The third event of the 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season is just days away. Unlike most MLP weekends, this event is being held Friday-Monday, instead of Thursday-Sunday. With the Memorial Day holiday this weekend, MLP thought it fitting to move the schedule accordingly.
The MLP Austin event is the first stop in 2025 that involves Challenger Level teams. As a reminder, this year there are 16 Premier Level teams and 6 Challenger Level teams.
The Texas Ranchers are hosting the event. Former Ranchers owner, Tim Klitch, owns the Austin Pickle Ranch, and has built two brand new outdoor courts on the facility to host MLP Austin.
MLP Austin is a little unique in the scheduling of matches. There are five Premier Level teams attending, and they all play each other once. All six Challenger Level teams will be in attendance, and they also play each other once.
Here is a breakdown of teams involved, and number of matches played:
This means there are a total of 25 matches; 10 Premier Level, and 15 Challenger Level.
Weather Outlook
It’s going to be hot and humid! When I drilled down to the details of each day, the expected humidity is between 60% - 83%. This means the Vulcan ball is going to be playing slow. Additionally, even though it is one game to 11, side-out scoring, fitness levels may come into play in Austin.
Match Grid and How to Watch MLP Austin
ALL matches will be streamed on Pickleballtv.com and the Pickleballtv app. All times listed are LOCAL, so CST.
Key: Light Blue = Premier Level, Peach = Challenger Level, *Saturday Night pickleball, **Sunday Night pickleball
In addition to Pickleballtv, the following matches will be aired on the listed regional networks:
Friday, May 23
- TEX vs. ORL (4 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. ET) on FanDuel Sports Network Florida in FL
Saturday, May 24
- ORL vs. DAL (11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET) on KDFW FOX 4 in Dallas-Ft. Worth and FanDuel Sports Network Florida in FL
- NJ vs. MIA (2:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m. ET) on FanDuel Sports Network Florida in FL
Sunday, May 25
- ORL vs. NJ (11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET) on Tennis Channel
- MIA vs. DAL (1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET) on Tennis Channel and KFDI More 27 in Dallas-Ft. Worth
Monday, May 26
- ORL vs. MIA (11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET) on Tennis Channel
- TEX vs. NJ (1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET) on Tennis Channel
|
Team by Team Breakdown
Dallas Flash
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 4 matches played, 12 points, 3 PPM, 1st in PPM
# Austin Matches: 4
Opponents: ORL, TX, MIA, NJ
Projected Starters: Jorja Johnson, Hurricane Tyra Black, JW Johnson, Augie Ge
Bench: Tatiana Ruhl and Ivan Jakovljevic
The Flash are riding high from winning all of their points in MLP Orlando to start the 2025 MLP Season. They got a bye for Columbus, and Austin is where they will see the toughest competition so far.
This team just doesn’t look like it has a weakness - I think they win both gender doubles games at least 75% of the time, and then just need JW and Jorja to secure a mixed win, in order to ensure a regulation win. Anything on top of that is icing on the cake.
The Flash currently have the easiest Strength of Schedule (SOS), but after this weekend, that could change.
Predicted Points: 8 points out of a max of 12. The Flash win two in regulation and lose to TX and NJ in a Dreambreaker.
Orlando Squeeze
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 11 matches played, 25 points, 2.27 PPM, 3rd in PPM
# Austin Matches: 4
Opponents: TX, DAL, NJ, MIA
Projected Starters: Lacy Schneemann, Samantha Parker, Federico Staksrud, Dylan Frazier
Bench: Alli Phillips and Tom Evans
Orlando is in third place in terms of PPM, but has had the second-easiest SOS, along with Miami. I don’t think they can keep up this 2+PPM in Austin with the tough teams playing. Teams will continue to target Samantha Parker, who has held up extremely well thus far this year. She is my early pick for women’s newcomer of the year in MLP.
Dylan and Fed have been playing great, along with Fed and Lacy. Let’s see if they can keep it up in their third event in a row.
Predicted Points: 3 points out of 12. The Squeeze beat Miami, but lose in regulation to Dallas and NJ, and Texas.
Texas Ranchers
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 4 matches played, 9 points, 2.25 PPM, 4th in PPM
# Austin Matches: 4
Opponents: ORL, DAL, MIA, NJ
Projected Starters: Etta Tuionetoa, Tina Pisnik, Christian Alshon, Eric Oncins
Bench: Helena Jansen and Michael Loyd
The Ranchers are in the same boat as the Flash. They played four matches in Orlando and then had a bye for Columbus. The Ranchers, though, faced much stiffer competition in Orlando than the Flash did.
This team seems to be playing some of the best ball of any players both in MLP and on the PPA Tour. They are very good in both gender doubles, and they have a 1a/1b team in mixed doubles. There are very few weaknesses.
Predicted Points: 9 points out of a possible 12. The Ranchers beat Dallas in a Dreambreaker, and they lose to NJ in a Dreambreaker.
