Welcome back to The Week in Pickleball, our Monday roundup of the last seven days in the game. This week: Team USA wins the first MLP Nations Cup in Dallas, USA Pickleball Nationals under way in San Diego, a 21st MLP team for 2027, and the debate over taunting in the pro game.
The week in 30 seconds
- MLP Nations Cup: Team USA won the first edition, unbeaten all weekend, sweeping Latin America 3-0 in the final.
- USA Pickleball Nationals: the national championships started Oct 31 at Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego and run through Nov 8.
- Houston Hammers: MLP adds a 21st team for 2027.
- Taunting: players and commentators are split on whether the pro tours need a new rule.
- Up next: the PPA World Championships start today in Dallas.
On tour
No PPA or APP pro event this week, so all eyes were on Dallas, where Major League Pickleball ran its first national-team event to open Worlds week.
MLP Nations Cup
Brookhaven Country Club, Farmers Branch, TX · Oct 30–Nov 1
- FinalUnited States def. Latin America3-0
- SemifinalUnited States def. Europe–East3-1
- SemifinalLatin America def. Asia Domestic3-1
- The first MLP Nations Cup: eight regional teams of six, in MLP's coed team format, two groups of four, with the top two in each group into Sunday's semifinals.
- Team USA (Ben Johns, CJ Klinger, Will Howells, Anna Bright, Tyra Black and Kate Fahey, captained by Johnny Goldberg) was the only team to go 3-0 in group play.
- Asia Domestic started 2-0 on Friday and finished second in Group A, behind the US.
- Group B came down to tiebreakers: Latin America, Europe–East and Australia all finished 2-1. Latin America, led by Nico Acevedo, Eric Oncins and Mari Humberg, took first after going 2-0 on Saturday.
- Canada and Asia International finished 0-3.
- In the final, the US swept Latin America 3-0, winning the games 11-9, 11-1 and 11-6. "All the chants, all the support from the crowd really meant so much," Anna Bright said.
Around the game
Nationals
USA Pickleball Nationals are under way in San Diego
The Oceanview USA Pickleball National Championships started on Oct 31 at Barnes Tennis Center, the event's second straight year in San Diego. Amateur, pro, junior and wheelchair divisions run through Nov 8. General admission is free, and matches are streamed online and on QVC+. If you're playing, check the event site for schedule and weather updates.
Schedule and livestreams ↗MLP
Houston Hammers join MLP as the 21st team for 2027
Major League Pickleball announced on Oct 28 that the Houston Hammers will join the league in 2027 under a new ownership group led by Hugh Zhang. The franchise has played as Team Clean, Frisco Pandas and Nashville Chefs, and sat out 2026. The team plans to host an MLP event in Houston in 2027, and will also field senior and junior squads. "Houston is one of the top pickleball markets in the country," Zhang said. MLP says the 2027 draft and schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
Read the story at The Dink ↗Debate
Should the pros ban taunting?
The argument started at the PPA Chicago Cup, where Maria Ford's screaming after points in her win over Genie Bouchard went viral. Commentator Jim Kloss has proposed an anti-taunting rule with warnings and escalating penalties. Anna Bright and Kate Fahey pushed back, with Fahey arguing that women are being singled out for yelling. In a piece this week, The Dink's Erik Tice argued against a new rule, saying the tours should clarify their existing rules on intimidation and verbal abuse instead. No tour has adopted a new rule so far.
Read the story at The Dink ↗Coming up
Worlds week continues in Dallas, while Nationals wrap up in San Diego.
- Nov 2–8Opendoor Pickleball World ChampionshipsBrookhaven Country Club, Farmers Branch, TXA 3,000-point PPA Major, with qualifying on Monday and finals on Sunday, Nov 8, streamed on PickleballTV. Anna Leigh Waters defends titles in all three of her divisions, and Federico Staksrud defends in singles and in men's doubles with Hayden Patriquin. Also on: a Challenger Showdown with eight 2027 PPA Tour spots at stake and a celebrity pro-am on Nov 5.
-
Through
Nov 8USA Pickleball National ChampionshipsBarnes Tennis Center, San Diego, CAThe second week of Nationals, with free general admission. - Nov 12–15APP Arizona OpenArizonaThe APP Tour's next US pro stop.
Paddles the pros play
Watching Worlds this week? Here are three paddles from brands we carry, each with a pro behind it.
New on our blog this week
Tips & Strategy
The Kitchen Rules, Explained
What you can and can't do in the no-volley zone.
Read it →Paddle Tech
RPM Q2 compared
All four shapes, side by side.
Read it →Places to Play
Sarasota & Bradenton, FL
Where to play on Florida's Suncoast.
Read it →Watching Worlds this week? Ask a Royal Ambassador.
Your local Royal Ambassador is on court every week. Find yours to try the paddles the pros use, talk through what suits your game, book a demo and get a good deal.
Find your ambassadorThe Week in Pickleball comes out every Monday. Results and dates are from the tours and organizers listed above.