Houston Hammers Join MLP as 21st Team in 2027

Led by new owner Hugh Zhang, the former Nashville Chefs franchise returns to MLP with plans to host a league event in Houston next season.

Major League Pickleball is expanding to 21 teams for the 2027 season, announcing Wednesday that the Houston Hammers will join the league under a new ownership group led by Hugh Zhang.

The move brings professional team pickleball back to one of the sport's largest markets while reviving a franchise with roots dating to MLP's inaugural season in 2021.

The Hammers were most recently known as the Nashville Chefs, a franchise that has undergone several identity changes since debuting as Team Clean in 2021.

The team's winding history includes stops as Clean Cause (2022), Frisco Clean Cause (2023), Frisco Pandas (2024) and Nashville Chefs (2025). The franchise sat out the 2026 season.

Now, under Zhang's leadership, the Hammers are looking to establish a more permanent identity in Houston.

"Houston is one of the top pickleball markets in the country, and we are thrilled to bring Major League Pickleball to our city," Zhang said in the announcement.

"Our vision is to build a first-class sports brand that delivers an exceptional fan experience, develops local talent, and creates a lasting legacy in Houston sports."

More Than Just an MLP Team

The new ownership group has plans that extend beyond the professional roster.

The Hammers intend to host an MLP event in the Houston market in 2027, maintain their CSP Champion senior team and field a Jr. Hammers squad in Jr. MLP.

The goal is to build a unified pickleball brand spanning professional, junior, senior and minor league competition.

The announcement also comes on the heels of a record-setting 2026 season for MLP.

According to the league, on-site attendance increased 69% year over year, ticket revenue climbed 87% and minutes watched on Pickleballtv rose 32%. Social media impressions and interactions also grew 61% and 106%, respectively.

MLP also reported new broadcast and cable viewership records, including 733,000 viewers for its championship finals on CBS.

What's Next for the Hammers?

Several important details remain unresolved, including how Houston will acquire its roster for 2027.

MLP says additional information on player acquisition, keeper deadlines, the upcoming draft and the full 2027 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

For now, the Hammers' return gives MLP its 21st franchise and Houston another major presence in professional pickleball.

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