Major League Pickleball (MLP presented by DoorDash) Introduces Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) Regional Showdowns to Open New Amateur Pathways

Regional Showdowns to Take Place at a Collection of 2026 MLP Pro Events – Registration Open Through MLP’s Official Website

Major League Pickleball (MLP presented by DoorDash) and Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) today announced a partnership featuring a new series of Regional Showdowns – amateur pickleball competitions that will be integrated into select 2026 Major League Pickleball season events. Registration is now available via MLP’s official website.

MiLP Regional Showdowns are designed to bring meaningful, team-oriented competition to players of all skill levels and create a pathway to national championship play. These events will give amateur athletes the opportunity to compete in a four-player, coed team format (two women and two men) and a three-player, gendered team format (MiLP v3), following official MiLP team rules.

Regional Showdowns will be held alongside various MLP pro events throughout the league’s 2026 season:

• May 22-25 in Dallas, TX
• May 28-31 in Columbus, OH
• June 11-14 in Austin, TX
• June 25-28 in New York, NY
• July 16-19 in Newport Beach, CA
• July 23-26 in Chicago, IL
• Aug 13-16 in San Diego, CA

“This partnership is about community first – creating a structure where aspiring players, local markets, and professional teams all operate within the same system, strengthening pickleball from the ground up,” said Waseem Mansoor, Director of Team Business & Operations, MLP. “Together, we’re unifying and supporting development, visibility, and the long-term growth of the sport.”

“Minor League Pickleball is building the base and Major League Pickleball is building the spotlight,” said Cesar Clemente, VP of Revenue at DUPR. “When you connect a true grassroots pathway with a real pro stage, you don’t just grow a sport — you build a system. And it brings fans and amateur players who love the MLP format into the same place as the pros they admire.”

Key Features of MiLP Regional Showdowns:

• Open to all ages and skill levels, with players placed into divisions based on their DUPR rating
• Teams may compete independently or under an affiliated MLP Minor League team umbrella
• Division winners earn a “Dream Ticket” – an automatic qualification to the Minor League Pickleball Championships in early 2027 (date TBA)
• Every match contributes toward the MiLP National Leaderboard, fueling season-long competition and ranking
• As marquee events, all players will earn double the point system, based on their team’s event placement

The MiLP Championships represent the pinnacle of amateur team pickleball competition, featuring top teams from across the country and the world competing for significant prize money and international honors.

MiLP builds on MLP’s commitment to expanding the sport’s reach, offering amateur players a clear and exciting path forward as the sport of pickleball continues its rapid growth across the United States.

About Major League Pickleball (MLP presented by DoorDash)
Founded in 2021, Major League Pickleball (MLP presented by DoorDash) is the preeminent, coed, team-based professional pickleball league, featuring over 100 of the best athletes across 20 teams, iconic team owners, and the most electric live events and fan experience in the sport. In 2024, MLP and the PPA Tour merged under the newly-formed United Pickleball Association (UPA), bringing together the leading pro pickleball organizations under a single entity. Visit the official website and follow MLP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for more information.

About DUPR
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the world’s leading clubs, tournaments, leagues, and players. DUPR’s dynamic rating system unifies pickleball across age, gender, and location by analyzing match results to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 – 8.000 scale. DUPR is the official pickleball rating of leagues, tournaments and clubs around the world, including United Pickleball Association (UPA), Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), Major League Pickleball (MLP), Pickleball.com, Life Time, The Picklr, National Team Pickleball League, National Pickleball League. It also owns and operates Minor League Pickleball and College Pickleball, two of the biggest amateur leagues in the sport. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up and learn more.

About MiLP
Founded in 2022, Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) is the home of team pickleball and the largest amateur team pickleball league in the world. Built on the same coed, team-based format that powers the pro game, MiLP gives amateur players a clear pathway to compete, connect, and advance within a structured national and international system. With over 10,000 players and hundreds of events annually, MiLP operates across the United States, Canada, Australia, China, and additional emerging markets, bringing team pickleball to clubs and communities around the globe. Visit the official Minor League Pickleball website and follow MiLP on social media for event information, rankings, and registration details.

Media Contacts:
Jay Moskowitz, Major League Pickleball
Caroline Luelf, Minor League Pickleball