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NPL Ambassador Athletes - Tom Evans & Helena Spiridis released to sign contracts with PPA Tour USA

28th January 2025

NPL has announced that Tom Evans & Helena Spirdis - current Ambassador Athletes will be released from their NPL Ambassador roles to enable them to sign contracts with the PPA Tour USA.

This marks the first ever signed contracts for Australian players in the USA and the beginning of new professional pathways for the best Australian players in North America.

NPL Ambassador Athletes - Tom Evans & Helena Spiridis released to sign contracts with PPA Tour USA

NPL Ambassador Athletes - Tom Evans & Helena Spiridis released to sign contracts with PPA Tour USA 

Jan 28th, 2025 

NPL has announced that Tom Evans & Helena Spirdis - current Ambassador Athletes will be released from their NPL Ambassador roles to enable them to sign contracts with the PPA Tour USA. 

This marks the first ever signed contracts for Australian players in the USA and the beginning of new professional pathways for the best Australian players in North America. 

Tom & Helena were contracted to the NPL through the NPL Pro Tour in 2024 & 2025, and will continue to be captains for NPL Teams during NPLeague 3 in 2025. After the completion of the NPLeague 3 Finals, Tom & Helena will permanently relocate to the US and play in the PPA USA Tour. 

The NPL thanks Tom & Helena for their amazing ambassadorship of the league, the brand and the sport in Australia. Whilst Tom & Helena were committed to all of 2025 and beyond, we recognise the significance of this opportunity and the desires of both athletes to compete against the best players in the US. Hence in facilitating this deal we have opened a new pathway for players looking to develop both here in Australia, in Asia and now in the US.

NPL is committed to allowing players to pursue the best opportunities available to them in APAC and overseas.

Tom and Helena are like family to the NPL, and we very much look forward to supporting their pickleball journey overseas. No doubt they will be back in Australia over the coming years for events and competitions in the future.

Both were part of the inaugural NPLeague 1 winning team - The Jalapenos, taking home the largest cash prize in Australia - $50,000. Tom's Jalapenos then finished runner-up in NPLeague 2. 

Tom and Helena, while serving as Ambassadors for the NPL, became two of the most successful players in Australian pickleball. In their first year after transitioning from tennis, they achieved remarkable success, winning multiple singles, doubles, and mixed doubles tournaments and showcasing their dominance in the sport.

We look forward to them captaining their respective NPLeague 3 teams - The 29ers and The Tide and supporting their international Pickleball journey from afar.

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