.
The team format transformed the energy of competition. Matches were collective battles. Players weren’t competing only for personal ranking points or medals; they were competing for teammates, cities, and shared identity. The result was a dynamic atmosphere that felt closer to professional team sports than traditional tournament play.
For spectators, watching friends created an immediate emotional connection. Fans didn’t just follow players—they followed teams. Colours, branding, rivalries, and storylines gave each showdown a narrative. The season created momentum, drama, and evolving storylines. For example, the Boston and New York teams built on the history of team rivalry in other sports.
Matches were streamed and can be replayed on USLPL’s YouTube Channel. The video streaming allowed friends and family from around the world to follow their loved ones. A dedicated league sideline and broadcast correspondent, Michele Spahr, brought personality, storytelling, and human connection to the competition. Viewers didn’t just watch matches—they learned stories, backgrounds, and journeys.
Sponsorships, ownership groups, and player involvement strengthened the league’s foundation, creating a sustainable model that connects business, pickleball, and community. But what truly separated the league was its grassroots engagement. Teams hosted local clinics, fundraisers, and charity events, turning professional competition into community impact. Players became ambassadors, and pickleball became a tool for service.
Season One Results: Champions on the Court, Winners Everywhere
When the final results of the first season were tallied, the Delrays out of Florida emerged as champions, with the Florida Royals securing second place. Their performances were outstanding, disciplined, and deserving of recognition.
But according to the USLPL co-founders, the standings told only part of the story. The true winners of season one weren’t just the teams at the top of the leaderboard—they were the players, fans, families, sponsors, communities, and supporters who made the league possible.
“We wanted to create an opportunity for players to compete in an organised, high-profile structure that gave them a stage,” said USLPL Co-founder Ron Cortese. “We’re hoping to attract more 50+ players in season two and would love for all players to register for the draft and attend our tryouts combine.” Registration for season two will soon be open on the league website.
The success of the 50+ division quickly revealed something powerful. There was a deep, unmet desire for age-based competitive play. In response, the USLPL 50+ will grow to 16 teams in year two. The USLPL also introduced start-up companion leagues in the 35–49 and 60+ age divisions.
The inaugural season of the USLPL made it clear that the senior players in the sport are a cornerstone. It illustrated how, in pickleball, community, competition, and culture coexist. And it proved that a league built on passion and purpose can move faster than anyone expects.
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