Alexa Schull: Focus. Discipline. Relentless.
Photography: Javier Herrera @luancho
Production/Editing: Dink Authority Magazine Team
The Phoenix Flames player speaks without filters about leaving elite tennis, her MLP debut, Otto her dog, Tuesday ribeyes and why she has zero superstitions about her paddle grip.
Miami, Florida — Part of what we do at DINK Authority Magazine — including weekends — is watch and analyze matches. Take notes. Track players. Evaluate performances across the different leagues. On Mondays, in our first team meeting of the week, we debate and share those notes, talk about plays and players, about who is rising and who is stagnating, about who deserves more attention than they are getting.
That process has a name: editorial judgment. And that judgment is what brought Alexa Schull to the cover of this July edition.
We have been watching her since before the MLP season began. Her explosion onto the scene, her consistency, her reading of the game on court — all of that led us to make a decision that at DINK Authority we never take lightly: to invite her to be our cover of the month.
Sofía, our Web Manager and Social Media lead, reached out. The first contact came through David Schull, her father and president of her fan club, who from the very first moment put everything at the team's disposal. A photoshoot was organized with our Miami-based photographer, Javier Herrera — and the result could not have been better. A warm, genuine young woman, with unconditional parents who were present every step of the way for whatever the team needed.
What came next was this interview. No script, no filter, no professional athlete talking points. Just Alexa Schull being exactly what she is — a 19-year-old player who in June of this year lived through her first MLP season, who set aside her tennis racket when it would have been much easier not to, and who has more clarity about her life and her career than many players twice her experience.
Welcome to her world.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
A resident of Miami, Florida — the sunshine capital of the United States — Alexa Schull did not arrive at pickleball by default. She arrived by conviction. Trained at the Evert Tennis Academy, the same program that produced Grand Slam champions and world-ranked players, she had everything any young athlete dreams of: recognized talent, elite structure, and a college scholarship waiting at the end of the road.
She set it aside anyway.
At DINK Authority we have been following her since before she was drafted. Before the Flames. Before the MLP. Because this is a young woman who breathes pickleball — she trains daily with her coach, works her fitness with a personal trainer, and is tremendously active on social media sharing game tips, routines and content that genuinely connects with the community. Focused. Consistent. And with a rare clarity for someone her age about where she is and where she is going.
When Major League Pickleball held its 2026 draft, the Phoenix Flames selected her as pick #46 — betting on one of the most promising young players on the circuit. It was not a blind bet. It was a calculated investment in someone who had already proven what she was made of.
The proof? USA Pickleball — the governing body of the sport in this country — publicly called her "THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE" when she was just 17 years old, after reaching the Pro Women's Singles final at the National Championships. That kind of recognition is not handed out. It is earned.
Today, at 19 years old, she is a professional player for the Phoenix Flames in Major League Pickleball — a team that has decided to bet on the future with a roster loaded with young talent. Alongside her, the Flames feature Jonathan Truong, Camden Chaffin, Wyatt Stone, Daria Walczak, and veteran Judit Castillo Gargallo as the group's guide and reference point. A team that is not here to manage expectations — it is here to grow, to surprise, and to prove that young talent in the MLP is not a risky bet. It is a statement of intent.
And Alexa Schull is exactly that — a statement of intent.
BLOCK 1 — ORIGIN, DECISION, DEBUT, PRESSURE
DA: You had a college tennis scholarship practically handed to you — the path laid out, the top university, everything ready. What was the exact moment you looked at all of that and said 'no, I'm going pickleball'? Was it a decision or a gut feeling?
AS: The feeling of wanting to leave tennis started pretty early in my career. It is a sport that comes with a lot of sacrifice — homeschooling, not having much of a social life, grueling hours on the court. My mom, who played Division I college tennis, always told me college tennis was the best experience, but to me it honestly sounded like my worst nightmare. At the same time, it was not easy to walk away from something my parents had invested so much time and money into, and that so many coaches had also invested in.
DA: Evert Academy produced Grand Slam players. You used it as a launchpad into a sport many still don't take seriously. Did you ever feel people looking at you sideways for that call — at the academy, at home, in your circle?
AS: I still have people look at me sideways for making such a big change. When people ask what sport I play professionally, I'll be honest — sometimes it's a little embarrassing to say pickleball. It's still the sport people joke about or say "everyone's grandparents play." But those same people have no idea how many hours go into becoming a top pro, or how high the level really is.
