The third weekend of back-to-back-to-back weekends of Major League Pickleball (MLP) is here.
Pictona at Holly Hill, in Daytona Beach, Florida, is hosting MLP Daytona Beach. This is the fifth stop for the 2025 MLP season, and after MLP Daytona Beach is concluded, more than half the Premier Level matches will have taken place. The event will take place from Thursday, June 5, through Sunday, June 8.
This event was originally scheduled for Salt Lake City, but was moved to Daytona because St. Petersburg wasn't going to be ready in time for its event. The Salt Lake City event is taking place later in the summer.
Recaps of the Previous MLP Events
If you missed any of the action, or want to get caught up on all the happenings in MLP, check out the most recent recaps of all the 2025 events:
Weather Outlook for MLP Daytona Beach
The afternoon thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday are cause for most concern. I am unsure what the alternate plans are, should the rain become an issue. With temps in the high 80s and low 90s, plus the 80%+ humidity levels, the ball will be moving slow and fitness will be a factor.
Number of Matches
There are nine teams competing in MLP Daytona Beach, all of which are Premier Level. There will be a total of 26 matches played. Here is the number of matches each team plays:
Overall Standings Prior to MLP Daytona Beach
How to Watch MLP Daytona Beach
All matches are available on Pickleballtv and the Pickleballtv App, in addition to:
Sunday, June 8 on MSG Networks in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT):
- TEX vs. STL (11 a.m. ET)
- CAR vs. SoCal (12:45 p.m. ET)
- CHI vs. UTA (2:30 p.m. ET)
- CAR vs. NJ (4:15 p.m. ET)
Team by Team Analysis and Predictions
A snapshot of how I think the weekend will go for each team:
St. Louis Shock
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 8 matches played, 23 points, 2.88 PPM, 1st in PPM
# Matches: 6
Projected Starters: Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Hayden Patriquin, and Gabe Tardio
Bench: Felicity Di Laura and Erik Lange
Opponents: LA, Utah, Carolina, Chicago, SoCal, Texas
The Shock are looking to bring their unbeaten streak into Daytona Beach and come away with six more wins. It will be interesting to see where St. Louis lands after Daytona, as they will have played 14 matches, which is the same as the Dallas Flash.
The toughest tests for St. Louis this weekend will be LA and Texas. I don’t see the other four teams having a realistic chance at beating the Shock. The Shock have to earn all 18 points from Daytona, otherwise they will either be tied with the Flash for first (17 out of 18 points) or drop to second (16 or below out of 18 points).
Predicted Points: I am saying LA brings St. Louis to a Dreambreaker and gives the Shock their first loss of the year, and Texas also gets it to a Dreambreaker, but loses. Shock earn 15 out of 18 points, putting them in second place overall.
New Jersey 5s
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 10 matches played, 23 points, 2.3 PPM, 3rd in PPM
# Matches: 5
Projected Starters: Anna Leigh Waters, Meghan Dizon, Zane Navratil, Will Howells
Bench: Christa Gecheva and Craig Johnson
Opponents: Utah, SoCal, Chicago, New York, Carolina
The 5s have a much easier schedule than St. Louis, and will be favored in all five of their matchups. The toughest test will probably be Carolina, if Ben and Collin are still motivated to play on Sunday.
With Will and Zane finding their groove together in Austin, going 4-0 in men’s vs very good teams, their opponents should be worried. I don’t see any of the women’s teams pushing Dizon and ALW, so I think women go undefeated, ALW and Will go undefeated, and the team cruises in Daytona.
Predicted Points: The 5s earn all 15 points they can from MLP Daytona Beach
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Texas Ranchers
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 8 matches played, 16 points, 2.00 PPM, 5th in PPM
# Matches: 6
Projected Starters: Etta Tuionetoa, Tina Pisnik, Christian Alshon, and Eric Oncins
Bench: Helena Jansen and Michael Loyd
Opponents: Carolina, Utah, New York, LA, St. Louis, SoCal
The two toughest opponents for Texas will be LA and St. Louis. If they can earn at least three points from those two matches, Texas will consider it a win. They will be favored against their other four matchups, and should do well.
Since Christian Alshon has some sort of kryptonite with beating Ben Johns, I am saying Carolina takes Texas to a Dreambreaker, but the Ranchers prevail.
Predicted Points: 13 points out of a possible 18, keeping them in 5th place, just behind Brooklyn.
LA Mad Drops
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 9 matches played, 15 points, 1.67 PPM, 8th in PPM
# Matches: 5
Projected Starters: Catherine Parenteau, Jade Kawamoto, Quang Duong, Hunter Johnson
Bench: Danna Funaro and Wes Burrows
Opponents: St. Louis, Carolina, Texas, New York, Chicago
Bold prediction: The Mad Drops issue the Shock their first loss of the season in a Dreambreaker.
LA is looking to beat Carolina, New York, and Chicago, all in regulation. They are a very dangerous Dreambreaker team, and could be anyone on any given day. It will be fun to see the Mad Drops with their full roster for a full event.
