The Major League Pickleball (MLP) playoffs kick off this weekend at Pickler Universe in Carrollton, Texas, where eight teams will battle for four coveted spots in the next round. While the top four seeds—New Jersey 5s, St. Louis Shock, Los Angeles Mad Drops, and Columbus Sliders—have already secured byes to Newport Beach, the remaining teams must navigate a high-stakes bracket to keep their championship dreams alive.
Understanding the MLP Playoff Format
The playoff structure features several distinct rules that differentiate it from the regular season, impacting how teams approach their matchups:
- Opponent Selection: In a unique twist, the higher-seeded teams are granted the authority to choose their opponents for this round.
- Best-of-Three Matches: Each playoff series is a best-of-three format. If a team wins the first two matches, they advance immediately. If the series reaches a third match, the winner of that contest moves on while the loser is eliminated.
- No Fourth Game: Unlike the regular season, if a match is won 3-0, a fourth game will not be played.
- Home Court Advantage: The higher seed acts as the home team for the first two matches. If a third match is required, a coin toss determines home-court status. Being the home team is a significant tactical advantage, as it allows coaches to finalize their lineups—including the Dreambreaker—after seeing the opponent's choices.
The action begins with four primary matchups in Dallas: Brooklyn Pickleball Team vs. SoCal Hard Eights, Dallas Flash vs. Las Vegas Night Owls, Palm Beach Royals vs. Chicago Slice, and Texas Ranchers vs. Atlanta Bouncers. All matches will be broadcast on Pickleballtv and the Pickleballtv App, with additional coverage on the MSG Network on Sunday, August 9.
The first featured matchup pits the #5 Brooklyn Pickleball Team against the #10 SoCal Hard Eights. Brooklyn faces significant health concerns, notably a bone bruise for Riley Newman and an ankle injury for Rachel Rohrabacher. Meanwhile, the Hard Eights are playing without their star player, Armaan Bhatia, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season. Despite these challenges, Brooklyn enters as the favorite, having defeated SoCal 4-0 earlier this season. Expert analysis suggests that if Brooklyn’s core players are healthy enough to compete, they hold a distinct advantage in both gender and mixed doubles, forcing SoCal coach Adam Stone to rely on strategic ingenuity to pull off an upset.
The playoffs will conclude with the semi-finals and finals held in New York City at City Pickle two weeks after the Newport Beach second round.
