Here's everything you missed in pickleball in May.

From blue cards to world travels, the pros were booked and busy last month. 

Pickleball news:

Pickleball Inc. received a historic investment of $225 million from Apollo sports.

The PPA Tour’s documentary PARTNERS was released on YouTube and currently has nearly four million views. 

Selkirk acquired Bread & Butter Pickleball Company. 

The PPA Tour announced another new international expansion, PPA Spain. 

JOOLA revealed a summer collaboration with the iconic ice cream brand Bomb Pops. 

Singer Teddy Swims shared that he’s Brooklyn Pickleball Team’s biggest fan.  

Here’s what your favorite pros were up to off the court:

Tyson McGuffin went to a Los Angeles Lakers game. 

Anna Leigh Waters played pickleball with YouTuber Jeremy Hutchins and made a perfect steak with Richard Blais. 

Hunter and Yates Johnson handed out roses to the moms on tour on Mother's Day.

Connor Garnett played pickleball with pop icon Katy Perry for her Firework Foundation. 

Angie Walker took a trip to Rome, Italy. 

Camila Zilveti visited several countries around the Middle East and Asia.  

Genie Bouchard visited wine country in Napa Valley, California.  

Ed Perez got married in Florida and went to London for a honeymoon.

JW and Jorja Johnson went on the Pickleballers Podcast and JW revealed that he once had to sign a woman’s underwear. 

Anna Leigh Waters traveled across California and went to Disneyland. 

Cleo Bond got a new pickleball coach, Beth Bellamy. 

Anna Leigh Waters made an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning.

Genie Bouchard attended the French Open.  

Christian Alshon collaborated with Dude Perfect for a trick shot that took over 1,000 tries. 

A few of the American pros traveled abroad to compete in the PPA Asia 500 tournament. Collin Johns and Len Yang won the gold in men’s doubles, Zoey Wang won women’s singles, and Alix Truong and Tama Shimabukuro won mixed. 

Jorja Johnson got a dress named after her from 11NIL.

JW Johnson showed off his yoga skills.  

Hayden Patriquin went to Peru. 

Rachel Rorhabacher went to a petting zoo to meet some otters. 

Federico Staksrud visited friends and family in Argentina.

Tama Shimabukuro competed at the PPA Asia Macao Open and won gold in men’s singles and doubles with Armaan Bhatia.

Cam Chaffin went on Good Day Columbus to talk about all things pickleball. 

PPA Finals

Anna Leigh Waters pulled out of singles due to an injury. 

Kate Fahey won women’s singles. Chris Haworth won men’s singles. 

Ben Johns and Gabe Tardio finished out the year undefeated in men’s doubles, securing another title together. Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters won women’s doubles. And Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns wrapped up their season with another gold in mixed doubles. 

The best dressed pros included Alix Truong, Hurricane Tyra Black, and Jorja and JW Johnson.

Major League Pickleball 

With the PPA Finals ending the 2025-26 campaign, MLP kicked off in Dallas. 

MLP Dallas

With the addition of new rules for MLP, Federico Staksrud became the first pro ever to receive a blue card. 

Upcoming pros made their MLP debut, including Elsie Hendershot for the St. Louis Shock and Danni-Elle Townsend for the Columbus Sliders. 

The winners of the event, the LA Mad Drops, received a championship belt that will be passed around throughout the season to each winning team.

MLP Columbus

Parris Todd made her return to MLP after suspension. 

Sophia Sewing and the Palm Beach Royals made their MLP debut.   

Zane Navratil, who previously played for the New Jersey 5s, accidentally cheered for the 5s during a match. 

Grayson Goldin made a triumphant return from injury.

A few of the stars from Netflix’s Love Is Blind were in attendance. 

Pro soccer player Wessam Abou Ali also stopped by MLP Columbus to watch the action.

The New Jersey 5s took the victory in Columbus. 

What was your favorite pickleball moment from May 2026? Let us know on Instagram.

Top 3 overall storylines:

• Ticked off St. Louis Shock return home without an event win in Dallas or Columbus - will home cooking be the difference at Chaifetz Arena? 

• Brooklyn Pickleball Team and SoCal Hard 8s enter the fray - are they at a disadvantage as some teams have played in one or both of the first 2 events?

• Will Ben Johns put the Mad Drops on his back again and carry them to another winning weekend and 25 standings points?

Storylines per team competing in St. Louis: 

Group A:

Brooklyn Pickleball Team: Christian Alshon traded back to some familiar teammates. He was MVP when they won an event in ‘23 with Riley Newman and Jackie Kawamoto as the DC Pickleball Team. Will this familiarity serve them well as they play their first event? And will Jackie Kawamoto and Rachel Rohrabacher be as good as expected with the potential to consistently deliver a lead to Brooklyn after women’s doubles?

Las Vegas Night Owls: Finished 5th in Columbus, winning the 3 vs. 3 matchup and securing 10 points. Can they finish at least 3rd again? How will they utilize the women on the roster - rotated Callie Smith, Liz Truluck, and Zoey Wang in OH? And can the energy from Blaine Hovenier continue to drive winning results for the Night Owls?

