FITK Daily Dink - May 21, 2026 | FITK News
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FITK Daily Dink - May 21, 2026

Some of the top stories moving in pro pickleball today, from MLP's 2026 season opener landing in Dallas this Memorial Day weekend with the Jorja Johnson revenge angle, to Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters' defense powering the PPA Finals women's doubles title, and the APP Tour's new Asia expansion led by Tama Shimabukuro and Hsiang Wen-Huang.

  • Storylines for MLP Dallas

    Pickleball.com's Dave Fleming lays out the top storylines for the MLP Dallas opener May 22 to 25, including how Jorja Johnson handles facing her former Dallas Flash crowd and brother JW Johnson after the New Jersey 5s acquired her, how the new look defending champion Columbus Sliders fare without the suspended Parris Todd, and how the new MLP group play format reshapes strategy with all six roster players now usable in each match. Marquee matchups include Dallas Flash vs. New Jersey 5s on May 23 and LA Mad Drops vs. St. Louis Shock on May 24, with Ben Johns and Catherine Parenteau facing Anna Bright, Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio, and Kate Fahey.

    Read at Pickleball.com →
  • The Defense Does NOT Rest for Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters

    PPA Tour breaks down why Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters' defense is the engine behind their dominance, with both players ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in women's doubles and the Toys 'R' Us PPA Finals trophy adding another title to their resume. The piece highlights how their movement and reset patience kept Parris Todd and Rachel Rohrabacher off the attack in the Finals women's doubles championship, where Bright and Waters won 11-7, 11-6, 11-2.

    Read at PPA Tour →
  • Professional Pickleball's Global Expansion Continues with the Announcement of the APP Asia Tour

    The Dink's Erik Tice reports that the Association of Pickleball Players has launched the APP Asia Tour, a new international circuit aimed at growing professional pickleball across the region with sanctioned stops, prize money, and Asia-based player development pathways. The announcement follows recent Asian momentum including the Panas Kuala Lumpur Open and signals continued rivalry with PPA Tour Asia for top regional players like Tama Shimabukuro, Hsiang Wen-Huang, and Hien Truong.

    Read at The Dink →

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