Professional pickleball players Taylor Garcia, Danny Jensen, Courtney Kendall and Courtney McIntosh are slated to tour with Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) as part of their annual Holidays Around the World campaign. The athletes will be featured in eight events, December 9–20, 2024.
Taylor Garcia is a professional pickleball player based in the Washington, D.C.–Arlington, Virginia, metropolitan area. Garcia grew up in New Orleans and ventured to Virginia to play college tennis for Washington and Lee University, where she cemented herself as one of the most decorated female tennis players in Washington and Lee University history after being named two-time Singles All-American (2021 and 2022), the 2022 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Senior Player of the Year and the 2021 Conference Player of the Year—among other distinctions. She then took her talents to Division I, playing for the George Mason University Patriots and leading her team in individual wins and an All-Conference selection. After playing on the pro pickleball circuit for a little over a year, Garcia is ranked 17th in singles, 56th in women’s doubles and 61st in mixed doubles on the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour.
Danny Jensen is a former collegiate soccer player at The Ohio State University. At Ohio State, he was part of the team that won the 2015 Big Ten Championship and finished his career in the top 10 in Ohio State soccer history for goals, assists and points. He ended his soccer career due to a major head injury. Since leaving soccer, Jensen picked up pickleball, where he quickly became a professional player. Jensen competes in the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) and PPA Tours across the country. Jensen is also a guest coach on most Pickleball Getaway Tours, coaching alongside Ben Johns, Collin Johns and Dekel Bar.
As a lifelong competitive tennis player, Courtney Kendall began her pickleball career in 2023. After winning 12 amateur medals, she transitioned to professional pickleball, competing in seven professional tournaments in the last year. Sponsored by Selkirk Sport, she is ranked 96th in the PPA world rankings for singles and 106th in the PPA world rankings for women’s doubles. Kendall received a Bachelor of Science in sport management from North Carolina State University in 2015. She previously worked for the Atlanta Falcons, where she spearheaded National Football League player, mascot and cheerleader events and appearances supporting military service members and their families.
Courtney McIntosh has competed in nine professional tournaments and has recorded 18 career wins so far, 12 of them in women’s doubles and 6 in women’s singles. She is ranked 78th in women’s singles.
Since 1951, AFE has been steadfast in its commitment to boosting the morale and well-being of service members and their families stationed overseas through world-class live events and performances. This enduring dedication is a testament to our unwavering support for our military families.
