🏈 FREE AGENCY

MLP FREE AGENCY DRAFT 2026

The biggest roster shakeup in pickleball. Every team. Every player. Every pick.

Draft Day Countdown
📋
Trade Window Closes
Feb 15 · 10am ET
→
🔒
Keeper Deadline
Feb 15 · 10am ET
→
📋
Free Agent Pool Set
Feb 15 – 27
→
🎯
Draft Day
Feb 27

📅 Timeline

Trade Window
Feb 5 – 15
Keepers Lock
Feb 15
Free Agency
Feb 15 – 27
Draft Day
Feb 27
We are here — Trade window open, 5 days until keeper deadline

📖 How The MLP Draft Works

1

Trade Window

Teams buy, sell, and swap players. Cash considerations are common. This is where front offices make their bets on the future.

2

Keeper Deadline

Each team protects their core players. Anyone left unprotected enters the free agent pool. Teams with 6+ players must make tough cuts.

3

Free Agent Pool

Unprotected players are available for all teams to draft. This is where hidden gems emerge and rosters get transformed overnight.

4

Draft Day

Teams select from the free agent pool in draft order (based on 2025 standings). Multiple rounds until rosters are filled. The ultimate pickleball fantasy draft — but real.

🏟️ Team Needs Analysis

Based on current rosters, trade activity, and roster composition. EDITORIAL

Atlanta Bouncers
5 players
🔧 REBUILDING
Need a true top-tier men's player after trading away Jay Devilliers and Victoria DiMuzio. Only 5 players on roster.
Traded pieces for cash — classic sellers. Got Kaitlyn Christian and Jay Devilliers but lost bodies. Could be looking to draft young.
Bay Area Breakers
4 players
🔴 BUYER
Only 4 players after the 3-team deal. Landed Samantha Parker, Ivan Jakovljevic, and Mya Bui but need depth badly.
Very active in trades — clearly building something. Need 2+ players minimum in the draft. One of the most interesting teams to watch.
Brooklyn Pickleball Team
6 players
✅ SET
Full 6-player roster headlined by Riley Newman (6.83) and Dekel Bar (6.77). Stacked.
One of the strongest rosters in the league. Should protect everyone and sit tight on draft day.
California Black Bears
4 players
💰 SELLER
Down to 4 players after trading Sleeth for cash. Rafa Hewett (6.49) is their only high-end player.
Sold Sleeth to Texas for cash — the rebuild is real. Could lose more pieces at the keeper deadline. Prime draft candidates.
Chicago Slice
5 players
🔴 BUYER
5 players. Added Zane Navratil (huge get) but shipped out Max Freeman and Hunter Johnson.
Navratil is a franchise cornerstone. Now need to surround him with talent. Will be aggressive in the draft.
Columbus Sliders
7 players
✅ SET
7 players — the most in the league. May need to shed a player at keeper deadline.
Deep roster but could be forced to leave someone unprotected. Their loss could be another team's gain.
Carolina Hogs
6 players
✅ SET
6 players after the 3-team deal. Picked up Angie Walker, DJ Young, and James Delgado.
Loaded up in the blockbuster trade. Should be set heading into the season with a balanced roster.
D.C. Pickleball Team
0 players
🔴 BUYER
Only 4 players. Need at least 2 more to compete. Thin roster heading into draft.
Quiet during the trade window — saving resources for the draft? Will be one of the most active teams on Feb 27.
Dallas Flash
0 players
💰 SELLER
6 players but traded Roscoe Bellamy and Samantha Parker for cash.
Selling off pieces for cash. The roster may look different after keeper deadline. Could lose more talent to the pool.
Florida Smash
4 players
🔴 BUYER
Only 4 players. Need significant additions through the draft.
Quiet trade window and thin roster = big draft needs. Watch for them to target high-DUPR free agents.
Las Vegas Night Owls
4 players
🔴 BUYER
4 players after major roster turnover. Traded away French & Truluck, got Bellamy and Parker.
Completely retooled in the trade window. Gave up depth for different pieces. Still need bodies from the draft.
Los Angeles Mad Drops
5 players
✅ SET
5 players including Max Freeman pickup. Could use one more piece.
Quietly added Freeman from Chicago. Solid but not spectacular — might grab one more in the draft.
Miami Pickleball Club
6 players
✅ SET
6 players. Swapped Mya Bui for Alix Truong and added Eric Roddy.
Active but lateral moves. Roster is full and competitive. Should be fine without major draft activity.
New Jersey 5s
6 players
💰 SELLER
6 players but traded Zane Navratil for cash. Lost their biggest name.
Losing Navratil is massive. Got cash but the on-court product took a hit. May need to draft a replacement-level men's player.
New York Hustlers
6 players
✅ SET
Full 6-player roster. No trade activity — standing pat.
Stayed out of the chaos. Confident in their current group. Should protect all 6 and watch the draft from the sidelines.
Nashville Chefs
4 players
🔴 BUYER
Only 4 players. Major draft needs across the board.
One of the thinnest rosters in the league. Will be among the most active teams on draft day.
Orlando Squeeze
6 players
✅ SET
6 players. Quiet trade window, roster looks competitive.
No moves needed. Should protect their core and let the draft play out around them.
Phoenix Flames
6 players
✅ SET
6 players. Full roster, no trade activity.
Standing pat with a complete roster. Unless they see a can't-miss free agent fall, likely done.
SoCal Hard Eights
5 players
✅ SET
5 players. Could add one more piece for depth.
Solid core in place. Might pick up a depth piece in the draft but not desperate.
St. Louis Shock
6 players
✅ SET
6 players. Full roster, quiet window.
Complete roster heading in. No urgent needs unless someone unexpected hits free agency.
Texas Ranchers
6 players
✅ SET
6 players. Added Victoria DiMuzio and Layne Sleeth. Most active buyers.
Three acquisitions this window — clearly going all-in for 2026. Roster is full and competitive. The team to beat?
Utah Black Diamonds
6 players
✅ SET
6 players. Full roster, no moves.
Quiet confidence. Full roster, no gaps. Should be set for the season.

