Major League Pickleball Announces Historic Mid-Season Tournament in Michigan

Major League Pickleball is set to make history with its inaugural Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from July 9 to 12. Featuring 24 teams, including international competitors and collegiate stars, this event promises thrilling matches and significant prize opportunities. The tournament will also include the Paddletek 1 Point Challenge for amateur players. With the MLP season already underway, this tournament will play a crucial role in shaping the standings as teams vie for playoff positions. Read on to learn more about the teams and the exciting format of this groundbreaking event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 11, 2026, 21:02 IST

Exciting Developments in Major League Pickleball

In a groundbreaking move, Major League Pickleball (MLP) will host its first-ever Mid-Season Tournament featuring 24 teams in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from July 9 to 12. This announcement was made on June 11. The tournament will include not only the 20 MLP franchises but also teams from Australia, Canada, and Europe, along with the Collegiate All-Stars.

After the tournament concludes, the champion will be crowned. The top three teams will receive bonus points that will contribute to their overall standings in the regular MLP season, which consists of 13 events.

Team Australia will include players Sarah Burr, Zach Grabovic, Mitchell Hargreaves, and Talia Sunders, while Team Canada will feature Mackonner Dy, Kyle Hermetz, Rosie Johanson, Kim Layton, Ryan Torresin, and Jordann Vigna. Team Europe will comprise Raquel Amaro, Pep Canyadel, Ben Cawston, JM Medina, Kate Morris, and Karolina Owczarek. The Collegiate All-Stars will showcase top collegiate talent such as Kallan Arledge, Lauren Mercado, Mary Monson, and Ryan Morneau.

Additionally, the tournament will host the Paddletek 1 Point Challenge, where amateur players can compete for a prize pool of $25,000. Registration for this event is now open.

About Major League Pickleball (MLP): Founded in 2021, MLP is a pioneering coed team league that merged with the PPA Tour to create the United Pickleball Association (UPA) in 2024, consolidating the sport's top competitive levels in the U.S. MLP matches follow specific rules, including rally scoring for tiebreakers known as DreamBreakers. Each match consists of four games: women's doubles, men's doubles, and two mixed doubles games. If teams are tied after these games, a singles DreamBreaker is played. Over 100 elite pickleball players compete in MLP, representing 20 franchises across 13 events, all aiming for a spot in the MLP Playoffs. The 2026 season kicked off on May 22 in Dallas, with the LA Mad Drops, New Jersey 5s, and St. Louis Shock winning titles in the first three events.