LA Mad Drops: Started the season with a bang, winning the opener in Dallas in impressive fashion. The Ben Johns takeover extravaganza buoyed the entire roster and that must continue for them to beat the top teams. Two questions remain: can Catherine Parenteau maintain her elite level from Dallas and how much consistency can Max Freeman find as he fits in next to his new teammates?

Phoenix Flames: Young team seeks their first match win on the season after a tough start to the year in Dallas. However… they made a smart trade to bring in Alix Truong to pair with her brother Jonathan - will she make a big difference after playing so well in Dallas for the Sliders? And will Daria Walczak be healthy enough to play?

SoCal Hard Eights: Another team counting on youngsters to perform as they make their season debut in St. Louis. Cailyn Campbell has shown tremendous improvement and high end potential - can she reach it playing with the veteran Meghan Dizon? And on the men’s side, the youngster Will Mackinnon and Armaan Bhatia are a duo with lots of potential but both prefer the left side - who plays where? And does Rafa Lenhard get a chance in doubles or will he be strictly a singles specialist? 

Utah Black Diamonds: Do 15 year olds get jet lagged or tired? Tama Shimabukuro left Dallas, flew to Asia for PPA Macao, won singles and doubles (with Bhatia) and will be back next to Connor Garnett for the Black Diamonds. Will he have a full tank? And how’s the health of Allyce Jones after the injury from one of her all-effort dives in Dallas? 

Group B:

Atlanta Bouncers: Lost the 3 vs. 3 matchup with the Las Vegas Night Owls to leave Columbus with 8 standings points. Will the mixed pairs stay the same with Jessie Irvine playing with Jaume Martinez Vich and Jay Devilliers playing with Kaitlyn Christian? Both Christian and Irvine look to improve on a 3-9 match record from Columbus. 

Bay Area Breakers: Finished 5th in Dallas, grabbing a single standings point and look to improve upon that in St. Louis. Can Pablo Tellez find consistent chemistry with either Len Yang or Luc Pham? Will the youngster Ella Yeh see the court? Both Pham and Yeh seek their first wins of the season after 0-4 starts in Dallas. 

Orlando Squeeze: Were a DreamBreaker win away from winning their Group in Dallas. Had to settle for dropping to the 4th vs. 4th matchup which they won over Utah, securing 6 standings points in Dallas. Jack Sock had a strong 7-3 start to the campaign - will that continue? And will they address the DreamBreaker (especially on the women’s side), with a trade or waiver pick-up in the coming weeks?

Palm Beach Royals: Sofia Sewing hit the ground running in her MLP debut, going 8-2 and pairing brilliantly with Tyson McGuffin with impressive wins, most notably over Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin. Can Dekel Bar up his level as he was just 3-7 in Columbus. Grayson Goldin, returning from a stroke, walking off the DreamBreaker winner over the Night Owls was the feel-good moment of the year.

St. Louis Shock: Two events, two disappointments, but everything is still in front of the Shock as the playoffs are their ultimate focus. However, this week is different as it’s their host event. Will the Shock fans be rewarded with their absolute best and the first Shock event win of the season? Anna Bright has 6 losses this season - 4 of them to Anna Leigh Waters and the Fives (who are not at this event) - does she run the table inside Chaifetz Arena? 

Marquee Matchups: 

Group A: Brooklyn Pickleball Team vs. LA Mad Drops (2:30PM Central on Friday 6/5): Well Brooklyn, are you an elite team or not? This is a great early season measuring stick against the winners of Event 1. And the Kawamoto Bowl is always entertaining for everyone except their family members as Jackie (Brooklyn) will battle Jade (LA) in women’s doubles - will they square off in mixed as well?  

Group B: Palm Beach Royals vs. St. Louis Shock (4:00PM Central on Saturday 6/6): Rematch of Group Play in Columbus where the Shock won 3-1, dropping mixed as McGuffin and Sewing upset Bright and Patriquin. The 2 game wins in gender for the Shock were not close 11-4 (W) and 11-2 (M). Big challenge (and opportunity) for the Royals as this one is the last match of the day on center in front of the Shock home crowd.

After the 2026 MLP draft took place in late February, Trade Window #2 of the MLP season is now open and will run through June 30.

This article breaks down each trade, with the newest moves at the top.

The third event of the season, MLP St. Louis, begins June 4.

June 2

A trade was announced between the California Black Bears and Carolina Hogs:

• California receives Connor Mogle
• Carolina receives Michael Loyd
•  

In a corresponding move, Carolina waived Mogle and added James Delgado as part of MLP Waiver Period 2.

