MLP teams submitted their list of keepers (players retained on their rosters) on Sunday, and the list is now available to the public. As expected, there were some surprises and some big names among the released players. The 2026 MLP auction draft is scheduled for February 27. Check back here for our mock draft coming up. For now, let’s go over each team, listing who is on their roster, with some thoughts on strategy for each team.

 

1. Atlanta: Christian, Devilliers, Martinez Vich. They are likely to be a middle of the pack team, again. Even if they bid big and get Anna Bright, it would not be enough to be a championship contender. Expect them to pick a lower cost female to fill out their starting four.

 

2. Bay Area: Bui, Tellez. They can draft any spot, but this is not a team that has shown a willingness to spend big. Expect them to fill out their roster with low cost players and be at the bottom of the standings.

 

3. Brooklyn: Blatt, Jackie Kawamoto, Rorhabacher, Newman. Even though they kept three women, they can bid right away on a #2 man. Frazier is probably the best option, and they would again be a very solid team with Frazier. If they instead drop to a lesser #2 man, expect the team to regress somewhat. A solid playoff team but not a championship contender.

 

4. California: Sleeth. The Black Bears have an open roster, but are unlikely to spend big money. Look for this team to focus on drafting youngsters with potential, who can be drafted cheaply.

 

5. Carolina: Ava Ignatowich, Angie Walker, Delgado, DJ Young. This is the most bizarre strategy of any team. By keeping two women and two men, they cannot draft any player until ALL other teams have four starters too. They could have and should have dropped everyone. These four players could be redrafted cheaply, or they could pick up equivalent players cheaply, and they would have all their options open. By keeping four, they literally cannot draft any quality starter, even if available. Just an absurdly bad move by Carolina.

 

6. Chicago: Hunter Johnson, Zane Navratil. Another team that could theoretically draft Bright or Jorja Johnson, but no reason to do so, as they would still have no chance to be a top team. They will bid medium to low on females to fill out their roster and will not be a playoff team.

 

7. Columbus: Todd, Daescu, Klinger. They dropped Jansen even though they did not have to do so. Why? To spend big and go after Bright or JJohnson? If they do so, they could go back to back. If they get neither, they can re-pick Jansen and run it back. A very interesting team to watch in the auction.

 

8. Florida: Frantova, Rettenmaier, Cason Campbell. Another odd set of choices. None of these players would be sought after in the auction, and better options will be available. No reason to keep any of them, except to save a very small sum of money. This team will go cheap in the auction and will be one of the worst teams.

 

9. Dallas: Black, JWJohnson, Ge. They had to drop a great player, and surprised us all by picking Jorja. Hmm, must be some secret reason for it. Anyway, look for them to bid big to get Jorja back or Bright. Get either one, and they are a top team. Settle for Jansen and they are still good. Anything less and they will drop some.

 

10. Las Vegas: Buckner, Wang, Truluck, Bellamy, Hovenier. They clearly did not want to spend big money so they stood pat with a decent team. This will be a low playoff team, but zero chance to win it all.

 

11. LA: Jade Kawamoto, Parenteau, Johns, Freeman. They are locked in for their starters. I would have dropped Freeman, and looked for an opportunity to improve (Frazier). Failing improvement, they could have re-picked Freeman or a similar player. This will be a good team, but I’m not sure Freeman is good enough to help win a championship, unless he improves.

 

12. Miami: Alix Truong, Funemizu. Another team that theoretically could spend big but will not. Look for them to spend modestly and be at best a borderline playoff contender.

 

13. New Jersey: Waters, Howells, Khlif. They dropped Humberg and Dizon, when they could have kept one. This is the difference between a team trying to win a championship and one that is not. Dropping both women gives New Jersey the flexibility to go in multiple directions in the auction draft. They can take a shot at Bright or Jorja, and if they get one, they are likely the favorites to win it all. If they swing and miss, they can still likely get Dizon or Jansen and be just fine. Expect this team to bid big and swing for the fences in the auction. This is a team trying to win it all.

 

14. Orlando: Rane, Schneemann, Staksrud. They dropped Dylan Frazier, in a bit of a curious move. Saves some money, but to what end? Frazier is probably the best man available in the draft, so it’s just status quo if you get him back. Anyone else, and it’s likely a step back. Better move would be to drop Rane and bid big for Bright or Johnson, if you are trying to win it all. This is a team just trying to be middle of the pack.

 

15. Palm Beach: Sewing, Pisnik, Bar. They are doing a decent job for an expansion team. There are multiple options for a #2 man. The team will be a low to middle playoff team, depending on who they get.

 

16. Phoenix: Irvine. This team needed a reset and they went for it, dropping everyone but Jessie Irvine. I would look for them to bid modestly and be a borderline playoff team, at best. More likely, they will bid low and be a non-playoff team.

 

17. SoCal: No one. I thought more teams would do what SoCal did and release everyone. Carolina and Florida should have done the same. Either way, this team is going nowhere. If they are smart, they will bid on young players and try to hit some with big potential, like what California will do. This would be a very fun team to be general manager of; they can get a fun team of youngsters who in 2 years might be very good.

 

18. St. Louis: Fahey, Patriquin, Tardio. They had to release Bright, Patriquin, or Tardio. They went with Bright for a couple reasons. First, she is by far the most expensive to keep. They save six figures with this choice. Second, they now have more money to re-pick the player they dropped. Third, they expected Dallas to drop a top female, giving them a fallback choice. It all worked out, but now they still have to bid big to get Bright or Johnson. If anything about MLP is certain, I would bet the farm on St. Louis bidding big in the auction draft and getting Bright back, or at least Johnson. They HAVE to get Bright or Johnson or the talent of Patriquin and Tardio is wasted.

 

19. Texas: Alshon, Oncins. I admit I have no idea what Texas is doing. They had a good team, but gave away their women starters. I thought maybe they would go cheap and release Alshon, but they spent some good money to keep him. Now, they desperately need a top female or they have no shot. Could they be another big bidder for Bright and Johnson? Will they go medium for players like Dizon and Humberg (which would give them no chance to win it all but be a solid playoff team)? Or will they go cheap on two females and be an Orlando-lite? Very confusing strategy.

 

20. Utah: Tuionetoa, Allyce Jones, Garnett. They release Loong. Expect them to pick him back up, or someone similar. They will be a repeat of last year, a decent team but not a threat to win it all.

 

There you have the summary of where each team is right now. Things will change. Right now, it looks like the best teams will remain the same as last year, but will someone change their team’s outlook by making a splash and bidding big in the auction draft? We will be doing a mock draft prior to the February 27 draft. Check out Pickleball.com for that mock draft and all the MLP news.

 

Follow me on X @pickleball_jim for updates.