The Champions Table podcast artwork

PODCAST · news

The Champions Table

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.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Jun 1, 2026 · Source feed

  1. 2

    From Underdogs to Contenders: How Columbus and Detroit Aim for the Top

    Jeff and Shay discuss the #15 and #14 teams in the Major League Pickleball Champions Series pre-season power rankings. Special guest Toki Yamasato adds some Latin flavor to the podcast as she talks about her dangerous Detroit Disruptors team.

  2. 1

    Interview with MLP Palm Beach Royals co-owner Zach Hunter

    The conversation covers a range of topics related to professional pickleball, including player feedback, team rankings, ball selection, and the acquisition of pickleball teams. It also delves into the introduction of Zach Hunter and his involvement in Major League Pickleball, as well as the acquisition of the Boca Surge and the NPL alliance. The discussion provides insights into the dynamics of professional pickleball and the strategic decisions made by team owners. The conversation delves into the future of the MLP Champion Series, the attraction of top players, the engagement of local talent and community, and the scalability challenges in Europe and South America. It provides insights into the growth and development of the sport, as well as the strategic considerations for expanding the MLP Champion Series globally.TakeawaysProfessional Pickleball PlayersMajor League PickleballTeam RankingsPickleball Ball Selection MLP Champion Series attracting top playersLocal talent and community engagementScalability challenges in Europe and South AmericaChapters00:00 Introduction and Player Feedback05:43 Lifetime Ball Selection and Chicago Event17:09 Introduction of Zach Hunter and Palm Beach Royals27:03 Zach Hunter's Involvement in Major League Pickleball32:56 The Future of MLP Champion Series59:28 Scalability Challenges in Europe and South America

  3. 0

    Preview of 2026 MLP Champions Season

    The conversation covers the rebranding of the league to Major League Pickleball Champion Series, the introduction of new and returning players, and the impact of player transfers on the league dynamics. It also discusses the league expansion, season start, and the merger of teams within the league. The conversation covers the significant player movements and team lineup changes in the Major League Pickleball league. It explores the impact of player transfers, surprises in team changes, and the formation of new teams. The proposed pod ranking system and its impact on player lineups are also discussed, along with the expectations for various teams in the upcoming season.TakeawaysRebranding to Major League Pickleball Champion SeriesNew and returning players in the league Key player movementsNew team lineupsChapters00:00 Introduction and League Rebranding05:03 Top Players and Season Preview10:00 New Additions to the League14:57 Player Roster Changes19:58 League Merger and Team Dynamics25:11 Player Lineup Changes30:43 Las Vegas Headliners Team Formation36:52 Team Expectations

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

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.

HOSTED BY

Shay Coker & Jeff McKnight

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Champions Table have?

The Champions Table currently has 3 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Champions Table about?

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...

How often does The Champions Table release new episodes?

The Champions Table has 3 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Champions Table?

You can listen to The Champions Table on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Champions Table?

The Champions Table is created and hosted by Shay Coker & Jeff McKnight.
URL copied to clipboard!