The 2026 The Dink MiLP Championships

Five days, 41 courts and five competitions — the season’s final stage for every Minor League Pickleball team.

Arizona Athletic Grounds

February 24–28, 2027

Arizona Athletic Grounds · Mesa, AZ

The Championships

The Championships are the ultimate destination for players competing throughout the Minor League Pickleball season. Every local, state and regional event is an opportunity to earn your way to Mesa and compete on the largest stage of amateur pickleball.

Over five days, the Championships host five competitions: the classic mixed MiLP format in both Open Age and 50+ divisions, MiLP V3, the Nations Cup and a College Regional.

With a $100,000 prize purse, the Championships bring major stakes to an all-amateur tournament. Qualification runs through the 2026 season — points stack, Dream Tickets drop, and the path to Mesa runs directly through your local pickleball community.

Minor League Pickleball champions spraying champagne with their medals at the National Championship

How to qualify

There are two routes to Mesa. Play your way up the National Leaderboard, or win your division and take a Dream Ticket straight there.

Earn leaderboard points

Compete at Local Events, Regional Showdowns and State Championships to climb the National Leaderboard through the season.

Win a Dream Ticket

Win your division at a State Championship or Regional Showdown and qualify for Mesa directly, no leaderboard required.

Earn National Leaderboard Points

Every Minor League event you play stacks points toward your position on the National Leaderboard. The bigger the event, the more it is worth — and the shorter your path to Mesa.

Map of Minor League Pickleball event locations

Local Events

Play Minor League at your home club. Every event you enter earns National Leaderboard points toward your season total.

Regional Showdowns

Bigger fields, double the reward. Regional Showdowns pay 2x leaderboard points and award Dream Tickets to Mesa.

State Championships

Your state's biggest stage. Earn leaderboard points, and win your division to take a Dream Ticket straight to the Championships.

New to The Championships

The Championships will feature two exciting new events:

DUPR College Pickleball Tour Regional

Running on Championship Sunday, college teams compete at The Championships for a bid to the College Pickleball Tour Nationals. One day, round robin to playoffs, and a ticket to the biggest stage in college pickleball on the line.
More details to come.

The Nations Cup

Represent your country on the biggest team stage in pickleball. The format keeps the fast-paced, mixed-gender competition that defines MiLP, while adding a new layer of national pride to every match.

Here’s how it works:

  • Mixed-gender teams
  • Standard MiLPlay format
  • DUPR-based divisions
  • One team per country per division

It’s your country. Your team. Your chance to compete on the international stage.

College pickleball players celebrating a match win on court
Teammates in national team jerseys celebrating in a huddle on court

