Bay Area Breakers launch junior program with U16 and U18 teams in Jr. MLP
The Bay Area Breakers are taking the tide to the next generation. The franchise has officially entered Junior Major League Pickleball (Jr. MLP) for the 2026 season, fielding both a DUPR 16U and a DUPR 18U team and putting some of Northern California's most promising young talent on the national stage.
Jr. MLP brings the same team-style format that defines the pro tour to youth athletes across the country. Designed for competitive junior players, the league gives athletes the chance to team up, compete for the title of best in the league, and experience the fast-paced energy of MLP. Teams compete using the same MLPlay format as the pros: four games per match split between boys' and girls' doubles and mixed doubles, with a singles DreamBreaker tiebreaker when a match is tied.
The roster
DUPR 18U division
- Luis Fernandez
- Drew Engle
- Phi Trinh
- Mihika Gajendragadkar
DUPR 16U division
- Aarin Thyagarajan
- Derek Chiu
- Benton Denman
- Emmaline Neville
The coach
The Breakers' junior squads will be led by Arjun Thyagarajan, a semi-pro player and father of U16 player Aarin Thyagarajan. He brings competitive playing experience and a deep commitment to developing the next wave of Bay Area talent.
The season ahead
Jr. MLP will host five events from June to August 2026, played at MLP event venues:
- June 12–13Austin, TX · Austin Pickle Ranch
- June 26–27New York, NY · Sportime Randall's Island
- July 17–18San Diego, CA · Barnes Tennis Center
- August 7–8Dallas, TX · Pickler Universe – DFW
- August 14–15Newport Beach, CA · Tennis and Pickleball Club
All DUPR 18 and DUPR 16 teams qualify for playoffs, with seeding based on regular season standings and a double-elimination bracket.
For the Breakers, the junior program is more than an expansion. It's an investment in the future of the sport in the Bay Area, giving young athletes a path from the local courts to a national competitive platform under a banner they already know.