151 Days since the Dallas Flash took home the 2024 Major League Pickleball (MLP) Championship trophy, the 2025 MLP season is about to kick off in Orlando, Florida. The second full season of MLP action is nearly underway at the USTA National Campus for MLP Orlando.
Top 5 Quick Facts and Reminders
There are now 16 teams in Premier Level and six teams in the Challenger Level
The 12 teams that were Premier Level last year are staying Premier Level and the four Challenger Level teams that made the semifinals in the playoffs got promoted from Challenger to Premier. Those teams are:
- Atlanta Bouncers
- Chicago Slice
- Miami Pickleball Club
- SoCal Hard Eights
The top 10 teams in the regular season rankings make the playoffs. There is a single game elimination for the 7-10 seeds to earn a spot in the quarterfinals, or “Round 2”. The 7 seed gets to pick who they play - either the 9 or 10 seed, so that spot is important.
All 16 Premier Level teams will be playing in the MLP Orlando event, which is one of two times this occurs. The other time will be in July at the Mid-Season Tournament.
Scoring Rules have Changed
MLP has had many iterations of scoring rules throughout its history. All of it has been a version of rally scoring - up until now.
2025 is the first year when side out scoring is introduced into MLP. Each match has four games - two gender doubles games and two mixed doubles games. If the match is tied 2-2 after those four games, it goes to the Dreambreaker.
Each game is one game of side out scoring to 11, win by two. This is a very different product than has ever been seen before in MLP, and it will debut in Orlando.
The Premier Level teams have six players on their roster for 2025
This is another massive personnel change for the 2025 season. Previously, rosters were just two women and two men. However, this caused issues with availability, injuries, and sickness, etc.
The rosters have been expanded to include three women and three men. Teams have the ability to chose their lineup of four starters the night before matches.
For example, by Wednesday night, all teams playing on Thursday must submit their four starters for the next day. This means there are no singles specialists for Dreambreakers, or mixed doubles specialists, etc. Not yet, anyway. This is something MLP has said they would like to add for the future.
Teams had to drop at least one player and then a draft occurred to fill out the roster spots
On February 18th, MLP announced all keepers and drops. Each team had to drop at least one player from their roster prior to the 2025 draft:
Erik Tice
Speaking of the draft - all UPA signed players who were not on MLP rosters were eligible to be drafted. The draft took place on Sunday, March 2nd, and all 96 Premier Level roster spots were filled.
Erik Tice
In terms of rosters, Trade Window #2 opened the day after the Challenger and will be open until the trade deadline, which is Monday, July 14th, at 10pm.
For a full list of Trade Window #2 transactions, bookmark the following page. The Dink will be updating this throughout the season.
Erik Tice
MLP Players can now be stolen
This rule has had a few different versions, but the latest one is here:
Erik Tice
Essentially, there will be two periods where Premier Level teams can “steal” other Premier Level players. Before this happens, each team needs to designate their top four players as keepers. The other two players are eligible to be stolen. However, in order to steal a player, you must also drop one of your top four players.
We will see how much this actually happens at the first waiver period in early May, right after the MLP Columbus event.
Now that we handled the rules, let’s get into MLP Orlando action.
Broadcast Schedule
Key
* Saturday Night Pickleball (both teams will wear “special edition” jerseys)
** Sunday Night Pickleball (both teams will wear “special edition” jerseys)
All matches will be available on Pickleballtv and the Pickleballtv App, in addition to:
- Sat, Apr 26: CAR vs. DAL (12 p.m.) on Palmetto Network in CAR… NJ vs. ATL (2 p.m.) on Peachtree TV in ATL
- Sat, Apr 26: A tape delayed match to air on FS1, beginning at 11:30 p.m.
- Sun, Apr 27: D.C. vs. STL (11 a.m.) on Matrix Midwest in STL
- Sun, Apr 27: A tape delayed match to air on FS1, beginning at 10 p.m.
Number of Matches per Team
Team by Team Preview
This is in order of number of matches
Columbus Sliders
# Matches: 6
Projected Starters: Parris Todd, Lea Jansen, CJ Klinger, Andrei Daescu
Bench: Marcela Hones and Roscoe Bellamy
Opponents: NJ, Dallas, Carolina, Texas, Utah, Miami
The Sliders HAVE TO get off to a hot start in Miami, as they play back to back events in Miami and Columbus. They have six matches in each event, so after two weeks, their season will be 48% over.
I think there is enough veteran presence, knowledge, and leadership on this team to weather the storm. I think a Dreambreaker upset win over Dallas, accompanied by a win over Carolina, Utah and Miami, starts the Sliders off well.
