The National Squash League (NSL) announced today that after three seasons as the Newport Dragons, one of the NSL’s founding franchises is relocating to Charleston, South Carolina and will compete as one of nine teams in the NSL mens league as the Carolina Pirates beginning with the 2026/27 NSL season.

“The NSL has the top ranked, greatest squash players in the world, playing in an incredibly exciting team format. Charleston has established a reputation for attracting the world's top athletes for live events, making the National Squash League a perfect fit for our community,” said team owner Jim “Bear” Dyke.

The Pirates will be coached by Galen Le Cheminant, GM and Director of Squash at the Charleston Racquet Club where the Pirates will play their home match. The Pirates will enter their inaugural season with one of the league's strongest rosters. Leading the way is Timmy Brownell, the No. 1-ranked American men's player, alongside Yahya Elnawasany, currently ranked No. 16 in the world. Their combination of experience, athleticism, and firepower makes Carolina an immediate championship contender.

Adding even more excitement is rising star Matias Knudsen, currently ranked No. 46 in the world. One of the sport's brightest young talents, Knudsen continues to climb the PSA rankings and gives the Pirates one of the deepest lineups in the National Squash League.

The franchise enters the season motivated after a strong 2025/26 campaign that ended in the NSL Playoffs. The Dragons were eliminated by the Greenwich Panthers, falling just short of a trip to the NSL Finals. While the playoff loss was disappointing, it also demonstrated that the organization has the talent to compete with the league's best.

“Charleston provides an exciting backdrop for the franchise's future. With its passionate sports community, vibrant downtown, and growing squash presence, the city offers the perfect stage for the Pirates to build one of the league's premier home-court atmospheres at the Charleston Racquet Club,” said NSL CEO Spencer Lovejoy.

A fresh identity, an exciting new market, and one of the NSL's most talented rosters make the Carolina Pirates a team to watch as the 2026/27 season gets underway.

The mission of the National Squash League is to reinvent squash through fast-paced team competition featuring the world's most elite athletes, unforgettable fan experiences, and modern sports entertainment—making the game more exciting to watch, easier to connect with, and impossible to ignore. The NSL has both men and women leagues.