Updated Rosters

California: Kiora Kunimoto, Sahra Dennehy, Emma Nelson, Anouar Braham, James Delgado, Joey Wild, Luca Mack (IR)

Carolina: Nicole Conard, Abbigal Hatton, Aiko Yoshitomi, Brandon French, Michael Loyd, DJ Young

A trade was announced between the Texas Ranchers and Carolina Hogs:

• Texas receives Genie Bouchard
• Carolina receives Aiko Yoshitomi
•  

Updated Rosters

Texas: Lea Jansen, Layne Sleeth, Genie Bouchard, Eric Oncins, Nico Acevedo, Matthew Barlow

Carolina: Allison Phillips, Abbigal Hatton, Aiko Yoshitomi, Brandon French, DJ Young, Connor Mogle

A trade was announced between the Texas Ranchers and Miami Pickleball Club:

• Texas receives Nico Acevedo and Aiko Yoshitomi
• Miami receives Dylan Frazier, Ava Cavataio, and cash considerations
•  

Updated Rosters

Texas: *see above trade*

Miami: Isabella Dunlap, Estée Widdershoven, Ava Cavataio, Dylan Frazier, Yuta Funemizu, Clayton Powell

June 1

A trade was announced between the Los Angeles Mad Drops and Carolina Hogs:

• Los Angeles receives Samantha Parker
• Carolina receives Genie Bouchard and cash considerations
•  

Updated Rosters

Los Angeles: Catherine Parenteau, Jade Kawamoto, Samantha Parker, Ben Johns, Max Freeman, Gabe Joseph

Carolina: Allison Phillips, Abbigal Hatton, Genie Bouchard, Brandon French, DJ Young, Connor Mogle

May 28

A trade was announced between the Columbus Sliders and Phoenix Flames:

• Columbus receives Judit Castillo
• Phoenix receives Alix Truong and cash considerations
•  

Updated Rosters

Columbus: Parris Todd, Danni-Elle Townsend, Judit Castillo, Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, Alex Crum

Phoenix: Alix Truong, Daria Walczak, Alexa Schull, Jonathan Truong, Wyatt Stone, Cam Chaffin

May 16

A trade was announced between the Dallas Flash and Las Vegas Night Owls:

• Dallas receives Brooke Buckner
• Las Vegas receives Callie Smith and cash considerations
•  

Updated Rosters

Dallas: Tyra Black, Brooke Buckner, Angie Walker, JW Johnson, Augie Ge, Ivan Jakovljevic

Las Vegas: Chao Yi Wang, Callie Smith, Liz Truluck, Roscoe Bellamy, Blaine Hovenier, Braden Jacobson

May 15

A trade was announced between the Carolina Hogs and Dallas Flash:

• Carolina receives Samantha Parker
• Dallas receives Angie Walker and cash considerations

Updated Rosters

Carolina: Samantha Parker, Allison Phillips, Ava Ignatowich, DJ Young, Brandon French, James Delgado

Dallas: Tyra Black, Callie Smith, Angie Walker, JW Johnson, Augie Ge, Ivan Jakovljevic

March 14

Two trades were announced involving the Columbus Sliders, Miami Pickleball Club, and Carolina Hogs:

• Trade 1
• Columbus receives Alix Truong
• Miami receives Alli Phillips and cash
•  
• Trade 2
• Carolina receives Alli Phillips and cash
• Miami receives Isabella Dunlap

Updated Rosters

Columbus: Parris Todd, Danni-Elle Townsend, Alix Truong, Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, Alex Crum

Miami: Isabella Dunlap, Estee Widdershoven, Aiko Yoshitomi, Yuta Funemizu, Clayton Powell, Nicolas Acevedo

Carolina: Angie Walker, Alli Phillips, Ava Ignatowich, DJ Young, James Delgado, Brandon French

March 4

A trade was announced between the Brooklyn Pickleball Team and California Black Bears:

• Brooklyn receives Chris Haworth
• California receives Luca Mack and cash considerations

Analysis for Brooklyn

Roster: Rachel Rohrabacher, Jackie Kawamoto, Hannah Blatt, Christian Alshon, Riley Newman, Chris Haworth

Brooklyn's busy post-draft period continues, and with this move, they take care of what was a glaring issue in 2025: DreamBreakers. Brooklyn was just 1-3 in DreamBreakers last season, but adding Haworth—who is up to No. 3 in the PPA men's singles rankings—should help them immensely. Haworth is unlikely to challenge for a starting spot in doubles, but Brooklyn is as dangerous as ever in both doubles and singles.

Analysis for California

Roster: Kiora Kunimoto, Sahra Dennehy, Emma Nelson, Michael Loyd, Anouar Braham, Luca Mack

The Black Bears have acquired cash in both of their recent trades, which opens the door to more aggressively pursue top talent either through the trade market or the four waiver periods that will take place throughout the season. The Black Bears will most likely struggle in 2026 with their current roster, but they have rising talent on both sides to go along with a sizeable amount of cash to work with.

