What you need to know
Vince Vaughn’s Coachella Valley Scorpions are officially the National Pickleball League champions.
The Actors’ team clinched the 2025 NPL title with a resounding 7-2 victory over top-seeded Seattle Tsunami last month at the Sideout Tsunami Pickleball Center.
“Congratulations to the Coachella Valley Scorpions for winning the 2025 NPL Pickleball Championship! Well played!” Vaughn, 55, said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
“Our players brought teamwork, dedication and fun to the court all year long. Kim Jagd did a great job coaching and playing when the lights went out,” Vaughn continued. “Congratulations to the entire league on an exciting and enjoyable season. Keep it up.”
The second-seeded Scorpions, co-owned and coached by former UCLA volleyball player Kim Jacht along with Vaughn, Ruth Ann Poppa, Don Zuker and Rob Zwemer, avenged two regular-season losses to Seattle in the championship match.
National Pickleball League/Instagram
“This is the culmination of two years of hard work building this franchise,” Jagd said in a press release. “We are very grateful to the NPL and Seattle Tsunami for hosting a first-class championship event.
He went on to say, “Our ownership group… had a vision, and we are thrilled to be able to execute on that vision. I would like to congratulate our players and staff for creating a first-class organization built on sportsmanship, camaraderie, and fun!”
Vaughn, who became majority owner of the Scorpions in July 2024, has been a visible supporter of the team and the sport throughout the season.
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“I have always enjoyed the game and upon meeting Kim, I was impressed not only with her as a player, but also with her passion and coaching style,” the Wedding Crashers star previously told PEOPLE. “I’m excited to support her and the Scorpions on their journey.”
The Scorpions took home a $50,000 first prize from a total purse of $100,000 awarded to top teams during the three-day championship event. This is a major milestone for the Southern California-based series and its Hollywood backers.
Vaughan’s “Easy’s Waltz” premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival in September. He is currently filming season 2 of Bad Monkey for Apple TV.
