Major League Pickleball (MLP) just wrapped up Season Two of 2023, meaning pro pickleball is done for the year. Overall, 2023 has seen a lot of growth for pickleball as a spectator sport and we anticipate an even bigger year in 2024!
While the year ended on an uncertain note regarding the MLP and PPA merger, including some brutal prospective pay cuts to the pro players, we’re still optimistic about what 2024 will bring to the table. If the MLP and PPA Tour manage to wrap up their merger in a way that benefits both pro players and pickleball fans, we should see a much more cohesive pro tournament environment next year.
A big part of determining the success of next year’s MLP events is seen in the selection of which teams will be in the Premier and Challenger Levels, which were introduced this year. Essentially, Premier Level teams will end up with the top pro player talent, as they will draft ahead of the Challenger Level. This means they’ll also tend to hold the focal point for sponsorship opportunities as players like Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns continue to draw more attention to the sport.
According to the MLP’s recent announcement, the Premier Level teams were determined via a “Dutch Auction process,” which likely means the teams that invested the most into the league got the top 12 spots. Following the near collapse of the MLP following Steve Kuhn’s resignation, it’s not a surprise that the MLP needed to prioritize their league around owner investment over anything else.
However, there are some teams in the Challenger Level that we’re surprised didn’t make it into the Premiers, like the SoCal Hard Eights, who have a significant demographic and audience, and the Frisco Pandas, who have a strong investment group, including Dude Perfect.
Obviously, with 24 teams competing for the top spot, there were surely some teams just on the cusp of making it into the top 12. Bruce Popko, MLP’s Chief Operating Officer, explained that as viewership, sponsorship revenue, and franchise values continue to grow, it was essential to see which teams were most financially committed to next season’s endeavors.
“This financial commitment from team owners is another vital step in the continued collaboration with our key stakeholders, MLP’s owners and players, to construct a thriving professional pickleball business for years to come.”
Bruce Popko, COO of the MLP
2024 MLP Premier Teams
- Arizona (AZ) Drive
- Columbus Sliders
- Dallas Pickleball Club
- D.C. Pickleball Team
- Los Angeles (LA) Mad Drops
- New Jersey (NJ) 5s
- New York (NY) Hustlers
- Orlando Squeeze
- Seattle Pioneers
- St. Louis Shock
- Texas Ranchers
- Utah Black Diamonds
2024 MLP Challenger Teams
- Atlanta Bouncers
- Austin Pickleballers
- Bay Area Breakers
- Brooklyn Aces
- California BLQK Bears
- Chicago Slice
- Florida Smash
- Frisco Pandas
- Las Vegas Night Owls
- Miami Pickleball Club
- Milwaukee Mashers
- SoCal Hard Eights
Due to the merger, the PPA and MLP’s schedules have also been combined, which has led to some exciting tournament overlap. There will be some events next year that will be week-long, featuring both PPA brackets and MLP team competition events. This seems like a best-case scenario for pickleball fans, who will be able to enjoy a continuous stream of live pickleball action for an entire week!
As it stands, all 24 MLP teams will play in up to 40 regular season matches spread across eight regular season events before a Mid-Season Championship. Compared to this year’s seven total events, including the Season One Super Finals, MLP action will be essentially doubled in 2024. Be sure to check out MLP’s website to check out the proposed schedule for the 2024 PPA-MLP Season.
For both Premier and Challenger Levels, the top six teams will qualify for a final season-ending playoffs. Additionally, the top four Challenger teams of 2024 will be promoted to the Premier Level in 2025, with no notes of demotion of the bottom four Premier Level teams. This demonstrates that MLP still plans on expanding and pushing the boundaries of its organization; plus, 16 teams is much more bracket-friendly than 12 (*cough cough* college football).