👤 Available Free Agents

🔒

Free agents will be revealed after the Feb 15 keeper deadline

Once teams lock their keepers, unprotected players enter the free agent pool. Check back after February 15 at 10am ET for the full list with DUPR ratings, stats, and previous teams.

🎯 Mock Draft Projections

Our best guesses at how the draft could shake out. PROJECTION

Pick 1
TBD (Worst 2025 Record)
TBD
The top pick will likely target the best available men's player to anchor their mixed doubles lineup. If a high-DUPR star hits the pool, they won't last long.
Pick 2
TBD
TBD
Teams with only 4 players (Bay Area, D.C., Florida, Nashville, Las Vegas) will be picking early and often. Expect a run on proven talent.
Pick 3
TBD
TBD
The third pick often finds the best value — the player everyone overlooked. Watch for a breakout women's player here.

Full mock draft with specific player predictions coming after the Feb 15 keeper deadline reveals the free agent pool.

🔥 Key Storylines to Watch

🐻 The California Black Bears Fire Sale

After trading Sleeth for cash and sitting at just 4 players, the Bears look like they're in full rebuild mode. Will they protect anyone, or let the whole roster hit free agency? Their approach to the keeper deadline will be the most-watched decision of February.

🤠 Texas Ranchers Go All-In

Three acquisitions in one trade window. The Ranchers added DiMuzio, Sleeth, and made moves. They're clearly swinging for the fences in 2026. But did they give up too much future capital?

💰 Cash Is King — But For How Long?

Multiple teams (Dallas Flash, NJ 5s, Cal Bears, Atlanta) traded players for cash. That's a bet that draft picks + cash > current talent. History says it's 50/50 at best.

🌊 The Bay Area Rebuild

The Breakers were part of the massive 3-team deal and also grabbed Mya Bui. With only 4 players, they'll be one of the most active teams on draft day. The new-look Breakers could be a surprise contender or a work in progress.

🔮 Who Gets Left Unprotected?

The biggest question heading into Feb 15: which teams will leave stars unprotected? Columbus has 7 players — someone's getting cut loose. Teams with 6 players face tough choices too. One team's tough cut is another team's draft-day steal.