Predicted Points: 11 points from 6 matches, for a 1.83 PPM (Points Per Match)
New Jersey 5s
# Matches: 6
Projected Starters: Anna Leigh Waters, Meghan Dizon, Zane Navratil, Will Howells
Bench: Christa Gecheva and Craig Johnson
Opponents: Columbus, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Phoenix, LA, and St. Louis
The 5s also have 6 matches in Miami and have some tough opponents. The biggest question mark on the team is Dizon - every pundit is asking the same question - can she live up to the pressure? She is going to see 80% of the balls in both gender and mixed doubles. I think the 5s get off to a super hot start and win most of their matches.
Predicted Points: The clowns only drop a total of three points all weekend, earning 15 points from their 18 possible, for 2.5 PPM.
Brooklyn Pickleball Team
# Matches: 5
Projected Starters: Rachel Rohrabacher, Jackie Kawamoto, Dekel Bar, and Riley Newman
Bench: Hannah Blatt and Pat Smith
Opponents: Texas, NJ, Miami, Orlando, and St. Louis
This is an extremely tough strength of schedule to start the year off. I have three of the Brooklyn opponents finishing the year in the top 5, and Miami and Orlando could be sneaky good.
The question is: does Riley Newman still have it? Although he hasn’t medaled a ton recently, Newman is playing well. Is he the Riley Newman of 2023 or the Riley Newman of 2024? Brooklyn is hoping it is 2024.
Predicted Points: The Brooklyn Pickleball Team gets off to a mediocre start in Orlando, earning 9 points out of a possible 15, for 1.6PMM.
Miami Pickleball Club
# Matches: 5
Projected Starters: Milan Rane, Mya Bui, Noe Khlif, and Jay Devilliers
Bench: Ava Ignatowich and Yuta Funemizu
Opponents: SoCal, Utah, Brooklyn, LA, and Columbus
This is the first real test for Mya Bui. I think this team has an extreme amount of upside to it with the potential of Bui and Khlif. Devilliers has been playing great lately and Rane is super solid.
I am looking forward to the Utah matchup the most, because I have them ranked similarly, and I want to see who can gain the edge early in MLP Orlando.
Predicted Points: The Miami Pickleball Club has a rough start to the season, only earning six points out of a possible 15, for 1.2 PPM.
Orlando Squeeze
# Matches: 5
Projected Starters: Lacy Schneemann, Samantha Parker, Federico Staksrud, Dylan Frazier
Bench: Alli Phillips and Tom Evans
Opponents: Phoenix, SoCal, Utah, Brooklyn, and LA
The host team is not only hoping to do well in the standings, but put on a great show for the fans and set the bar extremely high for these new team hosted events.
I have this team ranked above all five of their opponents in my power rankings headed into the season, except LA. Orlando will be favored in the four other matchups, and LA will be considered a coin flip.
Predicted Points: Orlando has a good outing at their home event, earning 11 points out of a possible 15, for 2.2PPM.
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Dallas Flash
# Matches: 4
Projected Starters: Jorja Johnson, Hurricane Tyra Black, JW Johnson, Augie Ge
Bench: Tatiana Ruhl and Wyatt Stone
Opponents: Columbus, NY, Carolina, Chicago
The finals champions start their year off against a tough opponent in Columbus, but it gets easier from there. I expect them to pick up where they left off 2024 - winning.
Augie Ge needs to find the 2024 playoff form in order for that to happen. If he can’t, they may falter a bit.
Predicted Points: Dallas earns 9 points from their possible 12, for 2.25PPM.
Texas Ranchers
# Matches: 4
Projected Starters: Etta Tuionetoa, Tina Pisnik, Christian Alshon, and Eric Oncins
Bench: Helena Jansen and Michael Loyd
Opponents: Brooklyn, Atlanta, Columbus, and Chicago
Texas has a lot of star power and some untapped potential in Eric Oncins. The question becomes, how quickly can they gel? Will it take a long time to get going, or can Oncins step in seamlessly on the left?
Predicted Points: Texas gets into some Dreambreakers and pulls off 10 points out of the possible 12, for 2.5PPM.
Atlanta Bouncers
# Matches: 3
Projected Starters: Vivian Glozman, Victoria DiMuzio, Jaume Martinez Vich, and Todd Fought
Bench: Rachel Rettger and Sam Querrey
Opponents: NY, Texas, and NJ
The matches for Atlanta get increasingly more difficult, so they are hoping to find points early. We will see how newcomer DiMuzio fares in her first ever MLP event. I like that Atlanta starts off with only three matches in Orlando to kind of ease them into the season. Along with Miami, Atlanta has the best chance of jumping into the top 10 of the teams I have ranked in the teens.
