The Stingers Founding Hive

We are so excited to share Kansas City’s only professional pickleball team with our pickleball community but we need your help.  The Stingers are one of 16 teams in the expanding MLP Champions Series Pickleball league which features the very best Champion Pro (age 50+) players in the world (www.nplpickleball.com).  Beginning with the 2026 season, MLP Champions have partnered with the MLP expanding its age divisions to include Prime 40’s Prime and Masters 60’s divisions.  This MLP partnership brings together in one venue the very best pros across every age group to compete during  three of the MLP Champions 2026 regular season events (Chicago and the two Dallas events).  

The MLP Champions sport celebrity owners and players (such as actors Vince Vaughn and Vince Van Patton) and athletes crossing over from professional tennis, football, racquetball, volleyball and more.  Co-owner Daryl Wyatt who is currently ranked in the Top 10 in the world on the APP tour returns for a third season along with veteran Stinger David George and top local players Kyle Gardner and Cristie Sharpsteen. We hope you will come out and enjoy some high-level pickleball right here at SW19 as our local players practice and get tuned up for the season opener in May.!  Stay tuned for information about the pro-lead adult and kids’ clinics, VIP Dinner with the Stingers, the 3rd Annual Team Breaker Tournament, and other Stingers Week 2026 events June 25-28 onwww.kcstingers.com.  So, here is our request. 

Do you BEE-lieve in the Kansas City Stingers?
Join other SW19 members and Stinger families for an exclusive opportunity to join the Stingers Founding Hive.  The Stingers rely on community engagement and partnerships to support team operations.  The players and the team must fund their own participation and travel costs to play in the league.  The 2026 Match Weekends will be held in Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, and Columbus, and for the 2026 season.  This opportunity to support the Stingers and assist with players travel and participation costs is for those who BEE-lieve in the Stingers and the mission to grow the pickleball experience in our Kansas City community through its unique health, wellness, and lifestyle benefits.        

Founding Royalty Level - $1,000

• Mention as a Founding Hive Royalty member on Stingers website and social media

• $250 of your contribution will be a tax-deductible donation to the Kansas City Stingers Youth Foundation*

• Invitation to the VIP celebration during Stingers Week 

• A chance to win a spot in a league at SW19 for one session

• Stingers Swag

• 4 tickets to the 2nd Annual Team Breaker Tournament on Saturday, June 27 during Stingers Week 2026

• Two tickets for entry to the Beat the Stingers Open Play on Friday, June 26 from 4-6pm at SW19

• Founding Hive pickleball open play/socials

• 15 hours of court time at SW19

Thank you for helping our team grow – one BUZZ at a time!  If you or your business is interested in partnering with the Stingers for more extensive brand exposure, please call, text, or email Julie Gibson – julie@sw19kc.com or 816.522.1119.

*The Kansas City Stinger Youth Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization formed for the purpose of developing youth pickleball programs for underserved youth which include not only pickleball instruction and athletic development, but also development of other important life skills such as discipline, sportsmanship, teamwork, and responsibility.  More and more colleges are offering pickleball scholarships that open other opportunities for our Kansas City youth.