The United States once again put padel in the spotlight with an unprecedented milestone. At SHIFT Midtown in New York, the Pro Padel League held the first draft based on an auction model in the history of professional competition in the United States. A revolutionary format that breaks with decades of tradition in American sports and confirms the PPL’s ambition to lead the global expansion of padel.
During the event, the league’s ten teams competed against each other to bid on registered players, determining both the salary and roster rights for each athlete in real time. More than 300 players from 23 countries took part in the process, underscoring padel’s international growth and the PPL’s ability to attract top-tier talent.
A Historic Draft: Live Auction, Record Contracts, and Global Talent for the Pro Padel League
The auction system introduced by the PPL represents a radical departure from traditional drafts in the NBA, NFL, or MLB, where draft order automatically determines a player’s rights. In this case, each franchise had to compete financially for the athletes, creating an atmosphere of tension, strategy, and spectacle rarely seen in a draft.
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In total, 21 players—12 men and 9 women—were selected over four rounds. The mix of genders in a single draft pool was another innovative aspect of the event, with women and men being selected indiscriminately from the early rounds and with high bids in both cases, reflecting a clear commitment to competitive equality.
The highest contract went to Agustín Torre, signed by Las Vegas Smash with a guaranteed deal worth $243,000 over three years, the largest in league history. Alongside him, big names on the international scene also found a home: José David Sánchez Serrano, Alejandra Salazar, Luis Hernández, María Eulalia Rodríguez, Patricia Llaguno, Álvaro Cepero, José Antonio García Diestro, and Virginia Riera, among others.
The Pro Padel League draft also produced figures that speak to the level of talent available: more than 300 registered players, 60 ranked in the world’s top 100, 44 ranked among the top 10 in their countries, and nearly 40% under the age of 25, reflecting the arrival of a new generation.
With the auction complete, all ten teams now meet the minimum roster requirements—at least two men and two women—and the transfer market is officially open to finalize the last moves before the start of the season.
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An expanding league: five events in North America and a final in Miami
The PPL continues to consolidate its professional structure with a 2026 season that will tour some of the continent’s most powerful markets. The schedule includes five events:
- New York, July 9–12, will be the starting point.
- Los Angeles, August 13–16.
- Playa del Carmen, September 24–27.
- Guadalajara, November 19–22.
- And to close out the season, the City’s Cup in Miami, December 3–6, in the U.S. padel capital.
The holding of the first auction-style draft marks a turning point for the Pro Padel League. The league not only consolidates its own identity but also positions itself as a laboratory of innovation for professional padel. With defined rosters, record-breaking contracts, and an ambitious schedule, the 2026 season promises to be the most competitive, high-profile, and global to date.
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