March 3

A trade was announced between the Atlanta Bouncers and Phoenix Flames:

• Atlanta receives Jessie Irvine
• Phoenix receives Daria Walczak and cash considerations

Analysis for Atlanta

Roster: Jessie Irvine, Kaitlyn Christian, Keilly Ulery, Jay Devilliers, Jaume Martinez Vich, Donald Young

This move sets Irvine up to compete alongside both of her 2026 PPA doubles partners in Christian and Devilliers. She and Christian are consistently making the quarterfinals and even took a game off of Anna Leigh Waters/Anna Bright at the Masters, while she and Devilliers have made some nice runs since rekindling their partnership in 2026. After narrowly missing the playoffs in 2025, the new-look Bouncers seem to be in solid position heading into this season.

Analysis for Phoenix

Roster: Judit Castillo, Daria Walczak, Alexa Schull, Jonathan Truong, Wyatt Stone, Cam Chaffin

The Flames have now bid farewell to their entire 2025 roster after missing the playoffs. Walczak and Schull are newly signed to the UPA, so it's likely for one of them to pair up with Castillo, who is fresh off a career-best doubles run to the semifinals in Mesa alongside Genie Erokhina. At this point, I expect Phoenix to roll with Truong/Stone in men's doubles since they played Ben Johns/Gabe Tardio close in Mesa, though it's hard to ignore the upside of 14-year-old Cam Chaffin.

A trade was announced between the Los Angeles Mad Drops and Florida Smash:

• Los Angeles receives Genie Bouchard
• Florida receives Paula Rives and cash considerations

Analysis for Los Angeles

Roster: Catherine Parenteau, Jade Kawamoto, Genie Bouchard, Ben Johns, Max Freeman, Gabe Joseph

The Mad Drops continue to establish themselves as contenders with this move. Bouchard won't take the place of Parenteau or Kawamoto in doubles, but she will likely replace Kawamoto in the DreamBreaker rotation. The Wimbledon semifinalist has established herself as a top-tier singles player and is currently tied for No. 8 in the PPA Tour women's singles rankings. Los Angeles will most likely roll out a tremendously scary singles lineup of Parenteau, Bouchard, Johns, and Joseph when the occasion calls for it.

Analysis for Florida

Roster: Zoey Weil, Martina Frantova, Paula Rives, Travis Rettenmaier, Cason Campbell, Christopher Crouch

This move gives the Smash the same roster they used in 2025, with the addition of Weil and Crouch. Despite Weil and Crouch providing some hope for the future, this team will likely struggle in 2026.

A trade was announced between the Texas Ranchers and California Black Bears:

• Texas receives Layne Sleeth
• California receives pickleball.com/people/anna-leigh-waters-featured-on-cbs-news-sunday-morning Pickleball.com Staff Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000 People pickleball.com/people/anna-leigh-waters-featured-on-cbs-news-sunday-morning The World No. 1 reflected on her remarkable pickleball journey.
  

  World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters discussed all things pickleball during an appearance on CBS News Sunday Morning this past weekend.

  Correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti sat down with Waters to talk about her journey in the sport, her rise to the top of the rankings, and the mindset that drives her success.

  During the interview, Waters reflected on being known for her aggressive, hard-hitting style when she first emerged in pickleball competition with her mother, Leigh.

  "I feel like in our local community, we were very welcomed and people were really supporting it, but when you went to tournaments, the commentators, the other players were like, 'Oh, they're playing tennis on a pickleball court, and this isn't the way the game should be played.' We weren't really trying to change the game. We just wanted to win, and what we were doing was winning," explained Waters. "Now, obviously nobody says that anymore. The game's all fast-paced and aggressive."

  
  For Waters, that style of play has always come naturally.

  The 19-year-old's fierce competitive spirit has been a driving force behind her rise to the top, but despite her remarkable achievements, she remains appreciative of every accolade that has come her way.

  "It's not [easy to win]. I mean, some matches obviously are easier than others, but the whole process of winning the Triple Crown is far from easy," noted Waters. "For one, just the amount of matches I play in a weekend. I play like 15 matches in like five days. It's crazy. A lot of the hard work is done not at the tournaments, just all the training."

  The results speak for themselves, with her trophy case overflowing with PPA gold medals.

  Naturally, she handles everything with the poise and professionalism of a seasoned veteran.

  "When you start thinking really about No. 1, that's when it gets hard. Even in my first round, I'm getting nervous. Like, you have to be that way," insisted Waters. "Anytime I have ever gone into a match not nervous, I have never played my best. I'm always, first round to finals, I'm nervous. It doesn't matter who I'm playing."

   

   

   

   

   

  View this post on Instagram

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  A post shared by CBS News' "Sunday Morning" 🌞 (@cbssundaymorning)

  
  Waters revealed that she sought guidance from a mental performance coach to effectively handle those pressures.

  And it has clearly paid significant dividends.

  "If I'm focusing too much on my opponent, that's when bad things tend to happen," she explained. "And if I'm focusing on myself and what I can do better or what I'm doing wrong, that's usually when I'm playing my best, so if I can just focus on myself, not worry about everything that's going on, it's okay. Just be you.”

  A timeless reminder Waters keeps in mind every day both on and off the court.

