Welcome to The Champions Table — the unofficial insider podcast of the MLP Champions Series, the world's premier 50+ professional pickleball league.
We're Shay Coker, Senior Pro and OKC Punishers player, and Jeff McKnight, Owner, GM, and player for the Columbus Hotshots. We're not the official voice of the league. We're better. We're on the courts, at the events, and at the table with the players, owners, and personalities that make this sport extraordinary.
The MLP Champions Series attracts the best 50+ pickleball players in the world — elite competitors who bring a lifetime of athleticism, grit, and passion to every match. Every week we break down the teams, the rivalries, the stories, and the people behind the fastest growing sport in the world — no filter, no PR spin, just real talk from two guys who live it.
New episodes weekly. Subscribe and pull up a chair.
Palm Beach Pete Called Out! + Austin Ignite’s AI-Powered Playoff Surge with Danielle Rios - Ep 22
Palm Beach Pete got it completely wrong, and Houston Hammers' Linda Sheldon has a message to set the record straight!
Later in the show, we’re joined by Danielle Rios from the Austin Ignite. She shares unofficial MLP Champions Series stats, how her tech background fueled an AI revolution for her team, and why everyone is sleeping on the Austin Ignite as they charge into the playoffs from a projected 16th place.
Like, comment, and subscribe for more MLP Champions Series breakdowns!
#Pickleball #DanielleRios #LindaSheldon #PalmBeachPete #AustinIgnite #HoustonHammers
#MLPChampionsSeriesPickleball #MLP
7 Oct 2026
Why Major League Pickleball Is "Unserious" (And How To Fix It) | w/ Nick Nicastro - Ep 21
Welcome to Episode 21 of The Champions Table Podcast!
In this episode, Shay Coker and Jeff McKnight sit down with Columbus Sliders superfan Nick Nicastro (known on X as @DonNiccolo) to dive into his viral open letter to Major League Pickleball (MLP). What started as a casual Twitter comment caught the attention of MLP general managers and top executives, sparking a huge conversation across the pickleball community.
We break down Nick’s key critiques and recommendations for the league, discuss the state of fan engagement, and explore what it takes for pro pickleball to become a true spectator power. Plus, Palm Beach Pete drops in for his undefeated "Pick of the Week" predictions for the MLP Champions Series in Columbus!
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Follow Shay Coker & Jeff McKnight as they compete in the Major League Pickleball Champions Series!
#Pickleball #MajorLeaguePickleball #MLP #TheChampionsTable #ColumbusSliders #PickleballPodcast #PPA #PalmBeachPete
2 Oct 2026
Joy Leising & Susannah Barr: Chasing the First Prime Title - Ep 20
Joy Leising and Susannah Barr of Seattle Tsunami Prime are chasing the first Prime title in MLP Champions Series history. Plus our picks for APP Columbus and PPA Las Vegas.
On this episode of The Champions Table, Shay Coker and Jeff McKnight sit down with Joy Leising and Susannah Barr, who play together on Seattle Tsunami Prime in the 40+ division of the MLP Champions Series. They talk about:
What sets this Seattle team apart
Joy's path from tennis to pickleball, which she's played since 2013
Susannah's time on the APP Tour, and playing in the new Prime division
What the 40+ Prime division means for the game
Susannah's story of the first time she saw Joy play
After the interview, Shay and Jeff talk about how the league recognizes individual players, then make their predictions for this weekend's APP Columbus and PPA Las Vegas tournaments in men's doubles, mixed, and women's doubles.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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