After a thrilling finish to the 2026 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season in the United States, the sport’s expansion continues with the upcoming seasons of MLP Australia and the inaugural MLP Asia league. MLP Australia begins its fourth season this weekend featuring eight teams, a reduction from twelve to enhance competitive balance. Each team is led by a top Australian player serving as captain, selected through a snake draft this past summer. The teams, composed primarily of Australian and New Zealand players with a limit of one international player each, will compete under standard MLP rules including doubles matches featuring both men and women and the DreamBreaker tiebreaker.

The Australian league highlights several strong franchises such as the Brisbane Breakers, led by captain Joey Wild and marquee player Harrison Brown, who won the inaugural 2023 season. The 2025 champions, Bondi Pickleball Club, are back aiming to defend their title with captain Jason Taylor and top female players Katy Hart and Katie Morris. Standouts include Danni Elle Townsend, named Most Improved Player in 2026, who captains The Coasters along with notable picks Ryan Henry and Roman Esteraja. Other competitive teams include Gold Coast Glory, Melbourne Thunder, Northern Crocs, Pacific Flame, and Sydney Smash, each boasting impressive rosters blending experience and emerging talent.

Meanwhile, MLP Asia is set to debut in mid-November with six teams based in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Manila, mainland China, and Vietnam. Each roster consists of three men and three women, half domestic players drafted earlier and half international players selected recently within a salary cap structure. The draft yielded a blend of homegrown talent from leading pickleball nations like China and Vietnam, paired with familiar US-based stars. Teams such as the Dragon Warriors (China), Hong Kong Cannons, Malayan Stripes, Manila Helios, Team Tokyo, and the Viet Panthers have been carefully constructed to strike a balance of skill and competitive potential.

Among MLP Asia’s top prospects are the Viet Panthers, featuring captain Quan Do and high-profile US teenage star Tama Shimabukuro, selected first overall. The Dragon Warriors and Hong Kong Cannons also appear formidable, given their mix of accomplished international and domestic players. The league format will feature round robin events where three teams compete each time, requiring skillful travel logistics for the internationally diverse rosters. With both leagues poised to showcase some of the best talent across Australia and Asia, 2026 promises to be a landmark year of growth and exciting competition for professional pickleball globally.