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Happy MLP Draft Day to all who celebrate. Which should be everyone reading this, because full 2026 rosters for the league’s 20 Premier teams are now set. And let us be the first to say: this season will be one for the record books.

Anna Bright went No. 1 for a staggering amount. Jorja Johnson is no longer on the Dallas Flash. And a host of youngsters were picked in the top 20. We break it all down below.

In This Issue:
— Pro pickle couple gets engaged
— Signs you need to drill more
— Full MLP Draft recap

Lock in.

The St. Louis Shock spent a record-breaking $1,230,000 for the first pick in today’s MLP Draft — far higher than any draft pick in MLP history. With it, they re-acquired Anna Bright and locked in what will surely be the team to beat this year. New team rosters, right here.

One rec player is fed up with a former elite tennis player who drives every shot on the pickleball court. Even right up close at the kitchen. So what’s a gal to do? Honestly, duck. Most of those shots are sailing long. But short of that, it’s time to test your soft game and fight power with finesse.

Huge congrats to pickle pros Grayson Goldin and Hannah Blatt on their recent engagement. We don't often get into players’ personal lives, but Grayson is just weeks removed from two strokes at only 30 years old — and well on the road to recovery. “Life is crazy like that.”

Pros are reacting across social media to what went down during today’s MLP Draft. We’ve rounded up the best responses in one place, like this gem from Anna Bright: “I am going to feel pressure to play like GOD.” Read them here.

Listen, we’re all better in our heads than we are on the court. There’s no shame in that game. But in order to call yourself an advanced pickleball player, there are a few strategies and tactics that should be second-nature.

We know this sport isn't one size fits all (it’s what we love most about it), but that doesn't mean there aren’t a few hallmarks of solid players we can all aspire to.

Here are five telltale signs you’ve still got some drilling to do:

✅ You play your game, and your game only. Not adjusting strategy based on your opponents is not advanced pickleball thinking. Don’t just target weak players — target weak shots. This is where you’ll start to pick other teams apart and separate yourselves from the pack.

✅ Your feet can't compete. Proper footwork sets better players apart. Especially a well-timed split-step. This isn't for show; it sets your foundation for whatever is coming at you.

✅ You’re trigger happy. Yes, the meta around when and where to attack has shifted. Everything is fair game. But you still need to choose your opportunities and your targets wisely. Pull too often and it stops being a weapon. Now you’re just predictable.

✅ You bunt on overheads. An overhead smash should be a kill-shot nearly every time, or at least set one up. Rotate your shoulders and extend all the way through, snapping your wrist at the end. And aim for angles, not just straight down the court.

✅ You lack a killer instinct. When you’re up at the kitchen and your opponents are back at the baseline, stop being content with simple counters. Soon enough, the momentum will shift and you'll lose the upper hand. A counter or two is fine, but seize any and every opportunity to slide step and wallop a full-swinging attack instead.

Now let’s review. How many of those habits are you guilty of? We’re guessing it’s more than zero. Congrats, you’ve got more work to do.

➡️ Now get to it.

Everyone feels good at 3-1.
What about 9-9?

That’s where pickleball gets sneaky mental.
Hands speed up. Decisions shrink. Emotions creep in.

Blue Cannatine isn’t about getting amped. It’s about staying steady when it matters most.

It dissolves between your cheek and gum and typically kicks in within 5–10 minutes. No spike. No jittery ramp. Just clean, controlled focus that feels composed instead of chaotic. It’s scored too, so you can dial in the amount instead of guessing.

Late in games. Late in sessions. Late in tournaments.

That’s where clarity wins.

On our latest PicklePod episode, Nico shared his experience with Blue Cannatine and mentioned the noticeable focus he experienced — especially in fast rallies when reads matter most.

If staying sharp without the cracked-out energy matters to you, this is one of the cleanest tools we’ve found.

Try Blue Cannatine and use code DINK for 10% off.

The 2026 Major League Pickleball Draft took place this morning and wasn’t short on drama.

As a quick refresher:

The draft began with all 20 teams filling out the first four spots on their rosters. For some teams, that meant one or two players. For others, they needed all four. It all depended on who they chose to keep from the previous season’s roster.

This year, all eyes were on two players.

1️⃣ Anna Bright was chosen with the No. 1 overall pick by her former team, the St. Louis Shock, who coughed up a record $1,230,000 for the privilege. That's the most any team has paid for any pick in the history of the MLP, eclipsing the previous mark paid for Ben Johns in 2024 (a measly $840,000).

2️⃣ Jorja Johnson was taken No. 2 for $800,000 by the New Jersey 5s. This means, as of now, she’s not returning to the Dallas Flash alongside her brother JW. It also means she'll be partnering up with none other than Anna Leigh Waters. A scary duo, to say the least.

💡 Remember, the amount teams pay to draft players goes to the league; it’s not connected at all to respective players’ salaries.

Four new PPA junior players were drafted in the top 20:

#9: Tama Shimabukuro, Utah Black Diamonds, $125,000
#15: Kiora Kunimoto, California Black Bears, $45,000
#16: Cam Chaffin, Phoenix Flames, $35,000
#17: Will MacKinnon, SoCal Hard Eights, $40,000

Teams can trade for new players beginning Monday morning at 10 ET.

For more draft analysis and storylines, our expert Erik Tice has you covered.

➡️ Let’s get into it.

They built a ladder.

The new SLK lineup — Valkyrie. Geo. Dauntless.

Three price points. Multiple shapes. Actual tech.

Here’s the breakdown:

Valkyrie ($80) – Widebody. Big sweet spot. Confidence builder.
Perfect for new players and casual open play. Forgiving. Easy to maneuver. Doesn’t feel like a toy.

Geo ($100) – Elongated or widebody. Carbon fiber face. Polymer core.
This is the grow-with-your-game paddle. Real spin. Real control. Ideal for 3.0–3.5s shaping points intentionally.

Dauntless ($180) – Elongated or widebody. PureFoam core. Raw spin carbon. IsoFlex sweet spot expansion.
Balanced. Stable on resets. Predictable in hands battles. Control-first but still pops when you step in.

Instead of forcing players from $80 straight to $250+, SLK bridges the gap.

Valkyrie builds confidence.
Geo builds skill.
Dauntless builds consistency under pressure.

Shop the new SLK lineup and use code ADV-THEDINK for $30 in Selkirk Bonus Bucks.

It’s crazy to consider. We feel icky just typing it.

But after Hayden Patriquin and Anna Bright dismantled Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters in the mixed doubles final at PPA Mesa, some legitimate chatter has begun around the prospect of her looking over the fence for some greener grass.

Namely, poaching Hayden from her women's doubles partner Anna — and kicking Ben to the curb in the process.

We're not there yet. Ben and ALW remain the most dominant team by a wide margin. And one loss, however lopsided, won't undo that overnight.

But a few more losses might push this from idle gossip to legit game strategy. At least, that’s the theory. And there is some precedent here: Anna Leigh and previous partner Catherine Parenteau were on top of the world… until they weren’t. And we all know how that turned out.

There’s also this: according to Zane Navratil, when Hayden is on, he’s the best player in the world. And it ain’t particularly close.

➡️ Is the end of an era drawing near?

A review from the Dink Fam...

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