Game, set, match: Chicago entrepreneur Abigail McCulloch in Forbes 30 under 30

In what has become a highly anticipated publication each year, Forbes recently released its annual “30 under 30” list, highlighting individuals in their 20’s or younger that are already making a name for themselves in their respective industries.

2026 marks the 15th year of the popular list that has grown from a single 30-person roster into a comprehensive catalog that breaks out 30 rising stars from each of 20 different industries, ranging from staples such as music and art to newer categories like healthcare, social impact, and even AI. 

This year, one of Chicago’s very own, Abigail McCulloch, made her way onto the prestigious under-30 sports list for their exceptional work in a fast-growing yet underappreciated pastime in the US: padel. 

First created in Mexico in 1969, padel is a racquet sport that blends elements of tennis and squash together to create an exciting, strategic, and social recreational game. Featuring smaller courts, lighter balls, and enclosed arenas with walls that are “in play” during the match, padel is a unique spin on the classic racket and ball game and offers something different and engaging for all ages and athletic skill levels. This has combined to make padel the #1 fastest-growing sport in the world; however, most of this expansion has come internationally, with genuine popularity yet to reach the U.S. due to a variety of factors.

McCulloch, who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, is looking to blaze this trail for padel domestically and was recognized in Forbes for the success of Alma Padel, the North Shore’s first-ever padel-based club that she founded in 2025. 

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Opened in Glenview in April of this past year, Alma Padel is a state-of-the-art sports complex and club that aims to combine recreation with community. With five competition-level courts, a fitness center, lounges, saunas, and a cafe and bar area all dipped in a vibrant yet welcoming Mediterranean decor, Alma is a one-of-a-kind recreational hub for the North Shore community and has become one of the beacons of the sport in the U.S. 

McCulloch, speaking on Alma’s strategy and first year of operations, said in an interview with Chicago Star, “We ended up putting a lot more emphasis on player experience than on moving fast. Building a real community took priority, and that shaped how we approached the first year.”

While the game has exploded in other parts of the world, the U.S. has yet to see the level of growth seen elsewhere, primarily because of a lack of infrastructure and exposure, coupled with the continued popularity of pickleball, which has swept the nation in recent years. 

Now, after a successful first three quarters of business, McCulloch is looking forward to what's around the corner for Alma Padel, stating, “The future is about building on what’s already working—deepening our programming, supporting our community, and growing thoughtfully when it makes sense.”

Whether you are interested in learning more about padel, looking for a fun, new community to join, or just want to support young female entrepreneurship, check out Alma Padel as it enters an exciting next chapter and get in on the action of one of the hottest sports trends sweeping the globe.