Following the lead of several other celebrities in recent months, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is the latest big name to get involved with the growing sport of pickleball as he was announced as a team owner in the new VIBE Pickleball League on Thursday.
"Just like millions of other Americans, I've been following pickleball over the past few years, and I couldn't pass up the chance to invest in the fastest growing game in the country," Cuban said in a statement. "VIBE presents an unparalleled opportunity to launch a new pro league that will feature the best-of-the-best in a highly competitive setting. I can't wait to be a part of it."
The new coed league is operated by the Professional Pickleball Association and will feature six teams. A draft will be held in December ahead of the inaugural 2023 season. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters are among the players expected to be involved.
Cuban joins the likes of LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Kevin Love, Draymond Green, Tom Brady, Kim Clijsters, Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman in being involved in the sport, as they all were announced as owners of various expansion teams in Major League Pickleball -- a rival organization -- in recent weeks. On Wednesday, Los Angeles Sparks star and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike revealed she was a co-founder of another new league -- the Women's International Pickleball Association.
"I came late to the pickleball game, but it's really the best-kept secret," Ogwumike said in an interview with Boardroom. "As someone that works in media and also currently plays at the professional level, what caught my eye was increasing representation but also, a lot of former athletes see this as a viable way to keep competing."