Pro pickleball's team league is getting bigger. Major League Pickleball, which carries the DoorDash presenting-sponsor name, has confirmed that the Houston Hammers will start play in 2027 as the league's 21st club. Hugh Zhang will lead the new owners, who say they plan to be active both in the pro circuit and around their home city.
What happened
The league announced the addition and introduced Zhang as the head of the ownership group, describing him as a leader with expertise across several different industries. The owners say they intend to be deeply involved in every part of MLP next season and in the wider Houston area.
The league listed three specific plans from the group:
- Staging one of the 2027 league events in the Houston market.
- Continuing with the Hammers' existing senior team.
- Entering a Jr. Hammers squad in Jr. MLP.
Zhang said he sees Houston as one of the top pickleball markets in the country. In his view, adding MLP brings every piece of the Hammers operation under a single banner: the senior team that won the regular season, the junior program and the minor leagues. He framed the larger aim as creating a first-class sports brand that treats fans well, helps local players develop and leaves a long-term mark on Houston sports.
The announcement also highlighted how the league did over the 2026 summer season, saying several all-time marks were broken:
- A broadcast high of 733K viewers for the NYC Finals on CBS, which aired August 30.
- A cable high of 146K on FS1 on August 1.
- A new streaming record on PBTV.
- Minutes watched on Pickleballtv rose 32% compared with 2025.
- On-site attendance grew 69% year over year.
- Ticket revenue climbed 87%.
- Social impressions rose 61%, and interactions rose 106%.
Plenty of specifics are still missing. The league promised further details over the coming weeks, covering key off-season dates, the way the Hammers will acquire players, keeper deadlines, the draft date and the full schedule of 2027 summer events.
For context, the league says it was founded in 2021 and currently features more than 100 athletes across its 21 teams. It also notes that in 2024 it merged with the PPA Tour under a newly formed body called the United Pickleball Association.
What it means for you
If you play for fun, a new pro franchise will not change your weekly games. What it does signal is continued growth in team-based pro play, backed by the league's own figures on crowds and viewers from its most recent season.
Houston-area players have the clearest reason to pay attention, because the owners have promised a local league event in 2027. No date or venue has been shared yet, so keep an eye out for the schedule the league says is on its way. Families with young players may also want to follow news about the Jr. Hammers, although the announcement does not explain how that roster will be assembled.
Wherever you live, the off-season dates, draft timing and summer calendar will help you decide whether catching a live match next year is realistic.
In the meantime, there are events to enter much closer to home. Vara Performance lists upcoming tournaments on its events page, including the West Virginia State Pickleball Championship and the NP Boston Classic Powered by Onix at PICKLR Danvers, both on 2026-11-07. If watching the pros has you itching to compete, browse the listings, and use the Vara Performance ratings explainer to find a bracket that fits your skill level.
Source
This explainer draws on the announcement from Major League Pickleball, titled Houston Hammers to Join Major League Pickleball as 21st Team for 2027 Season.