  ]]> pickleball.com/fashion/new-11nil-dress-created-by-jorja-johnson-tyra-black-is-a-fashion-win Victoria Radnothy Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000 Fashion pickleball.com/fashion/new-11nil-dress-created-by-jorja-johnson-tyra-black-is-a-fashion-win Professional pickleball is becoming more stylish than ever.
  

  Professional pickleball continues to raise the bar in the style department, thanks to fashion-forward brands like 11NIL and trendsetting athletes like Jorja Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black.

  11NIL recently announced that Johnson and Black played a key role in designing one of the brand’s newest pieces: the Rome 'Jorja' Mesh Bubble Dress. Johnson helped create the original concept, while Black worked to refine the final design.

  The dress embodies everything fans have come to love about 11NIL, featuring corset-inspired detailing, mesh paneling, a front zipper, and a playful bubble hem. Available in both white and a standout yellow colorway, the look blends seamlessly with the rest of the brand’s collection while perfectly reflecting Johnson and Black’s signature on-court style.

  Some of the duo’s most memorable fashion moments have come while wearing 11NIL, making this collaboration feel like a natural next step. After showcasing a variety of the brand’s silhouettes and styles throughout their careers, the pair finally had the opportunity to put their own creative stamp on a design.

  The result is fresh, confident, and undeniably fun. The dresses strike a balance between youthful energy and bold sophistication, qualities that mirror both the athletes themselves and the 11NIL brand. And judging by the campaign photos, the collaboration is every bit as fierce as fans would expect.

   

   

   

   

   

  View this post on Instagram

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  A post shared by ☆ 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐳 ☆ (@sarah_.mtz)

  
  “The Rome 'Jorja' Bubble Dress was designed with them, for them, and it shows,” detailed 11NIL on Instagram.

  What I love most about this collaboration is that Johnson and Black were involved in the creative process behind the dress. Black has always had a strong sense of style and has been one of pickleball’s standout fashion figures from the very beginning. Johnson, on the other hand, has shared that fashion is a newer passion for her.

  That’s what makes this collaboration so exciting. It’s been fun to watch Johnson’s interest in fashion grow over the years, and now she’s reached a point where she’s helping design her own on-court looks. Seeing how much clothing and personal style have become a part of her journey adds another layer to this partnership and makes the final product feel even more meaningful.

   

   

   

   

   

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  A post shared by Jorja Johnson (@jorjajohnson_pb)

  
  Beyond the design itself, there’s something reassuring about knowing this dress was created by two of the best players in the sport. If it performs at the highest level of professional pickleball, then it’s certainly a piece worth considering for recreational play as well. Fashion-forward and functional pickleball apparel? That’s an easy yes from me.

  What makes this collaboration especially exciting is that it feels like the beginning of something much bigger. My mind is already racing with possibilities—coordinated warm-up sets, stylish off-court collections, even a line of chic accessories. I could easily envision an entire Johnson or Black collection that continues to push pickleball fashion forward and bring a fresh level of sophistication to the sport.

  For years, tennis has dominated the conversation around fashionable court apparel, but pickleball is quickly carving out its own identity. And if collaborations like this are any indication, the sport’s style evolution is only just getting started.

  Some people may dismiss fashion on the pickleball court as unimportant, but when the game's top athletes are investing time and creativity into what they wear, it shows that style has become part of the culture. There’s something to be said for stepping onto the court feeling confident, comfortable, and completely yourself.

  I genuinely hope this is only the first chapter of collaborations like this. 

  To keep up to date on all things pickleball, follow us on Instagram.

  ]]> pickleball.com/news/final-thoughts-on-mlp-columbus Jim Kloss Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:45:00 +0000 News pickleball.com/news/final-thoughts-on-mlp-columbus Let’s see if we can separate fact from fiction and reach some conclusions about where things stand two events into the season.
  
  New Jersey took the crown at MLP Columbus, the second event of the MLP season. New Jersey defeated St. Louis in the final, with the hometown Columbus Sliders taking home third place. We now have had 18 of the 20 MLP teams see action, and have some idea of the true strength of the teams. Let’s see if we can separate fact from fiction and reach some conclusions about where things stand two events into the season.
   
  1. MLP Columbus, not MLP Dallas, showed the real New Jersey team. MOSTLY FACT
   
  At MLP Dallas, New Jersey finished 4th, finishing second in their pool after losing to Columbus. New Jersey then lost to St. Louis in the 3d place game. At MLP Columbus, New Jersey got revenge, defeating Columbus in pool play and then defeating St. Louis in the first place game. Which was the real New Jersey, the team that finished a disappointing 4th in Dallas or the team that dominated Columbus?
   
  What accounted for New Jersey’s better results in Columbus? Put simply, New Jersey played better in Columbus, up and down the lineup. Anna Leigh Waters was very good at Dallas; in Columbus, she was unstoppable. Jorja Johnson was inconsistent in Dallas; in Columbus she played steadily. Noe Khlif was solid at Dallas, and was solid again in Columbus. The biggest change was in Will Howells. At Dallas, Howells was not himself, likely due to the lingering effects of his ankle injury from earlier this year. At Columbus, Howells took off his ankle brace and for the first time looked like his old self. His play in Columbus was definitely elevated and it showed with much better results.
   
