The Great MLP Reset: How Proposed 2027 Draft Overhaul Could End Era of Powerhouses

Once the changes come into effect – most likely by the beginning of next year – they will bring sweeping changes to the way teams acquire players and build their rosters.

At the moment, MLP players selected in the inaugural 2024 draft are in the final year of the league’s three-year keeper cycle. They must be released after the 2026 season ends, making them eligible for the 2027 player draft, provided the MLP implements the proposed rules. The reset will allow franchises to rebuild their rosters from scratch and could significantly alter the competitive landscape.

The draft pool is expected to feature nearly all of the top-ranked men’s and women’s players, setting the stage for one of the most significant player redistributions in MLP history.

Proposed changes in MLP players’ draft

• Player acquisition cap: Teams will operate under a $1 million player acquisition cap.
• Salary floor: Every franchise must spend at least $500,000 on player acquisitions.
• Individual player cap: Spending on a single player is expected to be limited to $600,000-$800,000, with existing keeper values adjusted accordingly.
• Right of First Refusal (ROFR): Instead of introducing a franchise tag, each team will be allowed to designate one released player and retain the right to match the winning bid during the 2027 auction.
• Cap enforcement: Unlike previous seasons, the cap and floor will remain in force throughout the year, preventing trades that would push teams beyond the prescribed spending limit.
• Franchise obligations: Teams will also be required to actively promote their franchises within local markets and will be rewarded for hosting events and contributing to the league’s overall growth.

The idea behind the proposed regulations is to address the spending imbalance that emerged after the 2024 draft. Although the same $1 million cap and $500,000 floor were originally introduced, they were never implemented in practice, allowing some franchises to spend close to $2 million on player acquisitions while others invested well below the minimum threshold. As a result, a handful of franchises gained the upper hand in signing top professionals, while the rest had to settle for emerging talent.

Notably, St. Louis Shock outbid the New Jersey 5s to acquire star pickleball player Anna Bright for a record-breaking $1.23 million during the most recent draft cycle, making it the most expensive signing in MLP history.

The 2027 reset is expected to break this trend. Stars including Anna Leigh Waters  , Ben Johns (Los Angeles Mad Drops), Hayden Patriquin (St. Louis Shock), Tyra Black (Dallas Flash), Parris Todd (Columbus Sliders), Andrei Daescu (Columbus Sliders), Gabe Tardio (St. Louis Shock) and Catherine Parenteau (Los Angeles Mad Drops) are all set to enter the draft pool unless retained through the ROFR mechanism, while several title-contending teams could be forced to part ways with all four of their starting players.

The yet-to-be-implemented system is expected to reward smarter decision-making over financial muscle, reducing the advantage wealthier teams currently enjoy. With spending limits narrowing the financial gap between franchises, squad-building and long-term planning are likely to become the defining factors determining performances in the coming seasons. If implemented, the proposals could usher in a more balanced MLP, encourage greater player movement and make the 2027 season one of the most competitive and unpredictable in the league’s history.

At present, the  and have established a duopoly in MLP, boasting some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Anna Leigh Waters (5s), Federico Staksrud (5s), Anna Bright (Shock) and Gabe Tardio (Shock), among others. From the 2027 season onwards, however, there is likely to be a seismic shift in the way MLP is played, provided the proposed rule changes are implemented.