MLP Release
Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville) will feature the world’s top players and professional coed pickleball teams battling it out in NYC for the first time when MLP New York City comes to CityPickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park from September 19-22.
The event will mark the first opportunity for fans to see pro pickleball superstars including Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns, and Olympic Gold and Bronze medal winner Jack Sock (tennis, 2016) playing professionally in NYC.
A collection of 12 of MLP’s 22 teams will play a total of 30 matches over four days as they compete for entry in the season-ending MLP Playoffs this November (the top six at each level will earn playoff spots). Participating teams are highlighted by local favorites:
The New York Hustlers (Premier Level, 4th place, 24 pts, 1.85 pts/match), featuring Sock and owned by a group headlined by LeBron James’ LRMR Ventures, will play five matches:
- Thu, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. ET vs. Carolina Pickleball Club and Johns (T-9th place, 12 pts, 1.09 pts/match)
- Thu, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m. vs. Utah Black Diamonds (12th place, 9 pts, 0.69 pts/match)
- Fri, Sept. 20, at Noon vs. DC Pickleball Team (5th place, 22 pts, 1.83 pts/match)
- Sat, Sept. 21, at 4 p.m. vs. New Jersey 5s (6th place, 17 pts, 1.89 pts/match) and Waters
- Sun, Sept. 22, at 2 p.m. vs. Columbus Sliders (11th place, 10 pts, 0.77 pts/match)
The New Jersey 5s (Premier Level, 6th place, 17 pts, 1.89 pts/match), the Advil Targeted Relief MLP Mid-Season Tournament champions led by Waters and an ownership group including Gary Vaynerchuk, will play five matches:
- Fri, Sept. 20, at 4 p.m. ET vs. Columbus Sliders (11th place, 10 pts, 0.77 pts/match)
- Sat, Sept. 21, at Noon vs. Carolina Pickleball Club and Johns (T-9th place, 12 pts, 1.09 pts/match)
- Sat, Sept. 21, at 4 p.m. vs. New York Hustlers (4th place, 24 pts, 1.85 pts/match) and Sock
- Sun, Sept. 22, at Noon vs. Utah Black Diamonds (12th place, 9 pts, 0.69 pts/match)
- Sun, Sept. 22, at 4 p.m. vs. DC Pickleball Team (5th place, 22 pts, 1.83 pts/match)
The Brooklyn Aces (Challenger Level, 4th place, 15 points, 1.88 pts/match), owned by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s 35V, Michael B. Jordan, and Drake, will play five matches:
- Fri, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m. ET vs. Miami Pickleball Club (9th place, 10 pts, 1.43 pts/match)
- Fri, Sept. 20, at 1:30 p.m. ET vs. Chicago Slice (8th place, 11 pts, 1.57 pts/match)
- Sat, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m. vs. Frisco Pandas (T-6th place, 12 pts, 1.71 pts/match)
- Sun, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. vs. Florida Smash (10th place, 9 pts, 1.29 pts/match)
- Sun, Sept. 22, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Las Vegas Night Owls (5th place, 14 pts, 1.75 pts/match)
Full event match schedule: Comprehensive coverage of MLP New York City will be provided by a combination of Tennis Channel (TC), Pickleball TV, and MLP’s official YouTube Channel.
| Thu, Sep. 19 | Championship Court – Pickleball TV | Thu, Sept 19 | Grandstand Court – MLP YouTube |
| 10 a.m. ET | NY Hustlers v Carolina Pickleball Club | 11 a.m. | Florida Smash v Chicago Slice |
| Followed By | Las Vegas Night Owls v Miami Pickleball Club | – | – |
| Followed By | Carolina Pickleball Club v DC Pickleball Team | N/B 2:30 p.m. | Frisco Pandas v Las Vegas Night Owls |
| 4 p.m. | Utah Black Diamonds v NY Hustlers (+TC) | – | |
| Fri, Sep. 20 | Championship Court – Pickleball TV | Fri, Sept 20 | Grandstand Court – MLP YouTube |
| 10 a.m. | Brooklyn Aces v Miami Pickleball Club | 9:30 a.m. | Utah Black Diamonds v Columbus Sliders |
| Followed By | DC Pickleball Team v NY Hustlers | Followed By | Frisco Pandas v Florida Smash |
| Followed By | Carolina Pickleball Club v Utah Black Diamonds | N/B 1:30 p.m. | Chicago Slice v Brooklyn Aces |
| 4 p.m. | Columbus Sliders v NJ 5s | Followed By | Miami Pickleball Club v Frisco Pandas |
| Sat, Sep. 21 | Championship Court – Pickleball TV | Sat, Sept 21 | Grandstand Court – MLP YouTube |
| 10 a.m. | Utah Black Diamonds v DC Pickleball Team | 9:30 a.m. | Las Vegas Night Owls v Florida Smash |
| Followed By | Carolina Pickleball Club v NJ 5s | Followed By | Frisco Pandas v Chicago Slice |
| Followed By | Brooklyn Aces v Frisco Pandas | N/B 1:30 p.m. | Florida Smash v Miami Pickleball Club |
| 4 p.m. | NJ 5s v NY Hustlers | Followed By | Columbus Sliders v Carolina Pickleball Club |
| Sun, Sep. 22 | Championship Court – Pickleball TV | Sun, Sept 22 | Grandstand Court – MLP YouTube |
| 10 a.m. | Brooklyn Aces v Florida Smash | 9:30 a.m. | Chicago Slice v Las Vegas Night Owls |
| Followed By | Utah Black Diamonds v NJ 5s | Followed By | DC Pickleball Team v Columbus Sliders |
| Followed By | Columbus Sliders v NY Hustlers | N/B 1:30 p.m. | Miami Pickleball Club v Chicago Slice |
| 4 p.m. | NJ 5s v DC Pickleball Team (+TC) | Followed By | Las Vegas Night Owls v Brooklyn Aces |
About Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville)
MLP by Margaritaville (Major League Pickleball) is the preeminent team-based professional pickleball league, featuring nearly 100 of the best athletes across 22 teams, a unique coed format, easy to understand scoring, iconic team owners, and the most electric live events and fan experience in the sport. Founded in 2021, MLP named its first-ever title sponsor, Margaritaville, branding the league MLP by Margaritaville in December 2022. For more information on Major League Pickleball, visit the official website and follow MLP on Facebook.