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The March 2026 issue of World Pickleball Magazine is now live, featuring global league developments, tournament analysis, exclusive interviews, and stories from across the international pickleball community.
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The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) has confirmed its 2026 US National Team roster, a clear indication of the rapidly decreasing average age of elite competitors in the sport. The newly announced squad features 11 emerging professionals aged between 14 and 19, headlined by Florida native MJ Greiner, who makes history as the youngest player ever selected for the team at just 14 years old.
A roster built on emerging talent
Selected through a rigorous combination of current ratings, head-to-head records, and overall development potential, the 2026 team represents the strongest performing prospects from the APP Next and collegiate circuits.
Alongside Greiner, the roster features several players who are already making significant inroads in senior competition. The squad includes 19-year-old Jae Centonze, who enters the programme as the top-ranked men’s player on the APP Next circuit, and 17-year-old Tristan Dussault, who recently claimed a men’s singles bronze medal at the GEICO APP Tour Championships. Also selected is 17-year-old Mary Monson, who arrives following a dominant performance that secured multiple collegiate national championships for Utah Tech.
The remainder of the 11-player squad consists of Averry Chew, Dylan Lewis, Abigail O’Kelley, and two sets of siblings who have consistently impressed on the junior circuits: Boone and Ford Casady, alongside Ben and Julian Slive.
Investing in the next generation
The structural backing for these young athletes reflects the professionalisation of the modern game. The squad will be based at The Fort, the APP’s global headquarters located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which will serve as their official training and development home.
APP Founder Ken Herrmann will act as the director of the national team, describing this year’s intake as being “loaded with talent” and representing players who are taking the crucial next step toward full-time professional careers. The on-court development will be overseen by head coaches Chad Edwards, a former collegiate coach and current APP Tour broadcaster, and Lee Whitwell, a prominent professional in the AARP Champions Division.
The shifting pathway to the pro game
This announcement highlights a significant structural shift in professional pickleball. The sport’s traditional pathway, often reliant on athletes transferring from other racquet sports later in their careers, is being aggressively supplemented by native pickleball talent developing through dedicated junior systems.
By expanding upon the APP Next circuit, which already offers younger players prize-money tournaments and direct coaching from current tour professionals, the US National Team ensures these high-ceiling prospects receive the necessary mentorship and high-performance training to compete consistently at the global level.
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Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
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