Predicted Points: Atlanta gets a win over NY early, but doesn't earn any more points, earning 3 points out of a possible 9, for 1PPM.
LA Mad Drops
# Matches: 3
Projected Starters: Catherine Parenteau, Jade Kawamoto, Quang Duong, Hunter Thomas
Bench: Angie Walker and Wes Burrows
Opponents: Miami, Orlando, and NJ
The Mad Drops schedule gets progressively more difficult throughout the weekend, which I think favors them. With QD joining the team, it might take a little bit to get used to each other in pressure moments. I am wondering what the mixed doubles pairings will end up being, or if they are going to mix it up (pun intended)
Predicted Points: LA gets some points of Miami and loses in a Dreambreaker to Orlando. They earn 4 points out of a possible 9, for 1.33PPM
Utah Black Diamonds
# Matches: 3
Projected Starters: Allyce Jones, Mehvish Safdar, Connor Garnett, and Tyler Loong
Bench: Genie Erokhina and Yates Johnson
Opponents: Miami, Orlando, and Columbus
Utah has one key question - can Mehvish Safdar win any games in her six attempts in Orlando. If they can find a way for her to win a couple, they will be fine. Garnett and Loong are going to be above average together in men’s, but really need a win in mixed to get to a Dreambreaker.
Predicted Points: Utah earns 1 point in their 3 matches this weekend, for 0.33PPM
Carolina Hogs
# Matches: 2
Projected Starters: Kaitlyn Christian, Tammy Emmrich, Ben Johns, and Collin Johns
Bench: Liz Truluck and Brandon French
Opponents: Columbus and Dallas
I love that Carolina gets to ease into the 2025 year with only two matches. However, their opponents are tough. I have both Columbus and Dallas in my top 5 in terms of power rankings. I don’t really care what the outcome of the matches is, I want to see effort level from the Johns brothers.
Predicted Points: Utah earns 1 point in their 2 matches this weekend, for 0.5PPM
Chicago Slice
# Matches: 2
Projected Starters: Callie Smith, Vivienne David, James Ignatowich, and Max Freeman
Bench: Pierina Imparato
Opponents: Dallas and Texas
As I just said for Carolina, I love that Chicago gets to ease into the 2025 year with only two matches. However, their opponents are tough. I have both Texas and Dallas in my top 5 in terms of power rankings.
The question mark to me is the men - which version of Ignatowich are we going to see, and how does Freeman handle the pressure of his first MLP event?
Predicted Points: I have Chicago earning 0 points in the first event, but should be very little cause for concern, considering their two opponents.
New York Hustlers
# Matches: 2
Projected Starters: Domi Schaefer, Helena Spiridis, Zane Ford, and Donald Young
Bench: Lingwei Kong and Stephen Madonia
Opponents: Atlanta and Dallas
I just don’t see how this team is going to put together a win. It almost has to be a Dreambreaker, but even getting to a Dreambreaker is going to be tough. I think New York will be underdogs in all eight of the games they play this weekend and I only see them winning one game in those two matches.
Predicted Points: New York doesn’t earn a point in Orlando.
Phoenix Flames
# Matches: 2
Projected Starters: Jessie Irvine, Genie Bouchard, Tyson McGuffin, and Jack Sock
Bench: Alex Walker and Pesa Teoni
Opponents: Orlando and NJ
This team could earn a point or two off of Orlando, but I don’t think they have a chance against New Jersey. They traveled to Vietnam as a team for a whole week last week, so hopefully they built some team chemistry.
Predicted Points: Phoenix earns 1 point from their 2 matches, for 0.5PPM
SoCal Hard 8s
# Matches: 2
Projected Starters: Judit Castillo, Irina Tereschenko, Ryan Fu, and Blaine Hovenier
Bench: Lauren Hidalgo Smith and Ivan Jakovljevic
Opponents: Miami and Orlando
SoCal is going to have a hard time finding wins all year, but especially in Orlando. I have Hovenier starting, even though he was drafted as a “sub” because the matchups just make more sense. I still have no idea who is playing the left in women’s doubles. This is not going to be a great weekend for SoCal.
Predicted Points: New York doesn’t earn a point in Orlando.
St. Louis Shock
# Matches: 2
Projected Starters: Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio
Bench: Felicity Di Laura and Erik Lange
Opponents: Brooklyn and New Jersey
The Shock are running it back again in 2024 and who could blame them? The most intriguing thing for me is the mixed doubles pairings. Will they stick with AB/Hayden and Kate/Gabe? Or will they switch it up depending on matchup.
Predicted Points: The Shock earn 4 points from their trip to Orlando, for 2PPM.
Receipts of my Predictions for any teams I slighted
Here are the aggregated predictions for each team going into Orlando.
