The 30-second version
- The Final Four is set. The MLP playoffs narrowed to four teams after the Newport Beach quarterfinals (Aug 13–16).
- Two upsets busted brackets: the No. 6 Dallas Flash bounced the No. 3 LA Mad Drops, and the No. 5 Brooklyn team knocked out the reigning champion Columbus Sliders.
- The finals are Aug 28–30 at City Pickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park, New York City, where the 2026 champion gets crowned.
- Two Northeast squads — Brooklyn and the New Jersey 5s — are still standing, so New England fans have a rooting interest.
Major League Pickleball’s road to Central Park just got a lot more interesting. After a tense weekend in Newport Beach, the quarterfinal round trimmed the playoff field to four teams — and two of them had no business being there on paper. If you’ve been following the 2026 MLP playoff run from Orlando to Central Park, this is the round that flipped it wide open.
Newport Beach quarterfinal results
- St. Louis Shock def. Texas Ranchers, 2–0
- New Jersey 5s def. Palm Beach Royals, 2–0
- Dallas Flash def. LA Mad Drops, 2–1 (upset)
- Brooklyn Pickleball Team def. Columbus Sliders, 2–1 (upset)
The Shock and the 5s handled business in straight-up 2–0 sweeps — no drama, just the higher seeds taking care of the job. The other two matches were a different story.
The two upsets that flipped the bracket
The headline is the lower seeds. The No. 6 Dallas Flash pushed the No. 3 LA Mad Drops to a decider and won it 2–1 — the kind of run that reminds you MLP’s team format rewards depth and clutch Dreambreaker play, not just star power. (If you’re fuzzy on how a tie gets settled, our guide to the MLP Dreambreaker breaks it down.)
Then the No. 5 Brooklyn Pickleball Team did the same to the reigning champion Columbus Sliders, also 2–1. Knocking out the defending title-holder in the quarters is the upset of the round, and it means we’re guaranteed a new look at the top of the bracket.
What’s next: the NYC finals in Central Park
The four survivors — St. Louis Shock, New Jersey 5s, Dallas Flash, and Brooklyn Pickleball Team — now head to City Pickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park, New York City, for the semifinals and final on Aug 28–30. That’s where the 2026 MLP champion will be decided. New to how this all fits together with the pro tours? Here’s our explainer on PPA Tour vs. MLP and what Major League Pickleball actually is.
The Northeast angle
Here in New England, we’ve got two teams to pull for. The Brooklyn Pickleball Team and the New Jersey 5s are both regional squads, and both are one step from a title. If you’re making the trip down to Central Park for finals weekend — or just watching from a court up here — there’s a real reason to care who wins. A Northeast champion would be a nice moment for the region’s growing pickleball scene.
Results via Major League Pickleball and Pickleball.BZ.
Frequently asked questions
Who advanced to the 2026 MLP finals?
Four teams advanced out of the Newport Beach quarterfinals: the St. Louis Shock, New Jersey 5s, Dallas Flash, and Brooklyn Pickleball Team.
When and where are the 2026 MLP finals?
The semifinals and final are Aug 28–30 at City Pickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park, New York City.
What was the biggest upset of the quarterfinals?
The No. 5 Brooklyn Pickleball Team eliminating the reigning champion Columbus Sliders, 2–1. The No. 6 Dallas Flash also upset the No. 3 LA Mad Drops.
Is the reigning champion still in it?
No. The defending champion Columbus Sliders were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Brooklyn, so a new champion will be crowned in 2026.