  New Jersey’s strength is that they have the best women of any team. If the men can play at a very high level, as they did in Columbus, they have the best team. The question at every event will be whether Khlif and Howells will play at a very high level.
   

   

   

   

   

   

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  A post shared by MLP Major League Pickleball (@majorleaguepb)

   
  2. Is St. Louis still a top team? FACT
   
  St. Louis is now 0 for 2 in winning MLP events, with a 3d place finish at Dallas, and a 2nd place finish at Columbus. But, St. Louis’ losses have been to New Jersey and LA, both championship contenders in their own right. St. Louis has not played to their potential. Hayden Patriquin, in particular, has not played to his very high standards. He has lost games that he normally wins. St. Louis is built a little differently than New Jersey. New Jersey is better on the women’s side, St. Louis is better on the men’s side. In the Columbus final, Patriquin and Gabe Tardio lost to Khlif and Howells; St. Louis has to win that matchup.
   
  No need to panic over St. Louis. They are obviously one of the top five championship contenders and they will be in the mix at the end of the season. But to win it all, Patriquin will need to play better.
   
   
  3. Miami is a playoff contender. MOSTLY FICTION
   
  We all suffer from recency bias when we watch pro pickleball. One good match and we all tend to be convinced that one match is a trend, not a fluke. But sometimes it is more fluke than trend.
   
  At MLP Columbus, the Miami Pickleball Club was in action for the first time. On day one, they came out and gave 2025 champion Columbus a scare, losing 3-2 in a DreamBreaker. Nico Acevedo won both of his matches against Columbus and showed a ton of talent. On day two, Miami crushed Atlanta 4-0. In preseason rankings, Atlanta was a borderline playoff team, so the ease with which Miami defeated Atlanta had everyone piling on the Miami bandwagon. But, Miami did not win another match in Columbus and finished last in their pool.
   
  Miami was not as good as they showed against Columbus and they were not as bad as the team that lost to California. The truth is that Miami is pretty much who we thought they were at the beginning of the season; a non-playoff team, that is good enough to scare a good team. Acevedo is legit; but, the women are neither good enough nor consistent enough for Miami to be consistently good. Acevedo and Yuta Funemizu can beat anyone at men’s doubles. But the other three doubles teams are ok at best and Miami has one of the weakest DreamBreaker squads of any team. With DreamBreakers being more important in 2026 than in any prior year, the singles weakness of Miami will hold them back. Miami will win some matches and will score an upset or two along the way, but they likely are not a playoff team in 2026.
   
   
  4. There remain only five teams that can win the 2026 MLP championship. FACT
   
  Prior to the start of the 2026 season, I said in my preseason preview that there were five teams that could legitimately win the 2026 MLP championship; New Jersey, St. Louis, LA, Columbus, and Brooklyn. We have not yet seen Brooklyn in action, but they have a very solid lineup top to bottom. The other four have been in action, and those matches confirm they are all capable of winning it all.
   
  Every team has shown some strengths and some (relative) weaknesses. Interestingly, for New Jersey, Columbus, and St. Louis, their issues have all primarily been on the men’s side. For LA, the questions are whether Ben Johns will play at a super high level all year, and whether their women will fade some as the year goes on, as happened in 2025. For Brooklyn, they have not played yet, so their question is whether they can turn the potential of the roster into results.
   
  But in the end, these five teams are the best teams and one of them is going to win it all in 2026. Which one remains to be seen.
   
   
  5. The newest UPA players are proving they belong. FACT
   
  One of the best things to see as a fan is how new players perform under the bright lights. Playing UPA events, whether PPA or MLP, is to play at the very top of the pickleball world. Many try, but not all succeed. Three of the newest players are Danni-Elle Townsend, Sahra Dennehy, and Sofia Sewing. Townsend and Dennehy played a couple of PPAs before MLP started, but it remained to be seen how they would do under the pressure of team competition. This was particularly true for Townsend, who had the added pressure of coming to a championship Columbus team. For Sewing, her MLP debut was also her UPA debut.
   
  How did they do? They did well, each proving they belong in MLP and are likely to be solid PPA players for years to come. Townsend, Dennehy, and Sewing are all legitimately top 20 players. Townsend is good enough to keep Columbus among the five championship contenders: Dennehy is on a bad California team, but expect them to improve as the season goes on; and Sewing is a solid addition to the new Palm Beach team that should easily make the playoffs.
   
   
  Next up is MLP St. Louis. The matches begin Thursday, June 4. All the matches will be on Pickleballtv.
   
  Follow me on X @pickleball_jim for updates and inside information on all the players and matches.
  ]]> pickleball.com/news/new-jersey-5s-sweep-their-way-to-mlp-columbus-title Pickleball.com Staff Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 News pickleball.com/news/new-jersey-5s-sweep-their-way-to-mlp-columbus-title Anna Leigh Waters and company delivered a dominant performance on Super Sunday.
  

