Major League Pickleball Tournaments: Local pickleball players earned top honors in several Major League Pickleball-style tournaments held in June across Oklahoma, Missouri, and Tennessee. Competitors brought home gold and silver medals while representing their clubs in events that showcased team-based play and tested their skills in a variety of divisions.
Team-Based Pickleball Grows in Popularity
Major League Pickleball, known as MLP, uses a special format. Each team has two men and two women. They compete in women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and two mixed doubles matches. If teams tie, the winner is decided by a singles tiebreaker. Divisions are based on each player’s DUPR ratings added together.
Dink Minor League Pickleball Capitol City Classic MLP 18
In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Brent Thompson and Jennifer Wilson represented The St. Louis Shock minor league team. The event took place at The Greens Racquet Club on Sunday, June 22. Seven teams competed in their division.
Brent Thompson, Jennifer Wilson, and their teammates won silver medals after a strong run in their bracket.
St. Louis Shock Shootout MLP 16
The St. Louis Shock minor league team also played in the St. Louis Shock Shootout MLP 16. The event happened on Saturday, June 28, at the Paddle Up Pickleball Club in St. Louis, Missouri. Eight teams joined the competition.
Sara Darling and her teammates from The St. Louis Shock claimed gold medals after winning all their matches.
Milan MLP Event
On the same day, Saturday, June 28, players gathered in Milan, Tennessee, for an MLP-style tournament. Teams came from the Paris Tennessee Pickleball Club, West Kentucky Pickleball Club, Jackson Tennessee Pickleball Club, and Milan Tennessee Pickleball Club.
The West Kentucky Pickleball Club celebrated big wins with gold medals in three divisions:
MLP 18 Gold Medal Team – Cade Sammons, Chris Operle, Abbi Crawford, and Jackson Crawford
MLP 16 Gold Medal Team – Jason Bell, Holly Locken, Dana Marshall, and Jason Coltharp
MLP 13 Gold Medal Team – Ricky Baker, Dannette Baker, Terri Speach, and Larry Luffman
Community and Future Growth
These MLP tournaments continue to bring players together and help grow pickleball in local communities. With more clubs taking part and teams earning medals, interest in the sport is rising. Many players are expected to join more MLP events in the coming months, which will help pickleball become even more popular across the region.
News in Brief: Major League Pickleball Tournaments
Local players earned medals in June MLP-style pickleball tournaments in Oklahoma City, St. Louis, and Milan. Teams like The St. Louis Shock and West Kentucky Pickleball Club brought home gold and silver. These events showed the growing interest in team-based pickleball across different regions.
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