# 2026 Major League Pickleball season – Playoffs set

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/2026-major-league-pickleball-season
> Updated: 2026-08-08T08:47:54.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 4.

In July 2026 St. Louis Shock captured the MLP Mid‑Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, ending New Jersey 5s’ 25‑match women’s‑doubles streak and earning the tiebreaker in the standings. Two weeks later at the Chicago tournament the Shock remained unbeaten alongside the Dallas Flash, while the Chicago Slice also stayed undefeated, setting up a tight race heading into the playoffs.

The regular season concluded at the Orlando finale on August 2, where six teams secured postseason berths. New Jersey and Dallas vied for top seeds that grant first‑round byes, while the host Orlando team improved its standing. The Carolina Hogs and Phoenix Flames saw their campaigns end with sub‑1 % odds. With the playoff field set, the knockout rounds are slated to begin in Dallas within days.

In the opening round, fifth‑seeded Brooklyn Pickleball Team exercised its right to choose its opponent, bypassing the lowest‑seeded Chicago team and selecting No. 10 SoCal, whose star Armaan Bhatia was sidelined with injury. Meanwhile, the Dallas Flash entered the bracket on the back of an 11‑match winning streak sparked by mid‑season acquisitions that bolstered its women’s‑doubles line‑up. The Flash opened the postseason at home in Carrollton, Texas, against No. 11 Las Vegas, and analysts view the team as a strong contender for a deep run.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-08: Major League Pickleball Playoffs: Brooklyn Picks SoCal, Dallas Flash Enters on Winning Streak

Brooklyn chose injured SoCal over Chicago for the MLP playoffs, while Dallas Flash entered the postseason on an 11‑match winning streak after key mid‑season signings.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/major-league-pickleball-playoffs-brooklyn-picks-socal-dallas-flash-enters-on-winning-streak

### 2026-08-02: Major League Pickleball Orlando Finale Sets Playoff Field

The MLP regular season concluded in Orlando, finalizing playoff spots as the Carolina Hogs and Phoenix Flames were eliminated, while top teams like New Jersey and Dallas eye byes for the upcoming Dallas playoff

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/major-league-pickleball-orlando-finale-sets-playoff-field

### 2026-07-24: MLP 2026 Pickleball: Chicago Slice and St. Louis Shock Remain Unbeaten

Chicago Slice stays unbeaten in MLP Chicago, joining Dallas Flash, while St. Louis Shock ends Anna Leigh Waters' perfect doubles run to claim the mid‑season title, reshaping the 2026 pickleball season.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mlp-2026-pickleball-chicago-slice-and-st-louis-shock-remain-unbeaten

### 2026-07-12: St. Louis Shock Wins MLP Mid‑Season Pickleball Tournament Over New Jersey 5s

St. Louis Shock beat New Jersey 5s 3‑0 to win the MLP Mid‑Season Pickleball Tournament in Grand Rapids, tying the standings at 93 points but taking the tiebreaker.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/st-louis-shock-wins-mlp-midseason-pickleball-tournament-over-new-jersey-5s

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Cite as: 2026 Major League Pickleball season – Playoffs set. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/2026-major-league-pickleball-season