Predicting 11 Roster Changes During the Final MLP Waiver Period
The last Major League Pickleball (MLP) waiver period is upon us already, and we now have a clearer image of what players are available and which teams are choosing to utilize the waiver period.
The MLP season has flown by. There have already been five events, with 111/200 (55%) matches in the Premier Level having been played.
NOTE: This article is very different from other pundits, in that this is predicted what I think WILL happen during the next five days. This is not what I think SHOULD happen. There is a big difference here.
Recap of the first five MLP events of 2025
Full Preview of the Premier Level and Challenger Level Waiver periods
For a full preview on this waiver period, including all the rules and players involved, check out this article I published earlier in the week.
Erik Tice
Lists of Available Players
Waiver Order Set
Monday (Premier Level Waivers) - One Round
- New York Hustlers
- SoCal Hard Eights
- Carolina Hogs
Tuesday - Premier Level Bench Replacements
Wednesday (Challenger Level Waviers) - Two Rounds
- Florida Smash
- Bay Area Breakers
- California Black Bears
- D.C. Pickleball Team
- Nashville Chefs
- Las Vegas Night Owls
Three Areas of Roster Changes
First, I will try to predict who each Premier Level team picks up in waivers. Second, I will address the Premier Level bench replacements. Lastly, we will review Challenger Level waivers.
Of note, any player taken during waivers CANNOT be kept by that team after the 2025 season is over.
Premier Level Waivers Predictions
Pick #1 - New York Hustlers
The Hustlers are near the bottom of the standings and are more likely to choose a woman here. Stephen Madonia (sub, and available in waivers) played fine in MLP Daytona Beach in place of Donald Young. Zane Ford has had health issues and can't seem to stay on the court, but I think NY is still positive on his future potential. The Hustlers have protected Lingwei Kong and Domi Schaefer, while Helena Spiridis is available to be claimed on waivers. Spiridis is in a weird situation with her visa, and can be placed on a “Reserved List” to open up another roster spot until her return.
Additionally, I don’t think New York really cares about winning (shocking, I know). So I could very easily see them claiming a player off waivers and then trading that player to another team for cash. This would be a pre-arranged trade just to get NY some extra cash.
My prediction: I think this is a three-way race for the woman they end up picking - either Helena Jansen, Felicity Di Laura, or Judit Castillo. I believe they take Castillo from the Hard Eights. New York picks up Judit Castillo and drops Lingwei Kong, and then trades Castillo to the team that asked NY to pick her up in the first place.
If this happens, the Hard Eights would have to replace Castillo. I believe they try to get someone that is another up-and-comer since their playoff hopes are slim, to see who they can develop. The Hard Eights replace Castillo with Chloe Igleski, a relatively unknown player from college that shows a ton of potential upside.
Pick #2 - SoCal Hard Eights
The Hard Eights are in a situation where they could either pick up a man or a woman off waivers (they just can’t do both). Again, I lean toward a woman in this situation, because the Hard Eights have chosen to protect Tereschenko instead of Castillo. I believe they did this to pick a woman and drop Tereschenko, who has struggled to stay healthy this season.
If New York does what I said above, the Hard Eights best option is either Felicity Di Laura or Jansen. I think they go with Di Laura. The former All-American tennis player has a ton of potential and SoCal could bring her in to compete with newcomer, Jalina Ingram, for a starting spot. With their playoff hopes mostly shot, the Hard Eights need to focus on identifying and developing their talent for the long term.
My prediction: SoCal does go out and pick up Di Laura and drops Irina Tereschenko in the process. This would give them Chloe Igleski, Jalina Ingram, and Felicity Di Laura on their roster.
The St. Louis Shock will then have to pick up someone off waivers (free agent) to replace Di Laura. I believe the Shock take another up-and-comer that somehow Anna Bright has seen, but no one else has. I am guessing either Luana Stanciu or Zoey Weil - two recent pickleball converts from D1 tennis that signed with the UPA in the last few months. I haven’t seen much of either player, so I don’t have much to go off, but AB regularly finds good talent, so I am just completely guessing here. St. Louis replaces Di Laura with Luana Stanciu.
Pick #3 - Carolina Hogs
The Hogs protected their two starting women, in Tammy Emmrich and Kaitlyn Christian. I find it unlikely they go after a woman in this spot, although if she was still available, and I think Castillo and Christian would make a heckuva Dreambreaker team, alongside Ben Johns.
