Global Pickleball Roundup: MLP Chaos, Bermuda 2026, Asia Breakthrough, Goldin Health Scare, and UK Facility Growth
The global pickleball landscape has undergone significant structural shifts in the last 24 hours, ranging from a volatile transfer market in the United States to major championship announcements in the Caribbean. While the professional tour grapples with unexpected roster strategies and player health concerns, the sport’s international footprint continues to deepen with historic competitive results in Malaysia and infrastructure growth in the United Kingdom.
Major League Pickleball Keeper Deadline Shakes Up Roster Market
The deadline for Major League Pickleball (MLP) teams to submit their protected player lists for the 2026 season has passed, resulting in a flooded free agency pool that includes some of the sport’s highest-profile athletes. In a calculated financial gamble, several franchises opted to release franchise-cornerstone talent rather than pay the retention premiums, betting on their ability to re-acquire players during the upcoming dynamic bidding draft on 27 February.
Most notably, the St. Louis Shock released Anna Bright, a top-tier female competitor, while the Dallas Flash parted ways with 2025 MVP Jorja Johnson. The Columbus Sliders also released Lea Jansen despite her role in their championship run. Analysts suggest these moves are driven by the scarcity of elite female talent; by forcing a market reset, teams are preparing for aggressive bidding wars for draft slots. Conversely, the Carolina Pickleball Club retained four players, effectively removing themselves from the early rounds of the draft, while the SoCal Hard Eights released their entire roster to enter the auction with maximum budget flexibility. The coming weeks will determine whether these efficiencies result in balanced rosters or the creation of financial ‘super teams’.
Read the full breakdown of the MLP keeper deadline and draft dynamics.
Bermuda Confirmed as Host for 2026 Caribbean Championships
The Pickleball Association of Bermuda (PAB) and the Bermuda government have officially announced that the island will host the 2026 Caribbean Pickleball Championships from 16–21 March. The event will be staged at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium in Pembroke, marking a significant step in the region’s sports tourism strategy. Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport Owen Darrell confirmed the government’s full alignment with the project, citing the economic benefits for the local hospitality and transport sectors.
The championships will feature a dual-format structure designed to professionalise the regional game. The ‘Caribbean Championship Cup’ will operate as a high-performance team event—featuring men’s, women’s, and mixed ties—to prepare national federations for World Cup-style competition. This will be followed by the ‘Rally on the Rock’, an open event for players of all ages and skill levels. PAB President George Thomas noted that the event will utilise a weighted ‘Caribbean Medal Table’ to reflect the higher strategic importance of the elite brackets. Bermuda enters the tournament as the defending champions, aiming to utilise home-court advantage to further their long-term athletic development plan.
Read the full Bermuda announcement and what it means for Caribbean competition.
Historic All-Asian Final Highlights APP Tour Expansion in Malaysia
The Leapmotor APP Kuala Lumpur Open concluded with a definitive statement on the growth of Asian pickleball, as Vietnam’s Phuc Huynh defeated Hong Kong’s Jack Wong Hong-kit in the Men’s Singles Pro final. Huynh’s straight-games victory (11-3, 11-7) marked a watershed moment for the sport in the region, showcasing a level of technical precision that is rapidly closing the gap with Western professionals. Huynh’s path to the podium included a gritty three-game victory over American professional Ryler DeHeart, further validating the competitive depth of the Asian circuit.
While local talent surged in the men’s draw, American world No. 1 Sofia Sewing asserted her dominance in the women’s field by securing a Triple Crown. Sewing navigated the humid conditions to take gold in women’s singles, women’s doubles (partnering Megan Fudge), and mixed doubles (partnering Casey Diamond). The event, which drew top international talent to the Malaysian capital, serves as a key indicator of the Association of Pickleball Players’ (APP) strategy to establish a stronghold in the Southeast Asian market, moving beyond exhibition play to sanctioned, high-stakes competition.
Read the full Kuala Lumpur recap and why this final matters globally.
Pro Player Grayson Goldin Recovering After Stroke Diagnosis
The physical demands of the professional tour were brought into sharp focus following the hospitalisation of 30-year-old pro Grayson Goldin. While preparing for the Carvana Mesa Cup, Goldin suffered a sudden loss of speech and severe neurological symptoms. Following emergency admission and extensive testing—including CT scans and a cerebral angiogram—medical teams diagnosed him with Reversible Cerebral Vasodilation Syndrome (RCVS), confirming he had suffered two strokes.
Goldin has since regained his speech and is in a stable condition, with doctors offering a positive long-term prognosis due to the reversible nature of the syndrome. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with the substantial costs of emergency care and neurological rehabilitation, highlighting the lack of comprehensive medical safety nets for independent contractors on the tour. The incident has prompted an outpouring of support from the global pickleball community, with Goldin issuing a statement expressing gratitude and a determination to return to competition.
Read the full report on Goldin’s diagnosis and what it reveals about player welfare.
UK Infrastructure Expands with Dedicated Centre in County Durham
British pickleball is set to receive a boost in the North East with the approval of a dedicated indoor facility in Shildon, County Durham. The ‘House of Pickleball’, founded by Ryan Watson and Chris Moody, will open in late Spring at the All Saints Industrial Estate. The project represents a shift in the UK’s facility model, moving away from shared-use badminton courts in leisure centres toward permanent, purpose-built venues.
By converting an industrial unit, the founders aim to solve the primary logistical issues facing British players: the adverse weather and the scarcity of available court time during peak hours. The centre will feature multiple indoor courts, a pro shop, and social areas, intending to function as a community hub that drives local economic activity. This ‘warehouse conversion’ model is viewed by industry observers as a scalable solution for rapid infrastructure growth across the United Kingdom, allowing for consistent league play and coaching programmes.
Read the full House of Pickleball story and why it matters for UK growth.
Global Takeaway
The simultaneous restructuring of US professional rosters and the emergence of high-performance regional hubs in Asia and the Caribbean signals that pickleball is rapidly transitioning from a recreational boom into a stratified, global sport with distinct professional economies.