The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) has unveiled the 2025 APP U.S. National Team roster, set to represent the organization as the future of professional pickleball. Thirteen fast-rising pickleball professionals have been selected by the APP, based on a variety of criteria including current rankings and ratings, tournament results, head-to-head match results and overall development potential.
The APP U.S. National Team experience includes training camps, coaching and mentoring, physical and skill evaluations and international travel to compete in global pickleball events powered by the APP.
“One of my main missions at the APP has always been to provide a platform to develop future pickleball champions, and that's at the core of the APP Next Gen program, from which we source the APP U.S. National Team players,” said APP Founder Ken Herrmann. “Our APP U.S. National Team represents the best of the best in the APP Next Gen platform. These are fast-rising players with a world of potential, and it is my honor to lay the foundation for success for each and every one of them. Through educational seminars, on-site coaching, international exposure and the support of our coaching staff, we’ll truly make a difference for these players.”
The 2025 APPU.S. National Team roster includes: Eli Bertram (Boca Raton, Fla.), Jayden Broderick (Greenville, S.C.), Ronan Camron (Fort Myers, Fla.), Ava Cavataio (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Lauren Mercado (Las Vegas, Nev.), Bella Nelson (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), Drake Palm (La Costa, Calif.), Clayton Powell (Bend, Ore.), Brooke Revuelta (Miami, Fla.), Aidan Schenk (Portland, Ore.), Alexa Schull (Miami, Fla.), Elliott Schupp (Bentonville, Ark.) and Leah Tauber (Cardiff, Calif.).
“I’m so honored to be part of this year’s APP U.S. National Team,” commented Schull, who recently earned a first-place finish at the 2024 APP Next Gen Series event in Fort Lauderdale. “Being part of this amazing team, with some of the best coaches and players in the sport, will help me take my game to the next level.”
Herrmann, who was a member of the USTA National Player Development coaching staff from 1994-1999, will serve as director of the 2025 APP U.S. National Team in addition to his continued role as APP Founder. Former collegiate coach and current APP Tour broadcaster Chad Edwards and current AARP Champions Division APP Tour pro Lee Whitwell will serve as head coaches for the 2025 APP U.S. National Team.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to coach and develop the next generation of up-and-coming pros as the head coach of the APP U.S. National Team,” said Edwards. “The APP is setting the standard for growth and development of players across the board and this team highlights the support the APP provides. I look forward to spending time on the courts with these young stars and watching them shine in 2025.”
The Fort, the APP’s global headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is the official training and development home of the 2025 APP U.S. National Team. The state-of-the-art pickleball hub features 43 courts, the world’s first pickleball stadium and a dedicated training center, further supporting the APP’s mission in developing the sport’s talent and growing pickleball at all levels.
“Being able to train at The Fort with my fellow teammates is an incredible opportunity,” said Camron, a native of Fort Myers, Fla. “The resources at The Fort are second-to-none, and being able to create friendships and be mentored by Ken, Chad and Lee is a huge honor to be part of.”
APP Next Gen events are the world’s only pro pickleball player development programs, offering the younger generation of pickleball players valuable coaching opportunities from APP Tour professionals while competing in multi-day prize-money tournaments. The APP U.S. National Team expands upon this circuit, with an elevated focus on mentoring and training. More information is available at theapp.global/next-gen.
