MLP Columbus Preview

Just like that - we are already facing our second Major League Pickleball (MLP) event of the 2025 season.

MLP is playing in back to back weekends, to start the season off. This event will not host all the teams, like MLP Orlando did. Instead, only nine teams are playing in MLP Columbus. The event will take place from Thursday through Sunday. 

Pickle and Chill, an indoor/outdoor facility with over twenty dedicated courts, will be hosting the event.

MLP Columbus presented by The James at Ohio State has the following teams playing, with the number of associated matches:

The following teams are NOT participating in MLP Columbus: Brooklyn Pickleball Team, Dallas Flash, LA Mad Drops, New Jersey 5s, SoCal Hard 8s, Texas Ranchers, and Utah Black Diamonds. 

Just like MLP Orlando, MLP Columbus is only hosting Premier Level teams. Challenger Level teams will start their first action in MLP Austin in a few weeks.

If you need to get caught up on the first event from Orlando, please check out the recap article above.

How to Watch MLP Columbus

All matches are available on Pickleballtv and the Pickleballtv app. There are a total of 26 matches in MLP Columbus.

The following regional affiliates will also be showing the certain matches, in addition to Pickleballtv:

Thu, May 1

• ATL vs. STL (4 p.m.) on Matrix Midwest in STL and Peachtree Sports Network in ATL

Fri, May 2

• ORL vs. CAR (2 p.m.) on Palmetto Entertainment and Sports Network in CAR and FanDuel Sports Florida in FL
• CHI vs. ATL (4 p.m.) on Peachtree Sports Network in ATL

Sat, May 3

• PHX vs. MIA (12 p.m.) on FanDuel Sports Florida in FL
• STL vs. COL (2 p.m.) on Matrix Midwest in STL and Rock Entertainment Sports Network in COL
• STL vs. ORL (5:30 p.m.) on FanDuel Sports Florida in FL

Sun, May 4

• COL vs. ATL (2:30 p.m.) on Peachtree Sports Network in ATL and Rock Entertainment Sports Network in COL

Rule Changes

Ahead of MLP Columbus, MLP has implemented four new rules changes, based on feedback from the MLP Orlando event.

Matches - Teams will no longer switch benches during a match. The team that wins the End selection during the coin toss will have their choice of bench as well as which end of the court they’d like to begin on.

Serves - The release of the ball must be no higher than the top of the hip bone. The ball can travel upward after release, but only equal to one (1) height of the ball itself. The swing of the paddle must be more “South to North than East to West”. A CLEARLY low to high swing of the paddle is required.

Line Calling - Team sidelines that make an OUT call during a live rally are subject to a Blue or Orange Card.

Injuries – Any Premier team that chooses not to travel their bench player and uses an on-site alternate will be penalized one point for each doubles game in which the alternate plays (team will begin 0-1 in the gender and mixed doubles game in which the alternate participates).

Top Storylines 

The Sliders are hosting and playing five matches

The originally announced schedule was slightly changed, so the Sliders play five matches instead of six, in Columbus. This is a good thing, because Columbus played six matches in Orlando last weekend, tied for the most. The Sliders got off to a slow start due to their opponents being really good in their first two matches, but got better throughout Orlando. They are hoping to continue that momentum into the event they are hosting.

Carolina, Chicago, and New York are all sitting in last place with zero points

All three of these teams have something in common - they played two matches in Orlando and didn’t earn a single standings point. All three could argue they had a really tough schedule with their first two matches, and I would agree with them. Who is going to get off the goose egg in Columbus?

Miami and Phoenix are in 10th and 11th place respectively - Can they earn some points?

Phoenix barely got to play in Orlando. They only played two matches, and those two matches were against very good teams. The team chemistry looked like it was there. Miami played in five matches and won two Dreambreakers, but lost in regulation during the other three. I am guessing one of these teams moves up in the standings significantly.

With a lot of the top teams missing, can the St. Louis Shock continue to dominate?

Without the Flash, 5s, Ranchers, and Brooklyn, at this event, St. Louis has a very good chance of going undefeated. Even though it is early in the season and a lot of pickleball still needs to be played, this is a great chance to put some “scoreboard pressure” on the top teams. 

Team by Team Breakdown

This is in order of team ranking, by Points Per Match (PPM)

St. Louis Shock

Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 2 matches played, 5 points, 2.5 PPM, 2nd in PPM

# Columbus Matches: 6

Opponents: ATL, MIA, COL, ORL, PHX, NY

Projected Starters: Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio

Bench: Felicity Di Laura and Erik Lange

The Shock face three bottom tier teams in Atlanta, Miami, and New York. Phoenix, Columbus, and Orlando could give them some trouble, but they will be favored in every matchup this weekend. The Shock beat the 5s in regulation in Orlando, and beat Brooklyn in a Dreambreaker. They are easily one of the top three teams headed into Columbus.

