From College to INTENNSE
INTENNSE Tennis
2 MINS | Published on 10/07/25
This is the first installment in a series highlighting the opportunities INTENNSE provides to former college athletes, featuring Season One players, INTENNSE staff, Season Two prospects, college coaches, the first-of-its-kind draft, and more.
Launching INTENNSE’s first season came with real hurdles. Educating players on a brand-new format and building awareness for a league that didn’t yet exist made recruiting a challenge. Convincing athletes to take a chance on something unfamiliar required trust. But those who stepped forward quickly proved that their college tennis backgrounds had prepared them perfectly for the stage INTENNSE created.
For decades, NCAA programs have been proving ground for future professionals. Players like John Isner (Georgia), Danielle Collins (Virginia), Cameron Norrie (TCU), Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA), and Jennifer Brady (UCLA) built their foundations in college before breaking through on the global stage. College tennis demands a balance of individual excellence and team accountability, a combination that consistently prepares athletes for success at the highest levels.
INTENNSE builds on that tradition. Just like NCAA programs, the league thrives on team-driven competition, coaching support, and the rhythm of training together. But it also provides something that tennis players have long needed, a path to making a living playing the sport they love when their college careers are over.
All but one spot on the 2025 INTENNSE core team rosters (Atlanta, Jacksonville, Tampa) were filled by former U.S. college tennis players representing multiple conferences, including Power Five programs in the SEC, ACC, and Big 12, as well as mid-major and NAIA schools.
NCAA talent embraced the challenge. Noureldin Adam (Florida A&M), Sam Frizelle (Florida Southern), Kate Sharabura (Georgia Tech), Trey Mallory (UNC Wilmington), Jo-Yee Chan (San Diego State), Trent Bryde (Georgia), Kevin King (Georgia Tech), Tanya Sasnouskaya (Old Dominion/Texas), Raul Garcia (Kennesaw State), Adriana Reami (NC State), Max Benson (Presbyterian), Annabelle Thomas (Clemson/University of North Florida), Martin Gutierrez (Barry), Sofia Johnson (Old Dominion), Sam Nicholson (UNC Wilmington), and Jackeline Lopez (Rutgers) all brought their college experience directly into INTENNSE competition.
“For college players, opportunities to compete at a high level and be fairly compensated are very limited,” said JY Aubone, Director of Player Relations for INTENNSE. “INTENNSE gives them a place to play the sport they love and chase their childhood dreams while being able to make a living doing it.”
Players found the league familiar because it mirrored the environment they had known in college. The team-based structure, intense rivalries, training together, and the presence of a coach made the transition seamless. INTENNSE simply extended that framework into a professional setting while adding visibility and excitement for both players and fans.
The league also highlighted championship pedigree: multiple players were NCAA team or individual champions and All-Americans. At least four national champions and more than ten All-Americans competed in Season 1. Most players graduated between 2022 and 2025, demonstrating INTENNSE’s role as a direct bridge from college to professional tennis. International players with U.S. college experience further reinforced the league’s potential global reach.
“The INTENNSE Challenge Series was established to provide a pathway for players, particularly NCAA athletes, to experience our format, to test themselves, compete against professionals and earn prize money while being coached by legends,” said Charles Allen, CEO of INTENNSE. “After college, INTENNSE provides a development platform where talent is rewarded with financial support, without the distraction of constant travel; a platform which strips away uncertainty and accelerates their journey by placing athletes in a professional environment, among peers, with the support of an entire league of people in passionate pursuit of seeing our sport flourish anew.”
That future looks promising. Just as college tennis has produced stars who shaped the sport at the highest levels, INTENNSE is creating opportunities for former NCAA players to keep competing in a familiar yet elevated environment. The journey doesn’t have to end at graduation.
With Season 1 complete, INTENNSE is turning to the next chapter: Season 2 and the league’s first official Player Draft. This draft will allow recent graduates to take the next step in their competitive careers, building on the league’s inaugural success.
Register to play or coach.
By signing up, athletes and coaches will receive updates on the draft, insider insights on Season 2, and resources to prepare for their next leap. For college players dreaming about what comes after, INTENNSE has made the path clear—the journey doesn’t have to end at graduation
