Palm Beach Royals Complete Roster Ahead of 2026 Major League Pickleball Season; Select McGuffin, Emmrich, Goldin in Team’s First Draft
Mar 06, 2026
The Palm Beach Royals, one of South Florida’s premier level Major League Pickleball (MLP presented by Doordash) teams, have completed their roster by drafting Tyson McGuffin, Tammy Emmrich, and Grayson Goldin. The trio joins a loaded roster anchored by top-ranked Sofia Sewing and veterans Tina Pisnik and Dekel Bar.
McGuffin, 36, became a professional pickleball player in 2016 and has quickly risen through the ranks known for his personality and athleticism. A former tennis player, McGuffin has parlayed his extensive experience into five Grand Slam championships and four national championships.
Emmrich, 33, is a former tennis player who represented Belgium five times in the Billie Jean King Cup and reached a career-high of no. 4 in the Women’s Tennis Association. Since switching to pickleball, Emmrich has won two medals in pro women’s doubles.
Goldin, 30, has been ranked as high as no. 2 on the APP Tour. He also brings a tennis background having played collegiately at the University of Alabama and Florida State University before transitioning to pickleball in 2023.
“The Palm Beach Royals' leadership is confident that Tyson, Tammy, and Grayson will help us compete for championships in our first season” said Zach Hunter, co-owner of the Palm Beach Royals and managing partner of Hyperspace Ventures. “With the leadership of General Manager David Grossman and the backing of our incredible owners, we are thrilled to welcome these players to the team and cannot wait to show why Palm Beach is the best place in the world for pickleball.”
Above: Taylor Meyer, Zach Hunter, Alex Rafiee (co-founders of Hyperspace Ventures and owners of the Palm Beach Royals), Brian Levine (Boca Paddle co-founder)
The new additions join the franchise's three players who were signed from free agency ahead of the draft. The Royals' lineup is now complete after adding McGuffin, Emmrich, and Goldin to the squad that features Sofia Sewing, Tina Pisnik, and Dekel Bar.
Sewing, 26, is a Miami native and former professional tennis player who began competing in pickleball professionally in 2024. She quickly rose through the APP rankings with multiple tournament wins in women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competition. In 2025, she captured eight APP women’s singles titles and won the singles championship at the USA Pickleball National Championships.
Pisnik, 44, brings elite international experience to the Royals after a decorated career in professional tennis and a rapid rise in pickleball competition. Originally from Maribor, Slovenia, she reached a career-high Women’s Tennis Association ranking of No. 29 in singles and No. 63 in doubles. She also represented Slovenia at the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004.
Bar, 32, is a former professional tennis player and has been a professional pickleball player since 2018. During his time on the pro tennis tour, Bar reached the #3 ranking in Israel, #370 ATP in doubles, and #570 ATP in singles. His long-time friends and fellow professional pickleball players Collin and Ben Johns introduced him to pickleball after multiple abdominal injuries ended his tennis career.
Brian Levine, Taylor Meyer, David Grossman, Zach Hunter, Alex Rafiee
The Palm Beach Royals will debut as the newest team in MLP presented by DoorDash beginning with the 2026 season, which runs from May through August.
Announced in August 2025 at a record-high valuation of $16 million, the Royals became the 23rd franchise in Major League Pickleball. The team will play its 2026 matches on the road, with plans to host future home events at Boca Paddle, currently under construction at 1081 Holland Drive in Boca Raton. Scheduled to open in late summer 2026, the facility will feature a dedicated stadium court known as “The Royal Court,” a fan merchandise shop, 19 pickleball courts, six padel courts, luxury locker rooms, saunas, cold plunges, a pro shop, and a full-service restaurant and bar.
Palm Beach County continues to emerge as a national hub for pickleball participation and business development, making it an ideal home for the franchise. With elite professional players, a rapidly expanding fan base, and world-class facilities, the region remains central to the sport’s continued growth.
The Royals’ ownership group is led by Hyperspace Ventures, a digital development and investment firm. Hyperspace owners and co-founders Zach Hunter and Taylor Meyer, former University of North Carolina tennis teammates, have recruited Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu, former UNC basketball stars Tyler Hansbrough and Marvin Williams, Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowler Kenny Moore II, and several other high-profile investors as minority owners.
The 2026 MLP season will mark the sixth year for the premier professional pickleball league, featuring nine regular-season events, a Mid-Season Tournament, and an expanded three-week playoff series culminating in Championship Weekend in New York City.
For more information about the Palm Beach Royals, please visit palmbeachroyals.com.
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Source/Photos: Kip Hunter Marketing.