The 2026 Major League Pickleball season arrived in May with two highly anticipated events in Dallas and Columbus, giving fans their first real look at the teams, storylines, and rivalries that will shape the year ahead.
Just as importantly, it introduced MLP’s new event structure.
Teams are now divided into round-robin groups before progressing to a final day of placement matches known as “Super Sunday”. The format ensures that every team has something meaningful to play for throughout the weekend, while creating a genuine championship atmosphere for the final day.
Early returns suggest the league has found a winner.
New Jersey’s Rocky Start and Rapid Recovery
No team entered the season under a brighter spotlight than the New Jersey 5s.
Already boasting Anna Leigh Waters, Will Howells and Noe Khlif, the franchise stunned the league by acquiring Jorja Johnson after Dallas Flash unexpectedly allowed her to enter the auction.
The result was one of the most expensive roster moves in MLP history and the creation of what many immediately labelled a super-team.
Dallas, however, brought an early reality check.
The 5s finished fourth after losses to the Columbus Sliders and St. Louis Shock, prompting questions about chemistry and fitness, particularly surrounding Howells’ lingering ankle issues.
Those doubts disappeared almost immediately in Columbus.
With Howells looking healthier and the team settling into its new identity, New Jersey swept through the event before defeating St. Louis in the final. Waters and Johnson dominated women’s doubles throughout the weekend, while the team’s overall depth proved overwhelming.
By the end of Columbus, the 5s looked exactly like the championship favourites many expected before the season began.
If you're following how the global game is shifting week by week, the World Pickleball Report breaks this down every day in our morning briefing.
Ben Johns Leads LA to Dallas Glory
While New Jersey struggled in Texas, the Los Angeles Mad Drops took full advantage.
Led by Ben Johns, Catherine Parenteau, Jade Kawamoto and Max Freeman, Los Angeles emerged from a competitive field to claim the season’s first title.
Their defining moment came against St. Louis during group play. Trailing 0-2, the Mad Drops fought back to force a DreamBreaker before eventually securing victory and punching their ticket to the final.
They then defeated the hometown Columbus Sliders to capture the Dallas title and establish themselves as one of the teams to beat in 2026.
For Johns, it was another reminder that regardless of changing partners, formats, or competitors, his ability to influence winning remains unmatched.
The St. Louis Problem
Few teams can match the talent assembled by the St. Louis Shock.
Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio, Kate Fahey and million-dollar signing Anna Bright give the franchise arguably the deepest roster in the league.
Yet May ended with a familiar frustration.
The Shock reached the latter stages of both events but left without a title, finishing third in Dallas before falling to New Jersey in the Columbus final.
The margins were small, but championship teams are judged by trophies rather than potential. With a home event awaiting in June, pressure is already building for St. Louis to convert talent into silverware.
The DreamBreaker Rule Delivers
One of the most successful innovations of the new season has been the introduction of DreamBreaker substitutions.
Teams can now deploy specialist singles players specifically for tie-break situations, creating a new tactical layer and providing opportunities for players who might otherwise spend entire weekends on the bench.
The rule immediately produced dramatic moments throughout May and has added another dimension to roster construction.
No example resonated more strongly than Grayson Goldin’s story in Columbus.
After suffering two strokes earlier this year, Goldin’s professional future appeared uncertain. Yet when Palm Beach called upon him in a crucial DreamBreaker, he delivered.
Facing elite singles player Roscoe Bellamy, Goldin produced the winning point and celebrated one of the most emotional moments of the young season.
In a league built around team identity and shared drama, it was exactly the type of moment MLP hopes to create.
Familiar Contenders, New Faces
Elsewhere, the Columbus Sliders continued to prove they remain one of the league’s strongest organisations.
The defending champions reached the Dallas final and secured third place in Columbus, with Australian recruit Danni-Elle Townsend quickly establishing herself as a valuable addition.
Several newer names also made strong first impressions.
Sofia Sewing’s debut for the Palm Beach Royals attracted significant attention, while Miami’s Nico Acevedo showcased the athleticism and upside that made him one of the most intriguing young acquisitions in the league.
The season is still young, but the next generation is already beginning to emerge.
Looking Ahead
Two events into the season, the broad shape of the 2026 campaign is beginning to emerge.
The New Jersey 5s and Los Angeles Mad Drops have established themselves as early title contenders. The St. Louis Shock remain dangerously close behind. Columbus continues to find ways to stay relevant.
Most importantly, the league’s new format appears to be working.
The combination of round-robin play, high-stakes final-day matchups, and DreamBreaker drama has created a stronger competitive product and a clearer narrative for fans to follow.
If May is any indication, MLP may have found the right formula.
And with St. Louis next on the calendar, the season’s biggest rivalries are only just beginning.
Further Reading
- Latest pickleball news from around the world
- Tournament coverage and results
- Rankings and player profiles
- Regional pickleball coverage
Did you enjoy this June magazine article? You can download the whole issue to read at your own leisure here.
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
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