ahm NPL ROUND 7 Preview

Round 7 has arrived, and with it comes the most volatile weekend of the NPL 2026 regular season. Every match carries weight. Every point has consequences. By Sunday, the top three teams from each conference will lock in their place at the NPL Finals in Melbourne — the biggest stage in Australian pickleball. For some, it will be the culmination of a season’s work. For others, it will be the end of the road.

Finals on the brink

For the Brumbies and the 29ers, the equation is as brutal as it is simple: win both matches 5–0 and hope everything else falls into place. Even that may not be enough.

What makes the challenge even steeper is who won’t be on court. Captains Andy Horridge and Isabelle Papazyan are both sidelined, while key contributors Joey Farias and Nives Baric are also out for the round. Four major absences across two teams, and a finals dream hanging by a thread. It would take something extraordinary to keep their seasons alive.

NSW: One spot, no margin

If one conference defines chaos, it’s NSW.

The Heat have already secured their finals berth and can afford to look ahead to Melbourne. Behind them, however, the margins could not be tighter. The Comets, Stingers, and Dinkers sit separated by just two points and a razor-thin three-point differential — a scenario where a single rally could reshape the standings.

All roads lead to one decisive clash: Stingers vs Dinkers. Winner advances. Loser goes home.

Across four matchups — Stoker vs Tran, Tanabe vs Henry, Ferguson vs Martine, Calderwood vs Oxnevad — there is no room for hesitation. This is knockout pickleball before finals have even begun.

The Victorian squeeze

In Victoria, the Tide face one of the toughest draws of the season. Back-to-back matchups against a strengthened Adders lineup and a Roos team that has had their number in recent encounters leave little margin for error.

With the danger of finishing third looming large, every Victorian side will be pushing hard to secure a top-two finish. Momentum matters, but positioning may matter even more.

A star in full flight

Few players have defined the season quite like Nicola Schoeman.

Four State MVP performances in five rounds tell only part of the story. Fresh from international competition in Asia, she returns with the chance to secure five MVPs from six — a near-perfect campaign. If her current form holds, she could be the player who reshapes the finals landscape.

Contenders emerging

While much of the competition remains tightly contested, two teams have consistently set the pace: Harry’s Outback and Selina’s Heat.

Outback, in particular, look transformed following their roster reshuffle — sharper in execution, deeper across the lineup, and increasingly difficult to break down. Yet the chasing pack is closing fast.

The Opals are building momentum at exactly the right time. With Crystal returning from injury and both Barber and Nicky Mal in standout form, they are no longer outsiders — they are genuine contenders entering the final stretch.

Division 2: One last shot

While the Division 2 ladder is already locked, the season is far from over.

The top two teams from each conference have secured their finals positions, with Taika entering as the number one seed and clear favourites after their NZ Teams Cup triumph. Still, challengers remain. The 29ers, Outback, and Stingers all have the firepower to disrupt expectations.

To close out the season, all six teams in each conference will compete in a final teams tournament. The top two progress directly to the semi-finals, while the remaining four fight for their place. At stake: the inaugural State Teams Cup Championship — and a place in NPL history.

Favourites heading in:

• VIC — 29ers

• NSW — Stingers

• QLD — Burras

By the end of this weekend, the picture will be clear. Finals dreams will be realised, and others will fall just short.

Round 7 is not just another chapter — it is the moment everything comes to a head.