A Regional Showdown is a team-format tournament for amateur players, played under the The Dink Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) structure. These events bring together four-player teams (2 women and 2 men) to compete using the fast-paced and inclusive MLPlay™ format.

Minor League Pickleball is an innovative team competition with unique twists on traditional matchups, scoring, and tiebreakers. In each match, teams compete in four games:

1. Women’s Doubles
2. Men’s Doubles
3. Mixed Doubles
4. Mixed Doubles

Each game is played to 21 points, win by 2. If the match is tied 2–2 after four games, it goes to a Dreambreaker™ where one person from each team plays singles against the other team’s player, switching players every four rallies until someone gets to 21 and wins by two points.

Who can play? 

Anyone with a DUPR account can participate! Teams are broken into divisions based on their combined DUPR rating of all 4 players.

Why Regional Showdowns Matter?

Regional Showdowns are a key part of the path to The Dink MiLP Championships. Here’s why:

• They are official Minor League Pickleball team tournaments open to amateur players of all ages and skill levels
• Every match helps build your DUPR match history and increase your reliability score
• You earn valuable points toward the National MiLP Leaderboard, which helps determine who qualifies for the National Championship. 

But most importantly: Winning your division at a Regional Showdown earns your team a Dream Ticket — an automatic invitation to compete at The Dink Minor League Pickleball Championships!

So even if you don't win it all, playing gives you more matches, more data, and more chances to scale up your DUPR pickleball ratings. It’s a win-win.

What is the Championship?

The MiLP Championship, previously called the National Championship, is the pinnacle of the amateur team season. It brings together Dream Ticket winners, top leaderboard teams, and invited State Pro League and MLP-affiliated teams from around the world to compete for national glory and $100,000 in prize money.

With divisions for every DUPR level, the event is designed to reward teamwork, performance, and progress over the course of the season. And it all starts with your region.

2026 Regional Showdowns

• May 22-25: MiLP at MLP Regional Showdown - Dallas, TX
• May 29-31: MiLP at MLP Regional Showdown - Columbus, OH
• June 12-14: MiLP at MLP Regional Showdown - Austin, TX
• June 26-28: MiLP at MLP Regional Showdown - New York, NY
• July 17-19: MiLP at MLP Regional Showdown - San Diego, CA
• July 24-26: MiLP at MLP Regional Showdown - Chicago, IL
• July 26: Midwest Regional Showdown - Kansas City, MO
• August 14-16: MiLP at MLP Regional Showdown - Newport Beach, CA
• August 15-16: Southeast Regional Showdown - Orange Park, FL
• November 13-15: Northwest Regional Showdown - Lynnwood, WA

Why You Should Sign Up

If you’re looking to:

• Rise in the MiLP Rankings Leaderboard
• Build your DUPR reliability score
• Improve your pickleball ratings
• Earn a Dream Ticket to the Championships
• Or just compete with your friends

… then a Regional Showdown is a no-brainer.

Spots go fast. Check the schedule, grab your team, and take your shot.

See you on the court.