New Jersey 5s
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 6 matches played, 13 points, 2.17 PPM, 5th in PPM
# Austin Matches: 4
Opponents: MIA, ORL, DAL, TX
Projected Starters: Anna Leigh Waters, Meghan Dizon, Zane Navratil, Will Howells
Bench: Christa Gecheva and Craig Johnson
The 5s are still built for Dreambreakers. Their only loss came in regulation, against the Shock, who isn't playing in Austin. They think they are in the top tier of teams along with the Shock and the Flash. We shall see if that's true after this weekend.
Dizon looked more confident throughout the Orlando event, and Navratil and Howells still need to work out the kinks of not playing together competitively in nearly six months.
Predicted Points: 10 points out of a max of 12. The 5s only drop two points in Austin.
Miami Pickleball Club
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 11 matches played, 16 points, 1.45 PPM, 8th in PPM
# Austin Matches: 4
Opponents: NJ, DAL, TX, ORL
Projected Starters: Milan Rane, Mya Bui, Noe Khlif, and Jay Devilliers
Bench: Ava Ignatowich and Yuta Funemizu
Miami played amazing in Orlando, earning 2 PPM and moving their way up to 8th in the standings. The competition is fierce in Austin and I think Miami comes back down to Earth. The X Factor for Miami will be Mya Bui - can she hold up under pressure in both women’s doubles and mixed?
Jay and Noe are playing great and Milly can get a little hot and cold. I don’t think Miami does much in Austin.
Predicted Points: 0 points out of a max of 12. I don’t think Miami gets any points in Austin. Their best chance comes during their last match against Orlando. A poor showing in Austin shouldn't discourage Miami - they will face some easier competition in the months to come.
Challenger Level Teams
Listed in alphabetical order
Bay Area Breakers
# Austin Matches: 5
Opponents: LV, FL, CBB, D.C., NAS
Roster: Alix Truong, Danna Funaro, DJ Young, and Eric Roddy
This is a very new team and none of these players have played together, so I assume there is a learning curve here. They were able to play an exhibition match against the Atlanta Bouncers, so maybe the Breakers are more ready than I give them credit for.
Predicted Points: 7 points out of a max of 15.
California Black Bears
# Austin Matches: 5
Opponents: FL, LV, NAS, BAB, D.C.
Roster: Lina Padigemaite, Layne Sleeth, Rafa Hewett, and Juan Benitez
California kept Rafa and traded for Layne and Lina, who were on Broolyn (now D.C.) last year together. Benitez is the X Factor - can he hold up?
Predicted Points: 8 points out of a max of 15.
D.C. Pickleball Team
# Austin Matches: 5
Opponents: FL, NAS, BAB, CBB, LV
Roster: Andrea Koop, Mari Humberg, Daniel De La Rosa, Stefan Auvergne
D.C. (formerly Brooklyn Aces) traded for Koop in the middle of last season, and then traded for Humberg in the off season. They picked up Auvergne in the draft. This has the potential to be one of the best teams in Challenger Level this year.
Predicted Points: 10 points out of a max of 15.
Florida Smash
# Austin Matches: 5
Opponents: CBB, D.C., BAB, LV, NAS
Roster: Martina Frantova, Sarah Ansboury, Travis Rettenmaier, Cason Campbell
Martina and Travis are back from last year. Florida picked up Campbell and Ansboury in the 2025 free agency draft. I don’t think this team is going to win many women’s matches, and it will be interesting to see who they partner with in mixed. I think this is definitely the weak link of the Challenger Level, but we shall see.
Predicted Points: 4 points out of a max of 15.
Las Vegas Night Owls
# Austin Matches: 5
Opponents: NAS, CBB, BAB, FL, D.C.
Roster: Brooke Buckner, Zoey Wang, Pablo Tellez, James Delgado
The Night Owls look to be the class of the Challenger Level. I think it just depends on how engaged all four players are throughout the season, whether they earn a Challenger Level title. Delgado is a name everyone will start recognizing, as he is quite good, but lesser known than the other players on the team. The other three players may be highly engaged, hoping to catch the eye of a Premier Level team for a possible mid-season trade.
Predicted Points: 11 points out of a max of 15.
Nashville Chefs
# Austin Matches: 5
Opponents: LV, CBB, D.C., BAB, FL
Roster: Ewa Radzkikowska, Michelle Esquivel, Anderson Scarpa, Marshall Brown
The Chefs are the biggest question mark for me right now. Ewa has been an MVP of the Challenger Level multiple times in her career. With the talent level of other women’s teams, I am unsure how many wins this team can get. I haven’t seen Marshall Brown play in a while, but Scarpa is coming off a triple crown in the New England PPA Challenger Series, so he is playing with confidence.
If this team scores 4 points or if they score 9 points in their five matches, I would not be totally surprised.
Predicted Points: 5 points out of a max of 15.
