The Game Goes On: Pickleball Stars Take the Court in Atlanta Despite Off-Season Tumult
ATLANTA — After months of legal wrangling, boycott threats and big-money contracts that roiled the fledgling world of professional pickleball, the sport’s top players have finally reconvened to compete on the court rather than the courtroom.
The second season of Major League Pickleball (MLP) kicks off this week in Atlanta, with exhibition matches leading up to the main group stage that begins Thursday. It marks the debut of a new league and team structure, forged from a messy merger between rival groups MLP and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA).
“I’m pumped for pickleball again,” said analyst Jimmy Miller on the popular podcast King of the Courts. “It'll be nice to just get back to watching people play pickleball.”
While optimism reigns as play gets underway, a hint of tension still simmers beneath the surface. The new league features major changes to contracts, teams and even rules — variability that has left some players wary even as they take the court.
“There's gonna be tension, dude,” Miller said. “There's gotta be a little bit.”
Here are the key discussion topics from co-hosts Miller and Tyler Loong's latest podcast episode previewing the Atlanta event:
1. [00:17] Introductions and Disclaimer
Miller and Loong introduce themselves as hosts of the show. Loong jokes about needing a disclaimer that Miller's opinions do not represent the podcast, as if they were analysts on ESPN or CNN. This kicks off their signature breezy banter.
2. [06:15] MLP Atlanta
After moving past recent “drama,” the hosts share their excitement for Major League Pickleball’s return. Loong notes that earlier events in Kansas City and Cincinnati had a “cloud” over them from the merger negotiations. But with the unified league now debuting, they can finally focus on high-level play again.
3. [08:50] Group A Preview
Loong analyzes the teams in Group A of the tournament: Atlanta, Bay Area, Orlando and Texas. He expects Bay Area and Texas to advance, while Atlanta and Orlando fall short due to holes in their rosters. Miller agrees with Loong’s assessment.
4. [12:40] Group B Preview
Called the “group of death,” Group B contains several powerhouses: Ben Johns' Chicago club, Riley Newman’s DC Kingfishers, Dallas and Utah. Miller and Loong predict DC and Utah will move on, noting the Kawamotos’ recent dominance for DC.
5. [14:35] New Rally Scoring Rules
The hosts discuss MLP’s new rally scoring system, which eliminates the “freeze” at 20 points that Miller calls confusing even for players. Loong wishes MLP would test more experimental rules in lower-level tournaments first.
6. [18:05] Group C Preview
In the “Tyler Loong group,” named as a joke by Miller, Loong analyzes his own Brooklyn Aces club along with teams from Arizona, Columbus and the Miami Pickleball Club. He and Miller expect the Aces and Miami to advance.
7. [28:30] Simmering Tension?
While optimistic about the Atlanta event, Miller predicts some lingering tension from the recent league merger and contract negotiations. Players may be eager to prove their worth, whether they feel underpaid or overpaid.
8. [35:00] Q&A Session
Miller and Loong offer tips for amateur players looking to turn pro, stressing consistency, developing a weapon shot and determination. When asked who “won” the merger, Loong says pickleball itself benefited most, though Miller argues the PPA salvaged more control than expected.
In their breezy weekly show, Miller and Loong covered all the hot storylines leading into the second MLP season. With new teams, new contracts and new rules, pickleball's top pros will finally shift from courtroom conflicts back to friendly competition on the court.
"It's nice we can finally talk about actual pickleball," Loong said.
But with so much change happening so quickly in the insular world of professional pickleball, nerves remain frayed even as the players take the court for the cameras once again. This week in Atlanta, competition takes center stage once more — but it is only Act One in a long saga still unfolding.
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