How does Major League Pickleball Work in 2024?

Key things to know before the 2024 MLP season.

David Tucker\News-Journal / USA TODAY

The 2024 Major League Pickleball season begins this month with the first regular season competition of the year. MLP has updated its competition structure ahead of the 2024 campaign. Here's what to know:

The MLP features two levels of play, the premier level and the challenger level. The MLP will host eight total regular season events, and each team must play in five of the events. There will also be the MLP Mid-Season Tournament in July, followed by the 2024 MLP Playoffs in November.

MLP uses a point system over win-loss records to determine their standings. A team can win three points for an outright win. If the game is tied 2-2, the teams will use a DreamBreaker, which breaks the tie. The winner of the DreamBreaker earns two points, while the loser earns one point. An outright loss results in zero points.

Here is the point system:

-3 Points: Regulation win (i.e.: 3-1 or 4-0 win; no DreamBreaker needed)
-2 Points: DreamBreaker win (i.e.: 3-2 win)
-1 Point: DreamBreaker loss (i.e.: 2-3 loss)
-0 Points: Regulation loss (i.e.: 1-3 or 0-4 loss; no DreamBreaker needed)

The six teams with the most points at the end of the year will earn entry to the MLP playoffs. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will earn a bye into the semifinals. In the first round, the No. 3 seed gets to pick the opponent they'd like to face. In the semifinals, the No. 1 seed gets to pick which of the two teams that advanced from the first round they want to face. All rounds of the playoffs use a best-of-three matches format.

End of Season Awards

At the end of the season, MLP will give out both an MVP award and a Most Improved Player award. Additionally, two men and two women will each make the 1st or 2nd All-MLP team for either the premier or challenger level. There will also be the two All-MLP teams and an MVP award given out for both the midseason tournament and playoffs.