New year, new MLP! With fresh rule changes, expanded rosters, and new talent, the 2025 season promises excitement. We’ve just concluded the Premier and Challenger Free Agency Draft picks, so new faces will soon emerge in the pro pickleball space.

‍

Let’s get into those updates.

‍

Major Rule Changes

• UPA Players Eligibility: Noncontracted UPA players are NOT eligible for the 2025 draft. Around 12 players (4 men, 8 women) from 2024 will not return.
• Expanded Premier Team Rosters: Teams now have 6 players (3 men, 3 women) instead of 4, with 5th & 6th picks as subs who can also be picked up by another team into their starting lineup during the four waiver periods.
• Scoring Change: No more rally scoring! Matches will now use side-out scoring, one game to 11.
• Mandatory Player Drop: Each team must drop one player from their 2024 roster.

Alright, that’s enough rules. There are more rule changes to this season, but I’d say those are your biggest ones. 

‍

MLP Roster Updates

Now for the fun part: I hope you were able to check in either March 2nd or 3rd for the Premier and Challenger draft picks because it was an interesting one! Of course I did because yes, pickleball is life. With the expansion of the roster sizes, we will be seeing new names. 

‍

To the best of my knowledge, the Premier and Challenger drafts introduced 34 new players (27 Premier, 7 Challenger) who didn’t play in MLP 2024. Some are returning from injury, some have been dominant in PPA tournaments, and others are new to pickleball.

‍

There is a great deal of talent at the 5th and 6th spot who could easily be a steal into a starting role within a Premier team. I am curious how they truly feel being in the 5th and 6th spot of a Premier team, where they could’ve easily played on a Challenger team and received playing time at every event. 

‍

Sure, it’s nice to be considered on a team with your Ben Johns and Anna Brights, but wouldn’t you just rather play instead? 

‍

I know I would rather play, but I guess it’s a matter of preference — and you really don't have a choice to say no if a team were to pick you up.

‍

Key New Players in Starting Lineups

• Atlanta Bouncers: Victoria Di Muzio – A rising talent from Canada, but still needs time to prove herself.
• Chicago Slice: Max Freeman – PPA tour standout, strong addition.
• Miami Pickleball Club: Mya Bui – Former D1 tennis player with a competitive edge.
• NY Hustlers: Helena Spiridis, Dominique Schaefer, Zane Ford – Singles specialists working hard on doubles.
• SoCal Hard Eights: Ivan Jakovljevic – A well-trained competitor from Dallas.
• Utah Black Diamonds: Mehvish Safdar – Another D1 tennis standout and similar to Mya coming in. Both are potential dark horses here.

‍

Notable Challenger Teams to Watch

• Brooklyn Aces vs. Las Vegas Night Owls: Expect tight dreambreakers – slight edge to the Night Owls due to singles talent.
• Nashville Chefs: Strong pickups in the draft with Scarpa and Brown and a steal of an experienced player in Esquival to pair well with Radzikowska.
• Bay Area Breakers: Wyatt Stone subbed in for the Chicago Slice in the MLP Finals last year. He's underrated, but dangerous.

‍

Full Premier Team Rosters

(Sub/Bench Players in Italics; New 2025 Players in Bold)

‍

Challenger Teams

‍

‍Final Thoughts

With new faces, bigger rosters, and fresh rules, 2025 is set to be an unpredictable season. Will the new players shine or struggle under pressure? 

Time will tell. Stay tuned!‍

‍

March 2025 “Reporter on the Ground” - by Bobbi Oshiro