The Major League Pickleball (MLP) 2026 regular season is coming to a close, and the stakes are high at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. With several teams vying for a spot in the playoffs, the competition is expected to be fierce, and fans can catch all the action on Pickleballtv, the Pickleballtv App, and FS1.
Playoff Implications and Key Matchups
The battle for the #1 seed is heating up, with the St. Louis Shock and the New Jersey Fives tied at 93 points. The team that secures the top seed will have the advantage of choosing their opponents in the quarterfinals and semifinals, as well as being the home team in the first two matches. The Fives will be joined by Federico Staksrud, who will be making his debut with the team, and it will be interesting to see how he fits into the lineup. The Shock and the Fives may face off on Super Sunday, which could be a decisive matchup in the race for the #1 seed.
In addition to the top seed, several teams are fighting for a first-round bye, including the Brooklyn Pickleball Team and the LA Mad Drops. The Brooklyn team needs 18 points to surpass the Columbus Sliders, who are not playing in Orlando, and will need to finish first in their group to achieve this. The LA Mad Drops, on the other hand, are bringing in Connor Garnett to play mixed doubles with Catherine Parenteau, which could give them an edge in their pool.
There are also seven teams competing for four playoff spots, including the California Black Bears, Chicago Slice, Las Vegas Night Owls, Orlando Squeeze, and Miami Pickleball Club. These teams will be playing in two separate pools, with every match counting towards their playoff hopes. The Atlanta Bouncers and SoCal Hard Eights, meanwhile, will be watching from home with 36 and 34 points, respectively.
Some of the top matches to watch this weekend include:
- Orlando Squeeze vs Las Vegas Night Owls: This matchup on Thursday at 6pm will be a crucial one for both teams as they fight for a playoff spot.
- St. Louis Shock vs Brooklyn Pickleball Team: The Shock will take on the Brooklyn team on Friday at 4:30pm, with the winner earning valuable points in the standings.
- Las Vegas Night Owls vs Miami Pickleball Club: This match on Saturday at 11:30am will be another important one for the Night Owls as they try to secure a playoff spot.
- California Black Bears vs Chicago Slice: The Black Bears and Slice will face off on Saturday at 2:30pm, with the winner gaining an advantage in the pool.
- Los Angeles Mad Drops vs New Jersey 5s: The Mad Drops will take on the Fives on Saturday at 4:30pm, with the Fives looking to solidify their position in the standings.
Fans can catch all the action on Pickleballtv, the Pickleballtv App, and FS1, with live broadcasts scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The broadcast schedule includes matches such as the Orlando Squeeze vs Las Vegas Night Owls on Friday at 6pm ET, and the St. Louis Shock vs Orlando Squeeze on Saturday at 7pm ET.
