The inaugural Athena Padel Cup Women’s Invitational, presented by GreenOak, brought women from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Mexico to Padel X in Miami from October 12 to 15, 2026. Over four days of team competition, clinics, and celebration, the event proved that international women’s padel has a home in the USA.
Held during both National Padel Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Athena put women at the center of the sport. The first edition delivered on its founding idea: players competed with pride for their countries, then left Miami with friendships that crossed borders.
A Global Gathering on American Soil
Four teams took the court, with Team Britannia and Team Mexico joined by two American squads, USA Stars and USA Stripes. For the visiting players, Athena offered something rare in the amateur game: the chance to travel to the United States and represent their country in a dedicated women’s team event.
The cup is the creation of Andi Neugarten, founder of 6 Love Sports. From the start, it was designed as an annual international meeting point, not a one-off tournament. The format reinforced that. Teams competed across four age divisions, and every match counted toward the team total, so players of every generation shaped their country’s result.
In her words before the event, Neugarten described padel as a sport with a unique power to bring people together, and Athena as a celebration of the players, the competition and the community.
More Than the Matches
The week opened on October 12 with a welcome dinner under the stars, set on the courts at Padel X. Three days of team competition followed, matched by an off-court program built to make Athena as memorable socially as it was competitively.
Between matches, players took part in padel clinics, Pilates, yoga and wellness sessions, and the Padel X cold plunges. A Miami yacht cruise, curated local experiences and networking events gave players from all three countries time to get to know one another away from the glass court.
The finale on October 15 coincided with the 6 Love Sports League Finals. Athena’s international teams were joined by league players, partners, friends and the wider Miami padel community for an evening of championship padel, awards, music, food and a closing party.
The Final Standings
Team Britannia took home the first-ever Athena Padel Cup title with the highest combined score. USA Stars finished second, while USA Stripes and Team Mexico shared third place.
The close podium finish reflected the spirit of the week, with every team leaving Miami with something to celebrate.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Athena is set to become an annual fixture on the international women’s amateur padel calendar. The 2027 edition is already scheduled for October 12 to 15, 2027, and interest is coming in from additional countries around the world.
For USA Padel, that growth matters. Each new nation that travels to compete here strengthens the case for the United States as a destination for international women’s padel, and gives American players more chances to test themselves against the world without leaving home.