Everything Wild That's Happened So Far in the 2026 MLP Season

If you haven't been keeping up with Major League Pickleball this season, buckle up, because it has been A Lot. Team drama, a legitimate on-court injury scare, one team absolutely running the table — this season has had more plot twists than a season of reality TV, except everyone's actually really good at pickleball. Here's your catch-up.

The New Jersey 5s are, currently, kind of unbeatable.

Let's start with the headline: the New Jersey 5s have been on an honestly ridiculous run, stacking up event titles in a row and riding a stacked women's doubles lineup that's basically gone undefeated together this season. They're sitting at the top of the standings and have already clinched their playoff spot — and it's not hard to see why. When your top pairing is winning nearly every game they play, the rest of the league is essentially fighting for second place.

There was a genuinely scary moment at MLP New York.

Not every storyline this season has been fun and games. During the New York event, a gust of wind knocked over a baseline video board, and Brooklyn's Rachel Rohrabacher was struck and injured. It was a sobering reminder that these events are getting bigger, louder, and more production-heavy every year — and that safety around all that extra equipment matters just as much as the pickleball itself. We're glad it wasn't worse, and it's a good nudge for every level of this sport, rec courts included, to keep an eye on what's around the court, not just what's happening on it.

Some teams have had a rough go of it.

Not every squad is riding high. A few teams have had brutal weekends — walking away from events with zero standings points, dealing with illness pulling key players out of the lineup, and even making mid-season trades to try to shake things up. It's a good reminder that even at the pro level, this sport is unpredictable. A stacked roster on paper doesn't always translate to a stacked scoreboard.

The league itself is going through a growth spurt.

Off the court, this season has brought some bigger structural news too: a new parent company backed by serious outside investment now oversees both MLP and the PPA Tour, signaling that the money and attention flowing into pro pickleball is only ramping up. The season structure got an upgrade as well, with an expanded, multi-weekend playoff format and a Mid-Season Tournament bringing every team back together for a mid-summer gut check.

What to watch for the rest of the season:

Can anyone actually catch the 5s before playoffs? Will the teams that stumbled early find their footing in time to make a late push? And will the league's growing production value keep pace with fan safety as these events get bigger? One thing's for sure — if you've been sleeping on MLP, this is the season to start paying attention.

Catch you at the next watch party.

— Cross Court Social Club