TEAM PROFILE · MLP

New Jersey 5s

2026 season-long Major League Pickleball champions

After consecutive runner-up finishes, the New Jersey 5s defeated the St. Louis Shock in New York City to win the franchise’s first season-long MLP championship.

September 5, 2026Evidence-backed revision

SEASON RESULT01MLP TITLEFIRST SEASON-LONG CHAMPIONSHIP

No team logo or roster image approved

LeagueMajor League Pickleball

Audited rosterSix players · September 3, 2026

Season result2026 MLP champion

Finals opponentSt. Louis Shock

Finals MVPFederico Staksrud

Observed September 5, 2026

2026 New Jersey 5s championship roster

The New Jersey 5s roster featured Anna Leigh Waters, Federico Staksrud, Jorja Johnson, Will Howells, Noé Khlif and Milan Rane during the team’s 2026 MLP championship run.

Anna Leigh Waters

Keeper

Entering 2026

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Federico Staksrud

Trade

July 20, 2026

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Jorja Johnson

Draft pick No. 2

February 27, 2026

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Will Howells

Keeper

Entering 2026

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Noé Khlif

Keeper

Entering 2026

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Milan Rane

Trade

July 20, 2026

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This six-player lineup is documented after the 2026 MLP Finals. The February draft and July trade history below preserve how the championship roster came together.

Roster construction

How this team came together

2026 · FEB 27

Post-draft roster

Waters, Khlif and Howells were kept. New Jersey selected Johnson at No. 2, Martin Emmrich at No. 58 and Lina Padegimaite at No. 64.

2026 · JUL 20

Trade with Orlando

New Jersey received Federico Staksrud and Milan Rane. Orlando received Martin Emmrich, Lina Padegimaite and cash.

2026 MLP Finals

Third time’s the charm

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES2–0NEW JERSEY OVER ST. LOUIS

New Jersey won the opening match through a 22–20 DreamBreaker. The second match again reached a DreamBreaker, where the 5s won 21–9 to secure the franchise’s first season-long title.

Federico Staksrud was named the inaugural MLP Finals MVP after a reported 4–2 doubles record for the weekend.

Ownership and management

The people behind the 5s

Gary Vaynerchuk

Co-owner

Ryan Harwood

Co-owner · General manager

Raquel Joseph

Co-owner

Leigh Waters

Coach

Blake Padua

Assistant general manager

WHY “THE 5S”?

Gary Vaynerchuk explained that five was the first jersey number he wore after coming to the United States and remained his favorite number. The 2022 identity also used Competitive Clown from VeeFriends Series 2.

Full-match footage