The Official ahm NPL '26 Season Preview

With the season kickoff only 2 days away, it's time to look at the Official ahm NPL '26 season preview.

QUEENSLAND

Queensland is stacked. New additions, high-end imports, and individual talent that runs top to bottom. In QLD, traditionally, the teams with the best females win - will the trend change in 2026?

Girl Power

Nicola Schoeman, Katy Hart, Crystal Mildwaters, Tayah Cross. Female talent is at a premium in QLD and whichever team has their women firing will dictate the table. Think the Burras of 2025 - if your best female is the best on court, you're in the finals conversation.

Harry Brown

Widely considered Australia's best singles player. Harry has drafted with finals pedigree in mind: Fogl in gendered doubles and Katy Hart alongside him in mixed. It's a hard combination to beat. The question isn't quality. It's availability. If Harry's best players make every round, this team is the one to beat in QLD.

NZ's Finest

James Wilson becomes the NPL's first New Zealand captain - and he may have found a gem in compatriot Conor Robertshawe. DUPR of 5.4 in doubles and 5.1 in singles. Robertshawe isn't here to make up numbers.

The Horridges

Andy and Aleisha Horridge arrive from Major League Pickleball and they are not here to settle in quietly. Andy is one of the most complete multi-discipline players in the game. Aleisha, still just 18, can beat anyone on her day. At 21 and 18 respectively, this is a long-term threat dressed up as a short-term one.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Two new captains. Same high standard. NSW in 2026 looks like NSW always does - deep in the males, dangerous in the females, and decided in mixed. Brian Tran and Michaela Haet take on the captaincy for the first time. The established names don't go anywhere.

Can Selina Get Over the Hump?

#1 seed, two seasons running. Two finals exits. Selina and Shannon Spencer are givens - elite, consistent, and ready. What decides it is the supporting cast. Ashton Chan is talented and young. Josh Chia is experienced and reliable. Whether those two show up on the biggest days is the only open question for the Heat.

Mickie the Captain

Michaela Haet has always been one of the best players in the NPL. In 2026, she carries the armband too. With Nancy Ferguson forming the spine of her side, she has legitimate finals credentials. Dark horse pick: Guillermo Jacquet. If he clicks, the Comets are a genuine threat.

Rags to Riches

Daiki Tanabe's story is the feel-good one of the season. Two years grinding in Division 2. A Div 2 Finals MVP. Now he gets his shot on the Pro Tour. Elite hands, strong singles, and a point to prove. Watch this space.

Elite Males

NSW's male depth is arguably the best in the country. Ryan Henry, Kyle Stoker, Ashton Chan, Daiki Tanabe - the list is uncomfortable for every other state. If the males are the tiebreaker in mixed, NSW is well placed.

VICTORIA

Two first-time female captains. A deeper state than ever. Victoria in 2026 has more Pro Tour competition for spots than any previous season - and the mid-season reshuffle puts every underperformer on notice from round one.

Izzy Returns

Isabelle Papazyan is back after time in Europe - and she might be the most talented player in the entire NPL. Best mover on court in Australia. Full stop. Two questions follow her into 2026: can she stay healthy across a full season, and can she stay mentally locked in when it matters? If the answer is yes to both, the 29ers are genuine finals contenders.

VIC Depth

The talent pool for Victorian Pro Tour spots hit an all-time high ahead of the 2026 draft. Chanchai Sooktoon-Eng, Aria Henare, Stefan Djordjic, Olivia Moir - all ready to step up from Division 2. The mid-season reshuffle draft adds another layer. Perform or make way.

Draft Bolter

There's always one. This year it's Ethan Chung - pick 32, emerged from relative obscurity, snapped up by Sahil Dang and the Roos. Big serve. Strong singles. Solid right-side game. If Ethan is the steal of the draft, Sahil looks like a very smart captain.

Kanga Kats

Kat Valos and Kat Westbury are back. Both are elite in doubles and singles. Both will be motivated. Valos in particular is a player built to thrive with the right captain - and Sahil Dang has the game intelligence to get the best from her.

Why We Changed the Format

The NPL has invested in understanding what the best pickleball in the world looks like. Pro players and NPL representatives have attended D-Joy, Global Sports, APP, and other elite events - and what comes back every time is the same observation: format matters.

Different scoring systems - rally scoring versus traditional - each have their place. Both offer genuine value to players and fans. But not every format fits every context, and the NPL has thought carefully about what fits ours.

Two principles guided the changes. First, broadcast discipline: the accepted attention span of sports consumers is under two hours. Every match on the NPL Greenzone is built to stay within that window. Second, coverage breadth: mixed doubles, gendered doubles, and singles - played across different scoring formats - give every round a high-quality mix of entertainment. No two windows feel the same.

The result is a format that respects the player, serves the broadcast, and keeps the product sharp. That's the standard we've set ourselves.

Watch It Live. Miss Nothing.

NPL '26 is about to heat up. Every game. Every state. Every round - broadcast live on the NPL Greenzone.

The Format

Twelve games per round day, split across two windows. Six games go live at 1pm. Six more at 3:30pm. The broadcast team crosses between matches in real time, chasing the best action, the closest scorelines, and the players who are making things happen.

If a match is tight, we stay on it. If someone's on a tear, we find them. That's the Greenzone.

On the Call

Dylan Kimlin leads the commentary all season - sharp, informed, and as invested in the game as anyone watching. Dylan's been with the NPL from early days and it shows. He doesn't miss much.

Later in the season, Ron Shell joins the booth. Two voices who know the players, know the states, and won't waste your time with filler.

How the Broadcast Works

The new format means more context for every crossing. With gendered singles, mixed doubles, and gendered doubles all in play, the broadcast team can track momentum shifts across disciplines in a single match. A team can be down in singles and back in it by the end of mixed - that drama is what the Greenzone is built to capture.

Expect stat overlays, DUPR rankings in real time, and callouts on players making their Pro Tour debut. If you're watching, you'll know exactly what's at stake and why it matters.

Season starts soon. Don't miss it.

Twelve teams. Three states. Twelve games every round, all of it live. We'll find out who's right.