DA: You make your MLP debut in a group with Columbus, New Jersey, Dallas and Orlando — basically the four horsemen of professional pickleball. What does it feel like to step onto that court for the first time and realize there's no junior division here, this is the real thing?
AS: I was definitely nervous stepping onto the court for my first MLP match. Part of me wishes I had more of that "see ball, hit ball" mentality, but when you have a team counting on you, owners investing in you, and fans cheering for you, it's really easy to get tight. At the same time, it would be easy to turn a rough first MLP experience into something negative — and I don't want to do that. I'd rather look at it as a huge learning experience against the best players in the world.
BLOCK 2 — PERSONAL BRAND, ROLE MODELS, TEAM, THE SPORT'S IMAGE
DA: At 19 you're already managing your nutrition, fitness and lifestyle as part of a personal brand. Most girls your age are figuring out what to order on Uber Eats. Did that awareness come from you or did someone plant that seed?
AS: I grew up with two parents who were always really conscious of what they put into their bodies, so most of my snacks growing up were on the healthier side. When I was 15, I met one of my now best friends, Taylor Gossett, through an old sponsorship. She's so dialed in with her nutrition and lifestyle, and she's honestly taught me a lot of what I know about building healthy habits and routines.
DA: Phoenix built a roster full of young players with limited MLP experience — basically a generational experiment. Does that give you freedom to grow without pressure, or does it frustrate you sometimes because you feel like you could be on a team competing for a title right now?
AS: I definitely feel like there's less pressure playing on the Phoenix Flames. Of course I want to compete, pull off some upsets, and help lift the team, but being on an MLP team with partners who also have limited experience gives me the freedom to play more freely without feeling like every result defines me.
DA: Pickleball still carries the stigma — a lot of people still see it as a retirement sport in a mall parking lot. You come from high-level tennis, you trained at Evert — how do you explain to someone your age that this is real athletics and not a Sunday hobby?
AS: Anyone who says pickleball isn't a real sport should come out to a PPA or MLP event and watch in person. I'd be curious to hear their opinion after that.
BLOCK 3 — LIFE OFF COURT, HISTORICAL TIMING
DA: You're 19, you live in Miami, you play professional pickleball and you're already building a personal brand. What does Alexa Schull do on a Tuesday night that has absolutely nothing to do with a paddle, a court or a match?
AS: On a Tuesday night with nothing to do, I'd probably cook up a ribeye, paint with Taylor Swift playing in the background, and hang out with my puppy, Otto.
DA: Pickleball is exploding — money, sponsors, league wars, trade drama, a documentary on Prime Video. You arrived exactly when it's getting really good. Do you feel like you came at the right moment, or do you wish you'd been around when it was smaller, purer, more yours?
AS: I do feel like I came into the sport at the right time. Pickleball just keeps getting bigger and bigger, and with that growth comes a lot more credibility. I think more outsiders are starting to respect the sport, and that makes it exciting to feel like I'm a part of something that's still growing in such a big way.
BLOCK 4 — FIRE, HONESTY, LEGACY
DA: Technical but intimate question — who puts the grip on your paddle before a match? Do you do it yourself, does someone on the team handle it, is there a ritual, a superstition behind that moment? Because serious athletes always have something going on there.
AS: Honestly, I'm not superstitious at all. Anyone who can grip a paddle and do it well is hired.
DA: No professional athlete script, no Instagram filter — describe a normal Tuesday in the life of Alexa Schull from the moment you open your eyes to the moment you close them. What do you eat, what do you listen to, what stresses you out, what makes you laugh, what show are you watching right now?
AS: I'd start my day with a high-protein breakfast that actually fuels me, then head out to hit with my coach for an hour or two. In between sessions, I like listening to podcasts — usually something kind of science-y — or I'll switch it up and play music if I want to be in a fun mood. I'd definitely fit in a training session with my fitness coach too, and then end the night with a show I'm into at the moment, which right now is Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.
DA: And to close — real advice, not the poster-quote motivational kind — for that guy or girl your age who is exactly where you were two years ago: a tennis scholarship in hand, pickleball knocking at the door, and dad looking at them with a face that says 'are you absolutely sure about this?' What do you tell them?
AS: I'd tell them to follow whatever makes them feel the most fulfilled. At the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and say I did everything I genuinely wanted to do, and I'd hope they can say the same.
Remember this name. Alexa Schull's story is just beginning to be written — and there are many pages left to fill. Get used to hearing it, because it is going to resonate for years to come.
