26 Pro Pickleball Predictions for 2026

Last year (that's 2025, mind you) was an eventful year in the professional pickleball landscape.

Four players had their contracts terminated with the United Pickleball Association (UPA) for violating contracts. There was mayhem in the Major League Pickleball (MLP) playoffs and the Columbus Sliders knocked off the #1, #2, and #3 ranked teams to win it all. Anna Leigh Waters dominated the competition, earning 39 gold medals in 20 events. If you missed this stat, check it out in my 2025 PPA recap article:

Ranking the Best PPA Pros Based on 2025 Medal Counts

This is a 2025 season recap using medal counts on the PPA Tour. I use my own calculation of points to show who had the best 2025 season (hint: it was Anna Leigh Waters).

The Dink Pickleball Erik Tice

What will the 2026 pickleball year have in store for us? This article lists my 26 predictions for what will occur in the 2026 year. Everything from player medal counts, to MLP shakeups, and everything in between. Let's get into it.

Author's note: Fellow journalist, Jim Kloss, likes to write his predictions each year, and it seemed like a fun exercise. This article is me putting my twist on what he started.

Predictions related to specific players Eric Oncins will more than triple his 2025 PPA medal count and earn at least 10 medals in 2026 The Texas Ranchers traded for Oncins early in the 2025 MLP season, and that trade proved to be a winner. Oncins got better throughout the MLP season and the Ranchers made the playoffs,... FULL ARTICLE FOUND ON: https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/26-pro-pickleball-predictions-for-2026/