On Tuesday, the Palm Beach Royals introduced their inaugural pickleball players in a media day experience ahead of their first season.
Held at the Replay Pickleball Club in Boynton Beach, the event consisted of press interviews, meet-and-greets, and a live Q&A with players Tyson McGuffin, Sofia Sewing, Grayson Goldin, Dekel Bar, and Tammy Emmrich. The full team also includes Tina Pisnik, who was unable to attend.
Unveiled in August 2025, The Palm Beach Royals are the latest premier level team in Major League Pickleball (MLP). Pickleball has risen in popularity in Florida throughout the years, with Boca Raton alone having over 30 courts.
“[Pickleball] is just a good mix of Tennis, Ping-Pong and all rackets sports,” said Goldin. “It’s a very social sport; it’s a low barrier to entry. If somebody hasn’t played before, I could go play with them right now and they would have a great time.”
Goldin had a life-changing event before joining the Royals. He suffered a stroke on Feb. 9, spending six days hospitalized. Now fully recovered, he is ready to take on this new stage of his life.
“It’s given me a new perspective and gratitude towards the sport,” said Goldin. “For [the Palm Beach Royals] to take a chance on me when they didn’t even know if I was going to recover, they still drafted me, so I am very grateful for that.”
McGuffin, a wrestler-turned-pickleball athlete, enthusiastically shared his hopes for the team’s first season.
He says he’s “just looking to show up and show out” and “focusing on things that are inside our control, [to] make a deep run and make it to New York come August.”
The Palm Beach Royals also unveiled their uniforms. While Pisnik, Goldin, and Bar sported a Baptist Health-sponsored dark green, McGuffin and Sewing wore white. Sewing especially drew attention for her one-piece dress which had a “jellyfish” form skirt.
The Royals will have their first game in the MLP season on May 28 against the Carolina Hogs, taking place in Columbus, Ohio.
