Major League Pickleball (MLP) finished its seventh event in the 2025 regular season at the Sportime Randall’s Island in New York City.
The event hosted 12 of the 22 MLP teams, including six of the Premier Level teams.
Let’s get into the action.
Premier Level Team Standings from MLP New York
Overall Premier Level Standings
Top Storylines from MLP New York
The Hogs made a huge move, moving up four spots to 12th in the standings
The revamped Hogs played well, moving up four spots in the standings in terms of points per match.
The Hogs earned 10 points from their five matches, 2 points per match. Roscoe and Ben played well enough, and their mixed doubles were great. They lost to Brooklyn in the most competitive match of the weekend, 20-22.
This team is now a real threat to make the playoffs, needing to average 1.67 points per match in their last six matches (in my estimation).
Hometown Hero Erik Forsythe Made his MLP Debut
Forsythe was brought in for an injured Donald Young, and made the most of his MLP debut with the New York Hustlers.
Young had some sort of shoulder/neck injury that he aggravated while hitting a two-handed backhand. He tried to press through it in a match on Friday, but couldn't continue on in mixed doubles. Down 0-6, Donald left the match, and in came on-site alternate Erik Forsythe, AKA the Jungle Cat.
Forsythe played the remainder of that mixed doubles game with the Hustlers, and then played three more matches alongside Zane Ford and Helena Jansen.
This was a feel good story for the 37-year-old elementary school teacher with three children. On the broadcast, Drew Fellios mentioned it reminded him of the movie "The Rookie", and I have to agree.
The Sliders earned all 15 standings points from the event
The Columbus Sliders were undefeated in New York, not giving up a standings point in their five matches. However, it must be noted two of their matches were against the NY Hustlers, who are firmly in last place.
The Sliders five players who played this weekend were ranked first through fifth in terms of player ranking, according to my publicly available stats.
They are looking to turn this momentum into a win in the Mid-Season Tournament.
|
Four teams clinched playoff berths
Despite not playing, the St. Louis Shock and Dallas Flash officially clinched playoff berths. In addition, Columbus and Brooklyn also earned playoff berths this weekend.
You may ask why hasn’t the New Jersey 5s earned a playoff berth? My answer is math. Sure, it’s unlikely, but the Utah Black Diamonds can earn 38 points. The 5s are at 36. If New Jersey drops all its matches in regulation and Utah wins all its matches in regulation, they could beat New Jersey. So technically, New Jersey hasn’t clinched the playoffs yet. I am sure they will within the next regular season event.
Brooklyn continued their winning ways, keeping themselves in fourth place
I don't think the Brooklyn women could be playing any better than they currently are. They were ridiculously good in New York, and they swept the field.
The Brooklyn Pickleball Team earned 11 points in four matches, keeping them in 4th place in the standings, despite playing back-to-back events with on-site alternate, AJ Koller as a sub.
The Brooklyn Pickleball Team looks like it will be a menace once all players are starting. They will be worrisome for the top teams.
The Squeeze fell short of their goals, only earning six points from a possible 15
On the bright side, Orlando maintained their eight place position, but they underperformed in New York.
Orlando still looks to be on the inside track for the playoffs, as the eight seed. If that spot in the standings holds true, Orlando would play whoever the seven seed doesn't want to play. This could actually be the Carolina Hogs, who beat them in New York.
The Squeeze will look to rise up in the standings in their last MLP event, otherwise, they don't have much say in who they play in the playoffs.
Shakeup in Challenger Level
The Nashville Chefs went undefeated in MLP New York, closing the gap between themselves and the Las Vegas Night Owls.
The other team that performed well in New York was the Bay Area Breakers. Collin Johns subbed in for them, while newly acquired Sam Querrey was commentating Wimbledon in England. Collin Johns went 8-2 overall, and is now the highest ranked Challenger Level player.
The MLP is back in action this week at the Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in conjunction with the Beer City Open.