Track Your Progress

Latest Update: 10.20.25
Choose a Division
Rank
Name
Points
#

Bryce Hetler

4100
#

Becky Brandenburger

4100
#

Rachel Taylor

3000
#

Timothy Gillas

3000
#

Robin Golden

3000
#

Jimmy Nguyen

2700
#

Melyn Gregorio

2500
#

Kathy Render

2300
#

Allen Render

2300
#

Sylvonna Singleton

2000
Rank
Name
Points
#

Anna Dornquast

5200
#

Justin Cahill

5100
#

Dana Weinstein

4000
#

Devon Woody

3900
#

Cody Weil

3800
#

Brittany Weil

3800
#

Nate Pualengco

3300
#

Audrey Valdez

3300
#

Adam Brown

3200
#

Lee Brinkerhoff

3200
Rank
Name
Points
#

Cor Meijerink

3900
#

Steve Shabansky

3900
#

Linda Anglo

3800
#

Kaye Hansen

3700
#

Mariyati Sembiring

3600
#

Dmitri Sheets

2900
#

Jay Zollicoffer

2900
#

Tem Brennan

2900
#

Hugh Dunagan

2800
#

JJ Awtry

2600
Rank
Name
Points
#

Darby Rodriguez

4200
#

Colton Rutherford

4200
#

Christine Pereira

3700
#

Chip Lano

3400
#

Elleana Poulis

3400
#

Crystal Chase

3350
#

Ruben pedraza

3350
#

morgan nall

3100
#

Ryan Neafcy

3100
#

Santiago Buitrago

3000
Rank
Name
Points
#

Paul Nguyen

2800
#

Thanh Kim Nguyen

2800
#

Danny Le

2800
#

Joann Vu-Simpson

2800
#

Brenda Peddycoart

2700
#

Rob Denton

2400
#

Bill Langwell

2400
#

Holly Moore

2400
#

Robert C Miles

2400
#

Kelly Fives

2400
Rank
Name
Points
#

Katie Lee McKee

6000
#

Janine Johnson

4400
#

Jesse Golden

4300
#

Lena Quach

4100
#

Christian DeRoussel

4000
#

Annie Chen

3800
#

Eric Tang

3800
#

James Yun

3800
#

Emily Truong

3800
#

Pickleball Will

3600
Rank
Name
Points
#

Buck King

3500
#

Mike Ward

2900
#

Deana Holman

2900
#

Brian Davis

2700
#

JoLinda Holt

2500
#

Lisa Malone

2500
#

Karla Mulanax

2400
#

Walter Golden

2400
#

Darren Anderson

2400
#

Holly Moore

2300
Rank
Name
Points
#

Jake Namken

2200
#

Kendall Hunt

2000
#

Lina Romero Alarcon

2000
#

Putri Insani

2000
#

Aaron Fuhrman

2000
#

Rachel Janssen

2000
#

Ryder Brown

2000
#

Eden Lawson

1900
#

Manfred Jeske

1900
#

Seth Goodman

1900
Rank
Name
Points
#

Jake Namken

2200
#

Kendall Hunt

2000
#

Lina Romero Alarcon

2000
#

Putri Insani

2000
#

Aaron Fuhrman

2000
#

Rachel Janssen

2000
#

Ryder Brown

2000
#

Eden Lawson

1900
#

Manfred Jeske

1900
#

Seth Goodman

1900
Rank
Name
Points
#

Walter Golden

8600
#

Darby Rodriguez

7000
#

Katie Lee McKee

7000
#

Linda Anglo

6300
#

Chip Lano

6300
#

Anna Dornquast

6200
#

Christian DeRoussel

6100
#

Ruben pedraza

5450
#

Janine Johnson

5200
#

Justin Cahill

5100
View Full Leaderboard

Become an Official Partner of Minor League Pickleball

International Expansion

Each region—Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Australia, China, Southeast Asia, South America, and more—will have its own leaderboard and national pathway.

Top teams from each country will compete for a spot at the 2026 Dink Minor League Pickleball Championships in the U.S.

FAQ

When is the 2026 National Pathway season?
The 2026 Season is October 20, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
Who can compete at Minor League Pickleball tournaments?
Anyone with a DUPR account, all ages & skill levels.
Who can play in the State Championships and Regional Showdowns?
There are NO pre-qualifications to play at a State Championship or a Regional Showdown.

Anyone with a DUPR account can play in the State Championships and Regional Showdowns.
What divisions are available in the 2026 season?
Standard Divisions: DUPR: 12, 12 50+, 14, 14 50+, 16, 16 50+, 18, 18 50+, 20

Juniors Division is available in select markets (all players must be 18 or younger)

DUPR 20 50+ is available in select markets (all players must be USAP age 50+)

DUPR 22 is available in select markets

*Tournament Directors decide what divisions are offered at each tournament.
What is the 2026 United States National Leaderboard Point System?
All players who compete in Official Minor League Pickleball events will earn points towards the National Leaderboard in the divisions they compete in. Players can compete in multiple divisions throughout the year.

Players who compete in Local Events, State Championships, Regional Showdowns, and the 2025 National Championship will earn points towards the 2026 National Leaderboard.

The Leaderboard will feature DUPR Divisions 12, 12 50+, 14, 14 50+, 16, 16 50+, 18, 18 50+ and 20

Play as a team, earn points individually.

At each tournament, the first-place team will earn 1,000 points, the second-place team 900, and so on, with the 10th-place team earning 100 points. Teams from 11th to 16th place will earn 50 points each.

In the 2026 Regional Showdown, teams will earn double the standard point system. First-place teams will earn 2,000 points, second-place teams will earn 1800 points, and so on, with 10th place earning 200 points. Teams from 11th to 16th place will earn 100 points each.

Each individual countries will host their own National Leaderboard.
Who can play in Minor League Pickleball?
Anyone with a DUPR account, all ages & skill levels.
How does the point system work?
Players earn points at local, state, and regional events.
What is a Dream Ticket?
Gold medalists at State Championships & Regional Showdowns qualify directly.
How often is the National Leaderboard updated?
Once a month.