Gabe Tardio and Hayden Patriquin playing men's doubles for the St. Louis Shock.
Gabe Tardio and Hayden Patriquin competing for the St. Louis Shock during the 2024 MLP playoffs in Orlando, FL. Major League Pickleball

MLP announces three additional waiver periods for Premier Level

Most Major League Pickleball news nowadays is about the upcoming Free Agency Drafts, which will take place on Mar. 2 (Premier level) and Mar. 3 (Challenger level).

But the league recently announced some changes to the Waiver Period schedule that have the potential to shake things up at the Premier level.

When the 2025 MLP Competition Structure was initially released in January, it was written that there would be only one Premier Waiver Period, set to take place on June 11.

 

Now, there will be four (this number is subject to change, according to MLP) waiver periods for the 16 Premier level teams that are set to take place after every second regular season event throughout the summer.

  • Premier Level Waivers #1: Tuesday, May 6 (after MLP Columbus)
  • Premier Level Waivers #2: Tuesday, June 3 (after MLP Phoenix)
  • Premier Level Waivers #3: Tuesday, July 1 (after MLP San Clemente)
  • Premier Level Waivers #4: Tuesday, July 15 (after Mid-Season Tournament)
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On the Monday after each of those regular season events, each team will identify its top 4 players. Players 5 and 6 on each roster—those who are not 'protected'—will be available for other teams to pick up off of Waivers.

In order to claim a player, though, a team must agree to drop one of its four previously protected players as a corresponding move.

Unlike last year—where Waiver Period picks went in reverse order of the current standings—waiver order will be decided by way of a Dutch Auction. Teams interested in making a waiver claim during a specific period will have to submit a financial bid of at least $1000.

They only have to pay that money, however, if they actually execute a waiver pickup and corresponding drop.

This opens the door for us to see a lot of movement towards the bottom of the Premier level rosters. It will also give players in those top 4 spots on each roster more competition; instead of competing for a starting spots against their teammates, they will also be fighting against all 32 non-starters from the other teams.

At this time, there is still only one Waiver Period for the six teams at the Challenger level. That is scheduled for June 11, after MLP Salt Lake City.