The 2026 Major League Pickleball season concluded in August, but there was a lot more action on and off the court. So here’s everything you missed in pickleball this month. 

Pickleball Industry News

The PPA Tour announced PPA Europe. The PPA Tour announced the global “World Pickleball Rankings” system. And PPA announced their new slogan “Be the Best.” FS1 revealed pro pickleball’s most watched event ever was from MLP Orlando that shattered the previous record. Pickleball.com launched Game Maker app on National Pickleball Day.  

A study done by the Canadian Sports Betting group revealed that Hawaii is the most pickleball obsessed state in the US. Pickleball shoe brand PB5star took their van on a pickleball cross country road trip for the ultimate grass routes marketing strategy. Pickleball.com tier ranked all the MLP Jerseys from this season.

A pickleball dating app hit the app store to match suitors through court compatibility. Whitehall Lane Winery added a pickleball court to their winery for the ultimate tasting experience.  

Trevor Noah talked about pickleball on his podcast. Tennis icon Serena Williams played pickleball at the New York Lotte Palace Invitational. Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg attended the MLP Playoffs and signed the Flash to his apparel company, Municipal. McDonald's posted a literal ball of pickles in honor of National Pickleball Day.  

New PPA partnerships were announced with notable pairings including Hurricane Tyra Black and Gabe Tardio for mixed, and Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin for men’s dubs. A list went viral ranking the biggest beefs in pickleball. Dude Perfect ranked their top 10 hardest impossible walls and pickleball was in the number one spot. 

A new pickleball paddle brand, Kinova, launched a first of its kind bamboo and cork pickleball paddle. The iconic New Year’s Eve ball in Times Square was transformed into a pickleball ahead of the MLP Finals. 

Pro Pickleball News

Here’s what your favorite pros were up to off the court. Alli Phillips went to Walt Disney World. Parris Todd shared her full body strength workout. Abbigal Hatton gave Pickleball.com a house tour.

Catherine Parenteau went to a New York Yankees game. Dani-elle Townsend sat down with Dave Fleming to talk about her recent rise in pro pickleball. Roscoe Bellamy spent some time in Asia to help grow the game abroad. 

Marcela Hones played pickleball at the Padres stadium for national pickleball day. Tammy Emmrich, who’s currently pregnant with her second child, shared the realities of playing pro pickleball while pregnant. 

The New Jersey 5s team went to Disney World. For Michael Loyd’s birthday, his fiancé gave him custom Pokémon cards. Leigh Waters went on a staycation and showed off her immaculate court wardrobe. 

The Brooklyn Pickleball team went to a Yankees game. Six months after having a stroke, Grayson Goldin won his first PPA Tour Title at the PPA Asia Shenzhen Open. 

Meghan Dizon and Blaine Hovenier participated in the “Kinda chic” trend. Genie Bouchard joined ESPN to commentate for the 2026 US Open. Meghan Dizon went to a Padres game. DJ Young and his wife Courtney announced they’re expecting their third child. 

Cleo Bond hit the golf course and did some modeling for Vuori. 

Mary and Maggie Brascia went on a family vacation to Maine. Ella Cosma graduated from high school. Jackie Kawamoto got engaged. Anna Leigh Waters invited her New Jersey 5s teammates over to make homemade pizzas ahead of the MLP finals. 

Genie Bouchard participated in a 7Up ad. 

Here’s what happened this month during Major League Pickleball

The MLP Playoffs began and Tina Pisnik earned the number two spot on SportsCenter top 10 after hitting this insane ATP. 

The action-packed MLP Finals took place in New York and the New Jersey 5s won the 2026 MLP Championship in a DreamBreaker against the St. Louis Shock. And new Fives teammate, Federico Staksrud, might have had the biggest weekend of them all. He won the MLP Finals MVP, had some of the best cellys from the weekend, and went running to his fiancé after the win. 

The Fives also received custom championship Nikes after their win. 

What was your favorite moment from August? Let us know on Instagram.