14-Year-Old Kelly Goodnow Shines in Major League Pickleball Debut

Kelly Goodnow's Impressive Debut

In a remarkable display, 14-year-old Kelly Goodnow made her debut in Major League Pickleball, leading the Carolina Hogs to a surprising 3-1 victory over the Palm Beach Royals on June 25 in New York. This win marked the end of a month-long winless streak for the Hogs, who last triumphed against the Bay Area Breakers on May 23. Despite missing two key players, Nicole Conard and Aiko Yoshitomi, Goodnow's inclusion from the UPA player pool proved pivotal, as the MLP rules allow teams to add a new player when two of the same gender are unavailable without incurring penalties.

Comeback Victory

Goodnow's initial match did not start as planned, with the Palm Beach Royals, fresh off a strong performance in St. Petersburg, taking an early lead. The duo of Tina Pisnik and Sofia Sewing defeated Goodnow and Abbigal Hatton in women's doubles, marking their eighth consecutive win together. However, the Carolina team rallied back. The men's doubles team of Michael Loyd and DJ Young equalized the score against Casey Diamond and Tyson McGuffin, and Hatton and Young secured a win in mixed doubles, giving Carolina a 2-1 advantage.

The final mixed doubles match featured Goodnow and Loyd against the seasoned pair of Pisnik and McGuffin, who collectively hold 102 PPA Tour medals. Despite being new partners, the Carolina duo managed to secure a thrilling 11-9 victory, achieving one of the season's biggest upsets.

After the match, Goodnow expressed her excitement, stating, "It's just surreal to me right now. I'm still processing, but it's just so great to win it with such a supportive team. I'm just really excited." This season has been a breakthrough for her, as she recently won her first PPA Challenger title, becoming the youngest gold medallist in PPA Tour history, surpassing Anna Leigh Waters' record. Goodnow remains humble, saying, "Everything's moving so fast, and I'm just glad to be along for the ride. This is just so crazy, but I'm really happy to be here." The Carolina Hogs, along with Goodnow, are set to compete again on June 26 against the Dallas Flash and the Brooklyn Pickleball Team.