Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus #1 Stanford on December 5, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
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Final
Women's Soccer
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vs #1 Stanford
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Photo by: Duke Athletics
Blue Devil Alumnae Spotlight: Kaitlyn Kerr & Callie Simpkins
5/16/2023 2:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM – In October of 2022, a pair of Duke women's soccer alumnae -- Kaitlyn Kerr and Callie Simpkins -- went in together with other investors and purchased the Las Vegas Night Owls team of Major League Pickleball.
GoDuke.com caught up with the Blue Devils to talk about how they got into pickleball and how things have been going since taking over the team. Kerr is a 2014 Duke graduate, while Simpkins graduated in 2013.
GoDuke.com: How did you end up going in together and purchasing a professional Pickleball team?
Kaitlyn Kerr: I had met the founder of Major League Pickleball, Steve Kuhn. When we heard he was selling expansion teams in the summer of 2022, we reached out because Callie and I thought we could put together a great group of investors to purchase one. In October, we officially purchased the Las Vegas Night Owls with Knighthead Capital, Tom Brady and Kim Clijsters.
Callie Simpkins: Kaitlyn and I stayed very close after Duke, as she came to work on Wall Street, where I started (and still am pursuing) my career. Then we bought houses in the same town on the Jersey Shore - so in addition to speaking all week about our respective finance careers, we were spending weekends and then all of peak COVID times together down the shore. We were looking for new adventures together in 2020-21 when we were both down the shore full time and started playing Pickleball. Kaitlyn went down a rabbit hole with the sport - she started playing in tournaments, met a bunch of people and pro's in the community and then started her @pickleballchick Instagram account to be the voice of Pickleball lovers. I've always known Kaitlyn as a winner and wanted to not support her new passion but find a way to invest in her. So, when she mentioned to me that Major League Pickleball was going to be selling expansion teams in the Fall of 2022, I quickly jumped at the opportunity to buy the team with her and we put together a top notch ownership group alongside our friends at Knighthead Capital, Kim Clijsters, and Tom Brady.
GD: How long have you been playing pickleball yourself?
KK: After having countless knee surgeries during my time at Duke leaving me with a hole in my femur, post college I was unable to run or jump. I couldn't find a sport to play that I was passionate about. In March of 2021, I found Pickleball and it changed my life. I was able to play a sport that I loved, meet new people (it is incredibly social), and get my competitive juices out. I created @pickleball.chick on Instagram in March 2022 to spread the joy of the sport to as many people as possible!
CS: I remember seeing Pickleball for the first time with Kaitlyn and my childhood friend, Aimee, who was up visiting me in New Jersey in the spring of 2021. We were walking in the park and people were playing. Kaitlyn mentioned that she had just bought some paddles to try it out and Aimee and I immediately went to the sporting goods store to buy our own. We went back to the courts that same day and met a great group of guys who taught us how to play and then Kaitlyn quickly became the mayor of the Pickleball courts by asking to start a group chat to get some games going on a regular basis. We proceeded to play a lot over the remainder of that year. My frequency on the Pickleball courts dropped a lot when my company called our team back to the Manhattan offices at the end of 2021, but I try to get out to play a couple times a month!
GD: How have things been since joining up and purchasing the team?
KK: Purchasing a professional sports team with your best friend has to be on the top of my bucket list! It has brought so much joy to my life and has taught me so much about growing a sports league and team. We have been able to meet so many incredible people that will be friends for life.
CS: The last eight months of owning a professional Pickleball team with my best friend has been one of the most fun periods of my life. We are sports fanatics - so to have skin in the game again, but this time from the business/management side (instead of the player side like our college days), has been an amazing learning and networking experience. There's nothing like diving in to building something that you're passionate about with people you love and respect - this experience is on the highlight reel of my life for sure.
Your team has Tom Brady as a part-owner. Do you work with him much during the process?
CS: We personally haven't yet! But our partners at Knighthead Capital have a regular dialogue with him.
GD: How has the team done so far this season?
KK: After the first two tournaments of the season, we are currently sitting in 11th place out of 12th place. Following the second event, we traded three out of our four players to try to make a run at the last event of the season. Come cheer on the Las Vegas Night Owls in San Clemente June 15-19!
CS: We struggled to find our groove on the court during the first two events of the season, but made some significant trades to make a run at the last event, which will be in San Clemente June 15-19. We would love to host anyone who is interested in coming out to the event to cheer on the Las Vegas Night Owls so let us know if you are interested!
GD: When you look back on your experience/time at Duke. What comes to mind?
KK: Duke taught me how to think critically and learn. I feel blessed for my time at the university and with the women's soccer program.
CS: Duke was such a pivotal moment in my life. It's unbelievable the amount of resources that were available to us as Duke students and particularly as Duke student athletes. I am forever grateful for all of the people I met at Duke and how each of those people helped shape me into the person I am today. I believe strongly that you become like the people you surround yourself with and when I think of Duke, it's the environment of excellence that pushed me to be better every day.
GD: What does head coach Robbie Church mean to you and the Blue Devil soccer program?
KK: Robbie is family and has created a family within Duke women's soccer. He has truly built Duke women's soccer to be a national powerhouse in the sport.
CS: What Robbie Church has built at Duke, with the Blue Devil women's soccer program, is unrivaled. Not only a powerhouse soccer program on the field but more importantly a DWS family that spans across decades. There isn't a single Duke women's soccer player who wouldn't get an immediate answer from me if they wanted to connect and I know that is widespread and works vice versa. We get together for regular reunions, support each other, and support the program… "DWSlove" is a real thing.
