Are You Leaving the Middle Wide Open?

Mari Humberg is headed to the Atlanta Bouncers, plus a health warning many players overlook and a story about finding community through pickleball.

Author

Empower Pickleball
June 25, 2026

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about Major League Pickleball lately, but things just got a whole lot more interesting.

This week brought MLP’s first-ever four-team trade, with players moving across four different rosters and our own Mari Humberg heading to the Atlanta Bouncers.

We’ll hear more from Mari next week on 99% Pickleball, as she shares what it’s like being traded in the middle of a season, what excites her about the move, and what she’s looking forward to with her new team.

Until then, we’ve got a few other things worth talking about.

TIPS & TRICKS

Most Teams Leave the Middle Wide Open

Many players focus so much on protecting their sideline that they create an even bigger problem: a wide-open middle.

According to Coach Gina Cilento, strong teams understand that middle coverage isn’t random. The best partnerships communicate early, move together, and know when the forehand should take priority.

A few simple adjustments can eliminate confusion and make your team much harder to beat.

💡 Why It Matters: The middle is one of the highest-percentage targets in pickleball. Covering it correctly reduces confusion, prevents partner collisions, and helps your team win more points.

👉 Learn how to cover the middle without leaving open space.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Don’t Automatically Blame Age

A lot of pickleball players assume every ache, cramp, or sore muscle is just part of getting older.

Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn’t.

A few signs worth paying attention to:

  • Calf pain that shows up every time you play

  • Leg discomfort that improves when you stop moving

  • One-sided swelling, warmth, or redness

  • Fatigue that feels out of proportion to your activity level

This week, we’re looking at how circulation and vascular health affect performance, recovery, and your ability to stay active for years to come.

💡 Why It Matters: The difference between normal soreness and a potential health issue isn’t always obvious. Knowing what to watch for can help you stay on the court longer.

👉 See what pickleball players should know about vascular health.

COMMUNITY

The Beginner Pickleball Lesson That Changed Everything

Sarah (back middle) with her pickleball posse

Sarah Bowen Shea spent years building communities through running. As the co-founder of Another Mother Runner, she helped thousands of women balance fitness, family, and the demands of everyday life.

Then she tried pickleball during a trip to Mexico. It quickly became an obsession, introducing her to new friendships, weekly games, group chats, and a community she never expected to find. Today, many of her closest relationships revolve around the sport.

💡 Why It Matters: One of pickleball’s greatest strengths is its ability to create connections. Sarah’s story is a reminder that sometimes the people you meet become just as important as the game itself.

👉 Read how pickleball helped Sarah find a whole new community.

Can Your State Climb the Leaderboard?

The America250 National Pickleball Challenge is turning everyday rec play into a nationwide competition.

Every time you play, you can log your session and earn points for your state as part of the country’s 250th birthday celebration.

No tournaments. No qualifiers. No special events.

Just play pickleball and help your state move up the leaderboard.

👉 Sign up and start earning points for your state.

  • A Pickleball Argument Ended With Felony Charges 😳 A Florida woman is facing aggravated battery charges after allegedly hitting another player with a paddle following a dispute during a match. Authorities say the incident left the other player with facial injuries.

  • This Community Can't Get Enough Pickleball 📈 One Colorado community can’t build pickleball courts fast enough. A new 19-court complex in Highlands Ranch is packed daily, with youth camps up 162%, leagues up 84%, and demand still growing.

  • Fans Picked Their Favorite Tournament 🏆 The Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples was voted the No. 1 pickleball tournament for fans by USA Today readers after a record-setting 10th anniversary event that drew more than 60,000 spectators and players from 53 countries.

Adam Behnke Joins 99% Pickleball

What if we look back 20 years from now and can’t believe what pickleball has become?

This week, Adam Behnke, COO of the Brooklyn Pickleball Team, joins Mari Humberg and Nikki Maldonado to discuss the work happening behind the scenes to grow the sport—from Major League Pickleball and minor league programs to junior development, school partnerships, and community building.

If you’ve ever wondered how pickleball goes from a backyard game to a lasting sport, this episode offers a fascinating look at the people helping make it happen.

📺 Watch it on YouTube tonight at 4pm ET
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

The Thing You Hope You Never Need

Every pickleball group eventually has one of those moments.

Someone rolls an ankle. Someone jams a finger. Someone goes after a lob and immediately regrets it.

Most of us carry extra grips, overgrips, and backup balls. Very few players carry anything useful when an actual injury happens.

This pickleball-specific first aid kit includes things like cold packs, elastic wraps, finger splints, KT tape, blister care, and wound supplies—all organized in one bag.

Hopefully you never need it. But if your group plays often enough, there’s a good chance someone eventually will.

👉 Check out the All Sports First Aid Kit.

You’re the One Who Runs the Games

Every pickleball group has one person doing everything.

Setting it up. Managing the group chat. Fixing matchups when they’re off. Keeping things moving.

If that’s you, Pickleheads Pro can help.

It handles scheduling, payments, waitlists, and DUPR scoring in one place, so you’re spending less time organizing and more time playing.

👉 Use code EMPOWER30 for a free 30-day trial.

Interested in having your event listed? Reach out to us and let’s chat!

Have something happening at your courts?

The wins, the drama, or the moments that stick with you—we’d love to hear it.

If people are talking about it, it’s probably worth sharing.