Major League Pickleball (MLP) just delivered one of its strongest TV moments yet.

The Saturday MLP telecast from Orlando averaged 146,000 viewers on FS1, marking a 198% increase compared to last year’s Orlando broadcast (49,000). It’s a 3x jump year-over-year from Orlando, underscoring the league’s growing traction on national television.

The match shown? The New Jersey Fives vs. the LA Mad Drops — teams that both feature star-studded casts including #1 in the World Anna Leigh Waters (NJ) and #1 in the World Ben Johns (LA). 

The broadcast of the epic clash behind these two top teams didn’t just grow, it spiked.

Viewership peaked with 317,000 average viewers between 7:16–7:30 p.m. ET, a surge that coincided with one of the most compelling matchups the sport can offer:

GOAT vs. GOAT. 

Waters went head to head in a mixed doubles battle against Johns. The matchup was intense, satisfyingly epic, and featured what is being referred to as the one of the greatest pickleball points ever played. 

Taken together, the numbers tell a clear story: when the stakes are high and the stars are out, audiences show up in a big way.

The action continues with the MLP Playoffs in Dallas this week. Tune in to catch it all! 

Live broadcast coverage starts Friday on Pickleballtv and the Pickleballtv App.

Click here to purchase tickets.