GD: Are you able to still keep in touch with many of your Duke teammates?
KK: I do. I consider them family.
CS: 100%. Like Kaitlyn said - they are family.
#GoDuke
GoDuke.com caught up with the Blue Devils to talk about how they got into pickleball and how things have been going since taking over the team. Kerr is a 2014 Duke graduate, while Simpkins graduated in 2013.
GoDuke.com: How did you end up going in together and purchasing a professional Pickleball team?
Kaitlyn Kerr: I had met the founder of Major League Pickleball, Steve Kuhn. When we heard he was selling expansion teams in the summer of 2022, we reached out because Callie and I thought we could put together a great group of investors to purchase one. In October, we officially purchased the Las Vegas Night Owls with Knighthead Capital, Tom Brady and Kim Clijsters.
Callie Simpkins: Kaitlyn and I stayed very close after Duke, as she came to work on Wall Street, where I started (and still am pursuing) my career. Then we bought houses in the same town on the Jersey Shore - so in addition to speaking all week about our respective finance careers, we were spending weekends and then all of peak COVID times together down the shore. We were looking for new adventures together in 2020-21 when we were both down the shore full time and started playing Pickleball. Kaitlyn went down a rabbit hole with the sport - she started playing in tournaments, met a bunch of people and pro's in the community and then started her @pickleballchick Instagram account to be the voice of Pickleball lovers. I've always known Kaitlyn as a winner and wanted to not support her new passion but find a way to invest in her. So, when she mentioned to me that Major League Pickleball was going to be selling expansion teams in the Fall of 2022, I quickly jumped at the opportunity to buy the team with her and we put together a top notch ownership group alongside our friends at Knighthead Capital, Kim Clijsters, and Tom Brady.
GD: How long have you been playing pickleball yourself?
KK: After having countless knee surgeries during my time at Duke leaving me with a hole in my femur, post college I was unable to run or jump. I couldn't find a sport to play that I was passionate about. In March of 2021, I found Pickleball and it changed my life. I was able to play a sport that I loved, meet new people (it is incredibly social), and get my competitive juices out. I created @pickleball.chick on Instagram in March 2022 to spread the joy of the sport to as many people as possible!
CS: I remember seeing Pickleball for the first time with Kaitlyn and my childhood friend, Aimee, who was up visiting me in New Jersey in the spring of 2021. We were walking in the park and people were playing. Kaitlyn mentioned that she had just bought some paddles to try it out and Aimee and I immediately went to the sporting goods store to buy our own. We went back to the courts that same day and met a great group of guys who taught us how to play and then Kaitlyn quickly became the mayor of the Pickleball courts by asking to start a group chat to get some games going on a regular basis. We proceeded to play a lot over the remainder of that year. My frequency on the Pickleball courts dropped a lot when my company called our team back to the Manhattan offices at the end of 2021, but I try to get out to play a couple times a month!
GD: How have things been since joining up and purchasing the team?
KK: Purchasing a professional sports team with your best friend has to be on the top of my bucket list! It has brought so much joy to my life and has taught me so much about growing a sports league and team. We have been able to meet so many incredible people that will be friends for life.
CS: The last eight months of owning a professional Pickleball team with my best friend has been one of the most fun periods of my life. We are sports fanatics - so to have skin in the game again, but this time from the business/management side (instead of the player side like our college days), has been an amazing learning and networking experience. There's nothing like diving in to building something that you're passionate about with people you love and respect - this experience is on the highlight reel of my life for sure.
Your team has Tom Brady as a part-owner. Do you work with him much during the process?
CS: We personally haven't yet! But our partners at Knighthead Capital have a regular dialogue with him.
GD: How has the team done so far this season?
KK: After the first two tournaments of the season, we are currently sitting in 11th place out of 12th place. Following the second event, we traded three out of our four players to try to make a run at the last event of the season. Come cheer on the Las Vegas Night Owls in San Clemente June 15-19!
CS: We struggled to find our groove on the court during the first two events of the season, but made some significant trades to make a run at the last event, which will be in San Clemente June 15-19. We would love to host anyone who is interested in coming out to the event to cheer on the Las Vegas Night Owls so let us know if you are interested!
GD: When you look back on your experience/time at Duke. What comes to mind?
KK: Duke taught me how to think critically and learn. I feel blessed for my time at the university and with the women's soccer program.
CS: Duke was such a pivotal moment in my life. It's unbelievable the amount of resources that were available to us as Duke students and particularly as Duke student athletes. I am forever grateful for all of the people I met at Duke and how each of those people helped shape me into the person I am today. I believe strongly that you become like the people you surround yourself with and when I think of Duke, it's the environment of excellence that pushed me to be better every day.
GD: What does head coach Robbie Church mean to you and the Blue Devil soccer program?
KK: Robbie is family and has created a family within Duke women's soccer. He has truly built Duke women's soccer to be a national powerhouse in the sport.
CS: What Robbie Church has built at Duke, with the Blue Devil women's soccer program, is unrivaled. Not only a powerhouse soccer program on the field but more importantly a DWS family that spans across decades. There isn't a single Duke women's soccer player who wouldn't get an immediate answer from me if they wanted to connect and I know that is widespread and works vice versa. We get together for regular reunions, support each other, and support the program… "DWSlove" is a real thing.
GD: Are you able to still keep in touch with many of your Duke teammates?
KK: I do. I consider them family.
CS: 100%. Like Kaitlyn said - they are family.
#GoDuke
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