Instead, I think the Hogs go after an available guy and drop Brandon French. The Hogs chose to leave Collin Johns unprotected, which means they can keep him if no one takes him (which I think will happen). French is a good player, but was never going to add playing value to the Hogs, who need an energy turnaround more than anything.
The list of available of guys that could make sense as a right sider next to Ben Johns include Roscoe Bellamy (SoCal Hard Eights), AJ Koller (FA), Martin Emmrich (FA), and Grayson Goldin (FA).
My prediction: The Hogs select AJ Koller and drop Brandon French.
Premier Level Bench Replacement Transactions
As a reminder, between the announcement of the waiver claims (Monday at noon) and Tuesday at noon, teams can request to drop a current sub, and replace them with a current free agent. The Hard Eights and Dallas Flash both did this in the first waiver period.
These are my predictions for bench replacements:
- New York Hustlers - The Hustlers place Spiridis on the “Reserved List” and pick up Lingwei Kong, who they dropped the day before, for their waiver claim. They had this in mind the entire time, when they were paid to claim a player off waivers.
- Orlando Squeeze - Similary to the Hustlers, the Squeeze utilize their ability to place Tom Evans on the “Reserved List” and pick up the newly signed Grayson Goldin. Goldin has a bunch of upside potential, looks like he will fit well with this team, and is already based in South Florida.
- Texas Ranchers - I am not convinced the Ranchers want to keep Hewett, so they may choose to drop him and allow him to get picked up in the Challenger Waivers. I would expect Texas to pick up a player who brings great team energy - like a Martin Emmrich.
Challenger Waivers Predictions
- Florida Smash - Pick #1 - This just makes too much sense. 15-year-old Cailyn Campbell signed on June 10th, and I am guessing she will join her brother Cason on the Smash. The Smash pickup Cailyn Campbell and drop Sarah Ansboury.
- Bay Area Breakers - Pick #2 - The Breakers may choose to just stay still here. However, if Grayson Goldin is still somehow available, he has history with the organization, having subbed for them in last year’s Mid-Season tournament. The Breakers take Goldin here (if he is available) and drop DJ Young. If Goldin is already taken, Bay Area just stays pat.
- D.C. Pickleball Team - Pick #4 - I could see D.C. upgrading one of their guys for someone a little bit better in singles. This team is very good in doubles, but not good at Dreambreakers. I could see them dropping Stefan Auvergne for either Rafa Hewett, Martin Emmrich, or Brandon French, depending on who is available at their selection. D.C. drops Auvergne for Rafa Hewett.
Compiled List of the 11 Moves I Believe will be made
Monday
- Premier Waivers Pick #1 - NY Hustlers - Claim Judit Castillo from SoCal and waive Lingwei Kong
- Bench replacement (from NY claiming Castillo) - SoCal Hard Eights - Claim Chloe Igleski (free agent)
- Premier Waivers Pick #2 - SoCal Hard Eights - Claim Felicity Di Laura from St. Louis and waive Irina Tereschenko
- Bench replacement (from SoCal claiming Di Laura) - St. Louis Shock - Claim Luana Stanciu
- Premier Waivers Pick #3 - Carolina Hogs - Claim AJ Koller (free agent) and waive Brandon French
Tuesday
- Premier Bench Replacement - NY Hustlers - Claim Lingwei Kong and place Helena Spiridis on the "Reserved List"
- Premier Bench Replacement - Orlando Squeeze - Claim Grayson Goldin and place Tom Evans on the "Reserved List"
- Premier Bench Replacement - Texas Ranchers - Claim Martin Emmrich and waive Rafa Hewett
Wednesday
- Challenger Waivers Pick #1 - Florida Smash - Claim Cailyn Campbell and waive Sarah Ansboury
- Challenger Waivers Pick #2 - Bay Area Breakers - This is my only IF prediction. IF Grayson Goldin is available here, Bay Area claim Grayson Goldin and waive DJ Young. If not, Bay Area doesn't make a move.
- Challenger Waivers Pick #4 - D.C. Pickleball Team - Claim Rafa Hewett and waive Stefan Auvergne
Stay tuned, because next week, I am going to come up with a list of trades that make sense headed into the last month of the trade deadline window, along with a full recap of what I got right and what I got wrong with these predictions.
