Tom Brady, Kim Clijsters invest in pro pickleball franchise

The pickleball craze has piqued the interest of the GOAT and a women’s tennis great.

>> Read more trending news

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and four-time major tennis champion Kim Clijsters will be part of an ownership group for a Major League Pickleball expansion franchise, ESPN reported.

Brady and Clijsters are part of a group led by Knighthead Capital Management, according to the sports news website.

Brady, 45, the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Clijsters, 39, a former world No. 1 player who won the U.S. Open three times and the Australian Open once, are the faces of the team that will begin playing in 2023, CNBC reported.

Pickleball combines aspects of tennis, badminton and ping-pong on outdoor badminton-sized courts, Sports Illustrated reported. Major League Pickleball made its debut in 2021 and already has attracted some big names in sports as investors.

Last month, a group featuring LeBron James, Draymond Green and Kevin Love invested in the league, according to the magazine. Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and former tennis star James Blake also have a stake in the league.

The league is expanding from 12 teams to 16 in 2023 and will double its annual events to six, ESPN reported. League officials said prize money is expected to top $2 million next season.

“Of course, I’m excited at the investment opportunity,” Clijsters said in a statement. “But what excites me the most about becoming an MLP owner is that I get to help shape the future of pickleball, a sport I have come to love, with great people -- who also happen to be some of my best friends. I’m thrilled to help showcase professional pickleball and make an impact on the sport through my experience gained in the top levels of professional tennis.”

Brady announced his involvement with an Instagram video posted Wednesday morning.

“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,” Brady said. “It seems like everyone else has the answer too: Pickleball. I’m super excited to announce that I’m officially joining the MLP family.”

Financial terms were not disclosed. In September, Anne Worcester, the league’s strategic adviser, told CNBC that demand for teams has grown and that prices are in the seven-figure range.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 22

Tom Brady TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 23: Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers is all smiles before the regular season game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 23, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

©2022 Cox Media Group