The first waiver period of the 2026 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season has concluded, with two teams making roster moves. During this period, teams were allowed to swap out currently rostered players for UPA-signed, MLP non-rostered players, providing an opportunity for teams to strengthen their lineups.
The waiver period process involves teams submitting a bid of at least $1,000 to participate, with the selection order determined by the bid amount in descending order. Teams that make a waiver claim must pay the bid amount to the league for each claimed player. If a team decides not to make a claim, they will not owe the bid amount and cannot make a selection for that waiver period. UPA contract players who are not on an MLP roster are eligible to be claimed, but players claimed on waivers in 2026 will not be eligible to be kept in future years.
Waiver Period #1 Results
The results of the first waiver period are as follows:
- Pick 1: The Dallas Flash claimed Hsiang Wen-Huang and waived Angie Walker at 3:00 p.m. ET.
- Pick 2: The Carolina Hogs claimed Abbigail Hatton and waived Ava Ignatowich at 3:15 p.m. ET.
- Pick 3: The Carolina Hogs claimed Connor Mogle and waived James Delgado at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The waiver period process allows teams to strategically manage their rosters and make targeted additions to improve their chances of success in the 2026 MLP season. With two teams making moves in the first waiver period, it will be interesting to see how the remaining teams approach the upcoming waiver periods and how these roster adjustments impact the overall competitive landscape of the league.
