Vince Vaughn has bought a pickleball team

He said in a statement: "I have always enjoyed the game and in meeting Kim I was impressed with her, not only as a player, but her passion and style of coaching. I'm excited to support her and the Scorpions on their journey."

Kim is delighted to have the 'Wedding Crashers' actor on board with the team, who were only established in May, and believes he has a lot to offer.

She said: "When you're on the court with Vince, you can feel his energy and excitement for pickleball.

"His involvement is an exciting development for the team and will help the Scorpions continue to build their brand both in Coachella Valley, and in the broader Southern California area."

The National Pickleball League (NPL)'s inaugural season kicked off in 2023, and the 2024 season has doubled its number of teams and will include stops in Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Houston.

And NPL bosses think having an "icon" like Vince supporting the league will only help its popularity.

NPL CEO Paul Bamundo said: "We are thrilled to have an icon like Vince Vaughn illustrate his passion for the game of pickleball by acquiring a majority stake in the Coachella Valley Scorpions.

"The league has experienced unprecedented growth over the first two seasons, and to have Vaughn's investment in our league really underscores the surging interest of the sport in California and across the country,.

Drake and Michael B. Jordan previously joined as investors in the sport in July 2023.

The Major League Pickleball organisation tweeted at the time: "Excited to have this ace up our sleeve."

Other high-profile stars who have invested in pickleball teams in recent years include sportsmen LeBron James, Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love and Draymond Green.