  The New Jersey 5s put an exclamation point on their impressive showing at MLP Columbus on Super Sunday, sweeping the St. Louis Shock to capture the event crown.

  New Jersey earned 25 standings points with an 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 victory in the final match. The win completed an undefeated weekend and reinforced the 5s’ position among the league's premier teams again this season.

  New Jersey set the tone early as Anna Leigh Waters and Jorja Johnson opened the contest by downing Anna Bright and Kate Fahey in women's doubles. Will Howells and Noe Khlif followed with a triumph against Gabriel Tardio and Hayden Patriquin in men's doubles, giving the 5s a commanding advantage. Waters and Khlif then closed out the clinching performance by defeating Bright and Patriquin in mixed doubles.

   

   

   

   

   

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  "The energy today was crazy," said Waters, shortly before the 5s were presented with the coveted "Super Sunday Belt" at Pickle & Chill. "I’m really proud of our team for showing the stuff we have. I feel like we’re getting better and better, and hopefully this is just a start for us."

  All signs point in that direction. Just ask 5s owner and general manager Ryan Harwood.

  "It means the world [to win in Columbus] because we had an incredibly emotional weekend last weekend in Dallas and a lot of people questioning us," said Harwood, referencing a fourth-place showing in the season-opening event. "I am so proud of how resilient this group was. They are professionals, they know how to bounce back, and that’s what champions do. I am so excited for them, and we cannot wait for the long season ahead."

   

   

   

   

   

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  The Shock collected 18 standings points for their runner-up finish, while the Columbus Sliders earned 15 points after placing third on home turf.

  The MLP schedule continues with MLP St. Louis from June 4-7 at Chaifetz Arena.

  Click here for ticket information.

  ]]> pickleball.com/news/redemption-nj-5s-topple-columbus-sliders-to-set-up-super-sunday-clash-with-st-louis-shock Hannah Johns Sat, 30 May 2026 23:05:00 +0000 News pickleball.com/news/redemption-nj-5s-topple-columbus-sliders-to-set-up-super-sunday-clash-with-st-louis-shock "Unreal. I felt like I was somewhere else today, that was so awesome." -Noe Khlif
  

  The biggest storyline of Saturday at MLP Columbus belonged to the New Jersey 5s.

  After suffering two tough losses to the Columbus Sliders over the last year — at the 2025 MLP Finals and the season-opening event in Dallas just last weekend — New Jersey finally got its revenge in emphatic fashion.

  The 5s swept all four games against Columbus, earning a statement victory over the hometown favorites.

  This makes the 5s the winners of Pool A, advancing to Super Sunday to battle for the weekend's #1 and #2 slots (worth 25 and 18 ranking points respectively). The St. Louis Shock win Pool B and will meet them there.

  SEE ALL MATCH SCORES AND POOL PLAY RESULTS FROM SATURDAY

  For a team loaded with new faces and sky-high expectations, the NJ 5s' win felt like a breakthrough moment.

  New Jersey's roster features Anna Leigh Waters, Noe Khlif, Will Howells, and Jorja Johnson, while Columbus has Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, Parris Todd, and Danni-Elle Townsend.

  Instead of another nail-biter rivalry match, the 5s controlled the contest from start to finish.

  New Jersey set the tone immediately in women's doubles, where Waters and Johnson rolled past Townsend and Todd, 11-3. Howells and Khlif followed with an 11-8 victory over Daescu and Klinger in men's doubles to give the 5s a 2-0 advantage.

  The domination continued in mixed play. Waters and Khlif cruised to an 11-1 victory over Daescu and Todd in mixed doubles #1 before Howells and Johnson completed the sweep with an 11-7 win against Klinger and Townsend in mixed doubles #2.

  Following the victory, Waters admitted the result carried extra meaning considering the history between the teams.

  "It feels great," said Waters. "We're a new team this year and obviously Columbus beat us in the finals last year and then again in Dallas. They're really tough to play here because they have the home crowd behind them, but I feel like we won over some fans by the end."

  Khlif, who has quickly emerged as a key piece of New Jersey's lineup and recently replaced Howells as Waters' partner for MLP mixed matches, embraced the spotlight.

  "Unreal. I felt great, I felt like I was somewhere else today, that was so awesome," he said after the match.

  Although the Columbus Sliders were not the victors of the day, the atmosphere at Pickle and Chill was undeniable. Columbus has fully embraced professional pickleball, and fans took things to another level Saturday morning by organizing what was billed as the first tailgate in pickleball history. Some supporters reportedly arrived as early as 6 a.m. before matches even began.

   

   

   

   

   

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  The crowd only grew throughout the day, with "Love is Blind" stars Connor and Jordan among the notable spectators at Pickle & Chill.

  While New Jersey's revenge story grabbed the headlines, several other narratives emerged throughout the event.