Predicted Points: 10 points from a possible 15, keeping them firmly in 8th place.
Utah Black Diamonds
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 9 matches played, 10 points, 1.11 PPM, 9th in PPM
# Matches: 6
Projected Starters: Allyce Jones, Genie Erokhina, Connor Garnett, and Tyler Loong
Bench: Mehvish Safdar and Yates Johnson
Opponents: New York, New Jersey, St. Louis, Texas, Carolina, Chicago
The Black Diamonds had a very good MLP Phoenix event, beating lesser competition. However, I think Daytona Beach brings them back down to reality a little bit. They should beat New York, but will be underdogs in the remainder of their matches. I think they will want to find points off Carolina and Chicago to stay in the playoff hunt.
However, that gauntlet of New Jersey, St. Louis, and then Texas is just brutal.
Predicted Points: Four points out of a possible 18, dropping them back out of playoff contention, in 12th place.
Chicago Slice
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 8 matches played, 8 points, 1.00 PPM, 11th in PPM
# Matches: 6
Projected Starters: Callie Smith, Vivienne David Vivian Glozman, James Ignatowich, and Max Freeman
Bench: Pierina Imparato and Carlos Di Laura
Opponents: New York, SoCal, St. Louis, New Jersey, LA, Utah
It was announced on Tuesday afternoon that the Slice traded Vivienne David to the Atlanta Bouncers for Vivian Glozman.
🚨Viv for Viv Trade Alert🚨
— Erik Tice (@azetice) June 3, 2025
The @chicagoslicemlp have acquired Vivian Glozman from the @AtlantaBouncers in exchange for Vivienne David. This was a straight up trade - no cash involved.
I think both teams win in this one. Atlanta needed to make a move (or two) after MLP Phoenix.… pic.twitter.com/MGuUlABzM2
A lot of this has to do with how well Glozman and Callie gel and how quickly. James played mixed last year with Viv G for D.C., so I think they will pick up that chemistry quickly again. In my mind, the Chicago women should beat NY, SoCal, and Utah women. The men need to go at least 3-3, and then hope that mixed doubles goes well. This could be a make-or-break event for the Slice, who seem on the precipice of either moving up into playoff contention or falling further out of the picture.
The other puzzle piece to this equation: Ignatowich is known for having health issues, including cramping. Is he going to be able to play 6 matches in 4 days and stay healthy in 90+ degrees with 80%+ humidity?
Predicted Points: Chicago earns 6 points from their possible 18 keeping them in 11th place and out of the playoff picture.
New York Hustlers
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 7 matches played, 5 points, 0.71 PPM, 13th in PPM
# Matches: 6
Projected Starters: Domi Schaefer, Helena Spiridis, Zane Ford, and Donald Young
Bench: Lingwei Kong and Stephen Madonia
Opponents: Utah, Chicago, SoCal, Texas, LA, New Jersey
The Hustlers will be underdogs in all of their matches, but the SoCal and Chicago matches are the best places for them to pick up points. Unfortunately, I don’t see a scenario where the Hustlers are able to beat any team in regulation. The women will not win a game, and then hoping for the guys to win and both mixed lines winning just seems unrealistic.
The Hustlers might bring either Chicago or SoCal to a Dreambreaker, but that’s it.
Predicted Points: NY earns one point on the weekend, essentially eliminating them from playoff contention.
SoCal Hard 8s
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 8 matches played, 5 points, 0.63 PPM, 15th in PPM
# Matches: 6
Projected Starters: Judit Castillo, Irina Tereschenko, Ryan Fu, and Blaine Hovenier
Bench: Jalina Ingram and Roscoe Bellamy
Opponents: New York, Chicago, New Jersey, St. Louis, Carolina, Texas
This is a brutal schedule for SoCal, playing the three best teams in this event. They are going to have to put those losses behind them, and just focus on three key matchups where they have a chance to win: New York, Chicago, and Carolina.
Blaine and Irina/Jalina will need to continue getting mixed doubles wins for them to have a chance.
Predicted Points: 4 points out of a possible 18.
Carolina Hogs
Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 8 matches played, 2 points, 0.25 PPM, 16th in PPM
# Matches: 6
Projected Starters: Kaitlyn Christian, Tammy Emmrich, Ben Johns, and Collin Johns
Bench: Liz Truluck and Brandon French
Opponents: Texas, St. Louis, LA, Utah, SoCal, New Jersey
Again, another brutal schedule for the last placed Hogs. They play the five best teams at this event, with their only lower level opponent being SoCal.
This comes down to one thing: how motivated is Ben Johns? If we get the unmotivated version of Ben, the Hogs will remain in last place.
However, if Ben is motivated by the backlash he received from the public regarding his departure from MLP Columbus, we could see the Hogs upset some teams.
This is the last time I bet on Ben in MLP moving forward. If he shows disinterest, I am not betting on him again. I think the Hogs take points off Texas and LA, and beat Utah and SoCal.
Predicted Points: 9 out of a possible 18, moving them up three spots to 13th.
