This weekend pro pickleball fans were treated to something we haven’t seen in a few years: A 100% locked in and motivated Ben Johns in Major League Pickleball.

And what a sight it was. Johns reminded the pickleball world why he’s the best to ever do it, and showed that he can still control a match while taking 90% of the court if he really wants to.

Johns led the LA Mad Drops to a somewhat surprising win in Week 1, while the new-look New Jersey 5s stumbled out of the gate. We break it all down below.

Also in this issue:

• Anna Leigh Waters and Jorja Johnson are going to be a problem in MLP 😤

• Limited-edition JOOLA Pop paddles now available 🥶

• Send us your best amateur pickleball highlights 🎥

• Reviewing the RPM Friction Pro V2 🔥

Let’s get cookin’. 🧑‍🍳

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Anna Leigh Waters teaming up with Jorja Johnson just isn’t fair

There was a lot of hype during the MLP offseason about what an Anna Leigh Waters/Jorja Johnson pairing would look like on the New Jersey 5s. We finally got to see it in action this weekend, and the two stars didn’t disappoint.

They went undefeated on the week and looked dominant in the process — especially against Johnson’s former team, the Dallas Flash.

The obvious question now is: Will this duo go the whole season without a loss? It seems doable based on what we saw in Week 1.

COMING THIS WEEK: Pickleballers makes its return for Season 4, and to kick off the season we had Jorja Johnson and her brother, JW Johnson, on the show. We talk MLP, dive into the success they’ve have had over the years in mixed doubles and more.

🔗 Check out highlights from the weekend on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok

SUBMIT YOUR HIGHLIGHT

Get featured on our Top 10 Amateur Highlights of the Month!

Got a highlight clip worth sharing? We’re looking for the best amateur pickleball moments to feature in The Kitchen’s Top 10 Amateur Pickleball Highlights of the Month on YouTube.

First place will receive a prize from a selection that includes:

• A $500 DoorDash gift card

• The Kitchen merch

• Pickleball gear

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR CLIPS

✍️ Fill out this google form. Make sure to include your email, name, location, Instagram handle, and WeTransfer video link.

🎥 Videos must be filmed horizontally.

🎬 Please limit submissions to two clips per person.

Whether it’s a clutch point, a wild rally, an insane trick shot or pure pickleball chaos, we want to see it!

GEAR

JOOLA officially releases limited-edition paddles

The JOOLA “Rally Rocket” Pro V paddles are now officially available. 🇺🇸 🍭

Inspired by the classic rocket popsicles, this might be one of the cleanest special-edition paddle drops we’ve seen in a while. The packaging is also ELITE and the paddles come with a bunch of fun extras, like replacement grips and a paddle cover.

The specialty paddles are now available in all of the JOOLA Pro V models — Agassi, Perseus, Scorpeus, Hyperion and Kosmos — as well as the Double Vision models, which are geared toward beginner and intermediate players.

And yes … JOOLA is still driving an actual ice cream truck around the country this summer, stopping at pickleball events in several cities. Players can try the new Rally Rocket paddles, enter in exclusive giveaways, compete in carnival-style games and cool off with a free popsicle. 🚚 🍦

🔗 Learn more about the new paddles and the JOOLA Pops Summer Tour here

THE PROS

Major League Pickleball Week 1 (over)reactions

Week 1 of the 2026 Major League Pickleball season wrapped up Monday afternoon in Dallas, capping off a week that saw 11 teams play a total of 29 matches.

The theme of the week: Parity.

For much of 2025, the "favorites" won at an extremely high rate throughout the regular season. That trend was bucked in a big way to start 2026, with several upsets and lot of very close matches.

The Los Angeles Mad Drops walked away from MLP Dallas as the biggest winner, defeating the Columbus Sliders on Monday to secure the top overall spot for the event and earn 25 standings points.

While most thought LA and Columbus would be solid teams coming into the season, the biggest surprise of the week was that both New Jersey and St. Louis failed to win their respective groups, and instead played in a match to decide 3rd/4th place on Monday.

The Shock edged out the 5s in a Dreambreaker, which puts New Jersey in a tough spot in the standings after Week 1.

BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM MLP DALLAS

1️⃣ Danni-Elle Townsend is a beast. The MLP newcomer from Australia went 4-1 in women’s doubles and 3-2 in mixed doubles to help Columbus secure a strong finish. Benching either Townsend or Alix Truong when Parris Todd returns from a suspension this week will be a very tough decision. Townsend and Truong were a formidable duo.

2️⃣ MLP Ben is BACK! It’s unclear if it’s because he likes his new LA roster or if he’s just motivated to take home the title, but his attitude and drive looked light-years different from what we saw the past two seasons.

3️⃣ This year is truly anyone’s ballgame. Very few people predicted that Columbus and LA would playing for the points title this weekend, and the top 5 finishing teams in the event (LA, Columbus, St. Louis, NJ and Dallas) all looked dominant and vulnerable at times throughout the weekend.

🔗 Find our updated Power Rankings here and check out The Kitchen Founder Jared Paul’s key MLP Dallas takeaways here

PADDLE CORNER

RPM Friction Pro V2 review: James Ignatowich is on a HEATER

The RPM Friction Pro V2 might be one of the most complete Gen 3 paddles we’ve played with lately. It takes what made the original Friction Pro so popular and builds on it with more power, more pop, incredible spin, and one of the best overall feels our reviewers have experienced in a paddle recently.

In a recent interview with The Kitchen, RPM Founder James Ignatowich said he has moved to China to be at the factory where RPM paddles are made, which has allowed him to be very hands-on and make small tweaks that ultimately impact performance.

"With me in China I was able to really dial in the materials," he said of the Friction Pro V2.

WHAT WE COVER IN OUR REVIEW

▪️RPM Friction Pro V2 specs
▪️How it compares to the original Friction Pro V1
▪️Power, pop, spin and control performance
▪️Who this paddle is best suited for
▪️Kitchen scorecard rankings

🔗 Check out our full review of the RPM Friction Pro V2 or shop all RPM paddles here — use code “KITCHEN” for 15% off

QUICK HITS

• Youth movement: These kids are crafty

• Home court: These guys got creative

• River volleyball? That’s certainly a new one

• Pickleball punishment: This seems fair

• Disrespectful: There are Nasty Nelsons and then there are NASTY Nelsons

• Genius: I’m definitely trying this on my next game point