  Parris Todd returned for her first MLP appearance of the season after serving a suspension stemming from participation in an overseas event that was found to violate her exclusive contract with the PPA and MLP.

  Todd immediately reminded everyone why she remains one of the league's most impactful players.

  The Columbus star played some of her best pickleball and also found herself in the middle of one of Saturday's most talked-about moments after exchanging words with Zane Navratil during competition.

  "I mean, everyone can really act whatever way they want and kind of get away with it, it seems like," Todd said afterward. "If he's going to give it, then I'm going to give it back."

  Another feel-good story came from Grayson Goldin, who returned to MLP competition after suffering a stroke earlier this year.

  Meanwhile, the newly bought and founded team, the Palm Beach Royals, continued their impressive debut weekend.

  Palm Beach — featuring Tyson McGuffin, Dekel Bar, Tina Pisnik, and APP-darling Sofia Sewing — entered Columbus as one of the biggest storylines after the franchise was purchased and rebuilt during the offseason.

  The new-look squad exceeded expectations immediately, opening the event undefeated through its first three matchups before ultimately losing its last pool play match.

  Waiting for New Jersey in the battle for spot #1 and 25 ranking points is the St. Louis Shock, one of the most talented rosters in Major League Pickleball.

  The Shock — featuring Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio, Anna Bright, and Kate Fahey — won Pool B with a 3-1 victory over the Palm Beach Royals on Saturday.

  The Shock built an early advantage by dominating both gender doubles contests. Bright and Fahey cruised past Pisnik and Sewing, 11-4, in women's doubles before Patriquin and Tardio overwhelmed McGuffin and Bar, 11-2, in men's doubles to put St. Louis ahead 2-0.

  Palm Beach kept the matchup alive in mixed doubles #1, where McGuffin and Sewing earned an 11-8 victory over Patriquin and Bright to hand the Shock their only loss of the day.

  Needing to win the final game to avoid a Dreambreaker, St. Louis delivered in mixed doubles #2. Tardio and Fahey defeated Bar and Pisnik, 11-7, to secure the 3-1 victory and send the Shock into the championship match against New Jersey.

  Fahey admitted afterward that she was relieved to avoid a winner-take-all Dreambreaker.

  "It's always good not to go to a Dreambreaker," she laughed when asked about closing out the Royals in the second mixed doubles matchup. "I'm just excited to play with my team. We've got a really great group of people. Any day with the St. Louis Shock is a great day."

  Now, two of the league's biggest powerhouses will battle for the Columbus crown.

  Fans can purchase tickets to attend Sunday's championship action in person at Pickle & Chill through the official MLP Columbus event page.

  Watch live coverage on Pickleballtv, rewatch completed matches on MLP's YouTube channel, and follow the latest standings to see how every result impacts the 2026 season race.

  • Tickets: https://majorleaguepickleball.co/events-2026/mlp-columbus-2026/
  • Watch Live: https://pickleballtv.com
  • MLP YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MajorLeaguePickleball
  • Team Standings: https://brackets.pickleballteamleagues.com/team-leagues/2f129d1d-0202-4d55-8448-bfafc0872305/tournaments/a965559e-0d30-488b-af4f-dbfdc78ef2c3/overview

  

  ]]> pickleball.com/news/mlp-columbus-group-standings-after-day-2 Will Daughton Sat, 30 May 2026 02:55:00 +0000 News pickleball.com/news/mlp-columbus-group-standings-after-day-2 Anna Leigh Waters and Jorja Johnson delivered two 11-0 score lines in women's doubles for the New Jersey 5s on Friday.
  

  The second day of MLP Columbus  is in the books, so let’s take a look at the group standings after Friday's matches.

  As a reminder, the top 4 teams in each group will have a chance to compete for standings points on Super Sunday.

   

   

   

   

   

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  Here is a breakdown of how Sunday's matches will work and how many standings points will be up for grabs:

  • Group A #1 v. Group B #1: Winner receives 25 standings points; loser gets 18
  • Group A #2 v. Group B #2: Winner receives 15 standings points; loser gets 12
  • Group A #3 v. Group B #3: Winner receives 10 standings points; loser gets 8
  • Group A #4 v. Group B #4: Winner receives 6 standings points; loser gets 4
  • 5^th place teams receive 1 standings point each; 6^th place team receives 0.
  •  

  Group A

  1. 1. New Jersey 5s (3-0)
  2. 2. Columbus Sliders (3-0)
  3. 3. Chicago Slice (1-2)
  4. 4. Miami Pickleball Club (1-2)
  5. 5. Atlanta Bouncers (1-2)
  6. 6. California Black Bears (0-3)
  7.  

  Group B

  1. 1. St. Louis Shock (2-0)
  2. 2. Palm Beach Royals (2-0)
  3. 3. Las Vegas Night Owls (2-0)
  4. 4. Carolina Hogs (0-3)
  5. 5. Florida Smash (0-3)
  6.  

  Group play from the second regular season event continues Saturday at 8:30am CT, with live coverage available on Pickleballtv.

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