Major League Pickleball enjoyed one of its most electric seasons yet—packed with heated rivalries, SportsCenter Top 10-worthy highlights, and Anna Leigh Waters finally capturing that elusive MLP Finals trophy. It’s been a year full of unforgettable moments that have pushed the sport further into the spotlight.

Still, I can’t help but feel a different kind of excitement for the 2026–27 PPA season. Tuning into Pickleballtv for the National Championships in Cary, North Carolina feels like coming home—and here’s why.

1.     New partnerships 

This holds true for nearly everyone on tour—aside from Ben Johns and Waters, who consistently stick with the same partners on the PPA Tour. Beyond them, the constant shuffle of pairings creates fresh, intriguing combinations at every stop, keeping the competition dynamic and endlessly exciting.

I’m especially excited to see Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud back on the same side of the court as partners again.

2.     A return to singles 

It’s tough to choose a favorite discipline, but I keep coming back to singles. Maybe it’s a case of absence making the heart grow fonder—because outside of the occasional DreamBreaker, singles has largely been missing from the spotlight these past few months.

I’ve really missed watching singles. It’s such an intense, hyper-athletic format with so much on the line, and some of my favorite highlight reels in pickleball come from singles matches.

MLP has its stars, but I’ve especially missed consistently seeing Chris Haworth battle it out in singles. And I’m definitely not the only one eager to see what Tama Shimabukuro brings to the court this season.

3.     Watching new players and familiar favorites

There are a handful of pros who don’t compete in MLP, and I couldn’t be more excited to see them back on court. Chief among them are Mary and Maggie Brascia.

The SoCal sisters were sorely missed during the MLP stretch, so it’s great to see them back in action with their dad and coach, Vinnie Brascia, courtside. There’s just something about their presence on the broadcast that brings a warm, feel-good energy every time.

Same goes for Genie Bouchard, Matt Wright, and Lucy Kovalova. I’m really looking forward to seeing these stars back on the pro court.

I’m also intrigued by how newly signed pro Sofia Sewing will fare on the PPA Tour. After her strong run in MLP, it’ll be fascinating to watch her eventually square off against Waters in singles and see how she handles that level.

As I’m writing this, she’s in action against Kiora Kunimoto in the Round of 16, and it’s hard to argue there’s a better match to be watching right now.

4.     The fashion game

And finally, what I’m most looking forward to with the PPA’s return is the fashion. I’ve shared my thoughts on the MLP uniforms before, so to be completely honest, I’m more than ready to have those looks off my screen for a while.

But I’m excited that the pros get to express their personal style again. I’ve sorely missed the gorgeous Nike fits from Waters, along with the more experimental, playful looks from Jalina Ingram.

What about Parris Todd and her chic Alo fits? Or JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson, whose coordinated-but-unique outfits always make a statement?

And of course, I can’t wait to see Jorja and Tyra Black back in their perfectly coordinated women’s doubles looks. I’m really looking forward to what they bring to the court this season.

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