"See you on the courts."
Photography: Javier Herrera @luancho
Production/Editing: Dink Authority Magazine Team
The Phoenix Flames player speaks without filters about leaving elite tennis, her MLP debut, Otto her dog, Tuesday ribeyes and why she has zero superstitions about her paddle grip.
Miami, Florida — Part of what we do at DINK Authority Magazine — including weekends — is watch and analyze matches. Take notes. Track players. Evaluate performances across the different leagues. On Mondays, in our first team meeting of the week, we debate and share those notes, talk about plays and players, about who is rising and who is stagnating, about who deserves more attention than they are getting.
That process has a name: editorial judgment. And that judgment is what brought Alexa Schull to the cover of this July edition.
We have been watching her since before the MLP season began. Her explosion onto the scene, her consistency, her reading of the game on court — all of that led us to make a decision that at DINK Authority we never take lightly: to invite her to be our cover of the month.
Sofía, our Web Manager and Social Media lead, reached out. The first contact came through David Schull, her father and president of her fan club, who from the very first moment put everything at the team's disposal. A photoshoot was organized with our Miami-based photographer, Javier Herrera — and the result could not have been better. A warm, genuine young woman, with unconditional parents who were present every step of the way for whatever the team needed.
What came next was this interview. No script, no filter, no professional athlete talking points. Just Alexa Schull being exactly what she is — a 19-year-old player who in June of this year lived through her first MLP season, who set aside her tennis racket when it would have been much easier not to, and who has more clarity about her life and her career than many players twice her experience.
Welcome to her world.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
A resident of Miami, Florida — the sunshine capital of the United States — Alexa Schull did not arrive at pickleball by default. She arrived by conviction. Trained at the Evert Tennis Academy, the same program that produced Grand Slam champions and world-ranked players, she had everything any young athlete dreams of: recognized talent, elite structure, and a college scholarship waiting at the end of the road.
She set it aside anyway.
At DINK Authority we have been following her since before she was drafted. Before the Flames. Before the MLP. Because this is a young woman who breathes pickleball — she trains daily with her coach, works her fitness with a personal trainer, and is tremendously active on social media sharing game tips, routines and content that genuinely connects with the community. Focused. Consistent. And with a rare clarity for someone her age about where she is and where she is going.
When Major League Pickleball held its 2026 draft, the Phoenix Flames selected her as pick #46 — betting on one of the most promising young players on the circuit. It was not a blind bet. It was a calculated investment in someone who had already proven what she was made of.
The proof? USA Pickleball — the governing body of the sport in this country — publicly called her "THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE" when she was just 17 years old, after reaching the Pro Women's Singles final at the National Championships. That kind of recognition is not handed out. It is earned.
Today, at 19 years old, she is a professional player for the Phoenix Flames in Major League Pickleball — a team that has decided to bet on the future with a roster loaded with young talent. Alongside her, the Flames feature Jonathan Truong, Camden Chaffin, Wyatt Stone, Daria Walczak, and veteran Judit Castillo Gargallo as the group's guide and reference point. A team that is not here to manage expectations — it is here to grow, to surprise, and to prove that young talent in the MLP is not a risky bet. It is a statement of intent.
And Alexa Schull is exactly that — a statement of intent.
BLOCK 1 — ORIGIN, DECISION, DEBUT, PRESSURE
DA: You had a college tennis scholarship practically handed to you — the path laid out, the top university, everything ready. What was the exact moment you looked at all of that and said 'no, I'm going pickleball'? Was it a decision or a gut feeling?
AS: The feeling of wanting to leave tennis started pretty early in my career. It is a sport that comes with a lot of sacrifice — homeschooling, not having much of a social life, grueling hours on the court. My mom, who played Division I college tennis, always told me college tennis was the best experience, but to me it honestly sounded like my worst nightmare. At the same time, it was not easy to walk away from something my parents had invested so much time and money into, and that so many coaches had also invested in.
DA: Evert Academy produced Grand Slam players. You used it as a launchpad into a sport many still don't take seriously. Did you ever feel people looking at you sideways for that call — at the academy, at home, in your circle?
AS: I still have people look at me sideways for making such a big change. When people ask what sport I play professionally, I'll be honest — sometimes it's a little embarrassing to say pickleball. It's still the sport people joke about or say "everyone's grandparents play." But those same people have no idea how many hours go into becoming a top pro, or how high the level really is.
