2026 MLP Draft Preview: The Top Available Players, Ranked by DUPR
Major League Pickleball’s 2026 season is taking shape as teams prepare for the highly anticipated MLP Draft, which took place on Friday, February 27th. The draft represents a critical moment for all 20 MLP teams as they look to fill out their rosters with top talent.
Draft Format and Rules
The 2026 MLP Draft follows a dynamic bidding structure that adds strategic depth to the team-building process:
- First Round: 28 draft slots (16 women, 12 men) to get all teams to at least four rostered players
- Second Round: 38 additional picks to allow teams to reach six total rostered players
- Minimum Bids: $10,000 for first round slots, $1,000 for second round slots
- Dynamic Bidding: Teams can see what other teams are bidding and adjust their strategy in real-time
- Slot-Based System: Teams bid on draft slots, not specific players - once they win a slot, they choose their player
The money from winning bids goes back to the league, as the UPA (United Pickleball Association) pays player salaries directly.
Team Roster Needs
Each of the 20 MLP teams entered the draft with different roster situations:
Teams needing just one player:
- Atlanta Bouncers: One woman
- Brooklyn Pickleball Team: One man
- Columbus Sliders: One woman
- Dallas Flash: One woman
- Florida Smash: One woman
- New Jersey 5s: One woman
- Orlando Squeeze: One man
- Palm Beach Royals: One man
- St. Louis Shock: One woman
- Utah Black Diamonds: One man
Teams needing multiple players:
- Bay Area Breakers: One woman and one man
- California Black Bears: One woman and two men
- Chicago Slice: Two women
- Miami Pickleball Club: One woman and one man
- Phoenix Flames: One woman and two men
- SoCal Hard 8s: Two women and two men
- Texas Ranchers: Two women
Complete rosters:
- Carolina Hogs: All four spots filled
- LA Mad Drops: All four spots filled
- Las Vegas Night Owls: Four spots filled (plus a fifth player)
Top Available Talent
The draft pool features impressive talent as ranked by DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating). The available players include established pros and rising stars looking to make their mark in the team-based format.
What’s Next
Following the draft, fans can catch a full reaction show on PickleballTV on Sunday, March 1st at noon ET, featuring Dave Fleming and other analysts. The Dink’s PicklePod podcast will also provide in-depth analysis of the draft results.
The 2026 MLP season officially kicks off on May 22nd and runs through August 30th, featuring nine regular season events across team markets.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 MLP Draft took place on February 27th with a dynamic bidding format
- Teams needed to reach at least four rostered players, with the option to go up to six
- The draft featured 28 first-round picks and 38 second-round selections
- Money from winning bids goes back to the league, not individual teams
- The 2026 MLP season runs from May 22nd to August 30th
Stay tuned for full draft results and team-by-team analysis as the season approaches.
Source: The Dink Pickleball