DA: You make your MLP debut in a group with Columbus, New Jersey, Dallas and Orlando — basically the four horsemen of professional pickleball. What does it feel like to step onto that court for the first time and realize there's no junior division here, this is the real thing?
AS: I was definitely nervous stepping onto the court for my first MLP match. Part of me wishes I had more of that "see ball, hit ball" mentality, but when you have a team counting on you, owners investing in you, and fans cheering for you, it's really easy to get tight. At the same time, it would be easy to turn a rough first MLP experience into something negative — and I don't want to do that. I'd rather look at it as a huge learning experience against the best players in the world.
BLOCK 2 — PERSONAL BRAND, ROLE MODELS, TEAM, THE SPORT'S IMAGE
DA: At 19 you're already managing your nutrition, fitness and lifestyle as part of a personal brand. Most girls your age are figuring out what to order on Uber Eats. Did that awareness come from you or did someone plant that seed?
AS: I grew up with two parents who were always really conscious of what they put into their bodies, so most of my snacks growing up were on the healthier side. When I was 15, I met one of my now best friends, Taylor Gossett, through an old sponsorship. She's so dialed in with her nutrition and lifestyle, and she's honestly taught me a lot of what I know about building healthy habits and routines.
DA: Phoenix built a roster full of young players with limited MLP experience — basically a generational experiment. Does that give you freedom to grow without pressure, or does it frustrate you sometimes because you feel like you could be on a team competing for a title right now?
AS: I definitely feel like there's less pressure playing on the Phoenix Flames. Of course I want to compete, pull off some upsets, and help lift the team, but being on an MLP team with partners who also have limited experience gives me the freedom to play more freely without feeling like every result defines me.
DA: Pickleball still carries the stigma — a lot of people still see it as a retirement sport in a mall parking lot. You come from high-level tennis, you trained at Evert — how do you explain to someone your age that this is real athletics and not a Sunday hobby?
AS: Anyone who says pickleball isn't a real sport should come out to a PPA or MLP event and watch in person. I'd be curious to hear their opinion after that.
BLOCK 3 — LIFE OFF COURT, HISTORICAL TIMING
DA: You're 19, you live in Miami, you play professional pickleball and you're already building a personal brand. What does Alexa Schull do on a Tuesday night that has absolutely nothing to do with a paddle, a court or a match?
AS: On a Tuesday night with nothing to do, I'd probably cook up a ribeye, paint with Taylor Swift playing in the background, and hang out with my puppy, Otto.
DA: Pickleball is exploding — money, sponsors, league wars, trade drama, a documentary on Prime Video. You arrived exactly when it's getting really good. Do you feel like you came at the right moment, or do you wish you'd been around when it was smaller, purer, more yours?
AS: I do feel like I came into the sport at the right time. Pickleball just keeps getting bigger and bigger, and with that growth comes a lot more credibility. I think more outsiders are starting to respect the sport, and that makes it exciting to feel like I'm a part of something that's still growing in such a big way.
BLOCK 4 — FIRE, HONESTY, LEGACY
DA: Technical but intimate question — who puts the grip on your paddle before a match? Do you do it yourself, does someone on the team handle it, is there a ritual, a superstition behind that moment? Because serious athletes always have something going on there.
AS: Honestly, I'm not superstitious at all. Anyone who can grip a paddle and do it well is hired.
DA: No professional athlete script, no Instagram filter — describe a normal Tuesday in the life of Alexa Schull from the moment you open your eyes to the moment you close them. What do you eat, what do you listen to, what stresses you out, what makes you laugh, what show are you watching right now?
AS: I'd start my day with a high-protein breakfast that actually fuels me, then head out to hit with my coach for an hour or two. In between sessions, I like listening to podcasts — usually something kind of science-y — or I'll switch it up and play music if I want to be in a fun mood. I'd definitely fit in a training session with my fitness coach too, and then end the night with a show I'm into at the moment, which right now is Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.
DA: And to close — real advice, not the poster-quote motivational kind — for that guy or girl your age who is exactly where you were two years ago: a tennis scholarship in hand, pickleball knocking at the door, and dad looking at them with a face that says 'are you absolutely sure about this?' What do you tell them?
AS: I'd tell them to follow whatever makes them feel the most fulfilled. At the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and say I did everything I genuinely wanted to do, and I'd hope they can say the same.
Remember this name. Alexa Schull's story is just beginning to be written — and there are many pages left to fill. Get used to hearing it, because it is going to resonate for years to come.
"See you on the courts."