Predicted Points: 17 points out of a max of 18. The Shock only drop one point in Columbus.

Orlando Squeeze

PPM & Standings: 5 matches played, 11 points, 2.2 PPM, 4th in PPM

# Orlando Matches: 6

Opponents: CAR, COL, ATL, STL, CHI, NY

Projected Starters: Lacy Schneemann, Samantha Parker, Federico Staksrud, Dylan Frazier

Bench: Alli Phillips and Tom Evans

The Squeeze had a very good run at home at the MLP Orlando event. The six matches the Squeeze have are going to be very tough. Even though they are in fourth place, I think they are going to slip a little in the standings in Columbus. 

Starting off against a winless Ben Johns is never a good thing, and that is exactly what they are doing. It doesn’t get any easier after, as they play the Sliders, the Shock, and Chicago this weekend. They need to win their matchups against Atlanta and New York and hope to earn at least four points from the other four matchups to stay around 2 points per match overall.

Predicted Points: 9 points from their possible 18, bringing them down just below 2ppm.

Columbus Sliders

PPM & Standings: 6 matches played, 12 points, 2 PPM, 6th in PPM

# Columbus Matches: 5

Opponents: PHX, CHI, ORL, STL, ATL

Projected Starters: Parris Todd, Lea Jansen, CJ Klinger, Andrei Daescu

Bench: Marcela Hones and Roscoe Bellamy

The Sliders lost their first two matches and then won their next four in regulation in Orlando. They are coming in with a ton of momentum and are looking to capitalize "at home". They have a very tough schedule in this event, so the road is not easy.

CJ Klinger seems to be the X Factor for Columbus. He can get hot and nearly single-handedly win a match, but sometimes he goes too far and causes issues. If he plays within himself and doesn't try to do too much, I think Columbus has a successful event.

Predicted Points: 11 points from the five matches, keeping them just above the 2PPM mark, and still very much in the playoff hunt.

Atlanta Bouncers

PPM & Standings: 3 matches played, 3 points, 1 PPM, 9th in PPM

# Atlanta Matches: 6

Opponents: STL, CAR, CHI, ORL, MIA, COL

Projected Starters: Vivian Glozman, Victoria DiMuzio, Jaume Martinez Vich, and Todd Fought

Bench: Rachel Rettger and Sam Querrey

Atlanta had a very up and then quickly down events in Orlando. They started off beating NY, as the should, in regulation. They then got beat 4-0 by the Ranchers and 3-1 by the 5s.

The shining light in those two losses was the Jaume Martinez Vich/Todd Fought win over the New Jersey 5s' Zane Navratil/Will Howells. That is a top half men's doubles team and a good win.

Atlanta has the toughest strength of schedule in Columbus. This is going to be a tough gauntlet. They need to win the Miami matchup, and hope to scrape together some points in the other matches.

Predicted Points: 5 points from their 6 matches, dropping them just below 1PPM.

Miami Pickleball Club

PPM & Standings: 5 matches played, 4 points, 0.8 PPM, 10th in PPM

# Miami Matches: 6

Opponents: NY, STL, PHX, CHI, ATL, CAR

Projected Starters: Milan Rane, Mya Bui, Noe Khlif, and Jay Devilliers

Bench: Ava Ignatowich and Yuta Funemizu

This schedule is kind of worst case scenario for Miami. They picked Mya Bui for her upside and potential, but have 11 matches in the first two events, meaning they will have played 44% of their season in the first two weeks.

This doesn't give Bui much time to adjust to the top level of the game. The good news? Miami starts the event with the easiest opponent in the New York Hustlers. They will for sure be looking to earn all 3 points against them. The rest of the event is going to be tough for Miami to earn some points.

Predicted Points: 5 points from their 6 matches, keeping their PPM just below 1.

Phoenix Flames

PPM & Standings: 2 matches played, 1 point, 0.5 PPM, 11th in PPM

# Phoenix Matches: 6

Opponents: CAR, COL, NY, MIA, STL, CHI

Projected Starters: Jessie Irvine, Genie Bouchard, Tyson McGuffin, and Jack Sock

Bench: Alex Walker and Pesa Teoni

As previously mentioned, Phoenix had a really tough schedule in Orlando, playing the hometown Squeeze and the New Jersey 5s.

The Flames looked like they had good team chemistry throughout the two matches and looked like they were having fun. I think they could upset some people in Columbus if everyone stays engaged.

They will want to earn wins against NY and Miami, and hope to get some points off either Carolina or Chicago.

Predicted Points: 8 points from the 6 matches, getting them back up to 1ppm.

Chicago Slice

PPM & Standings: 2 matches played, 0 points, 0 PPM, T-14th in PPM

# Matches: 6

Opponents: COL, ATL, CAR, MIA, ORL, PHX

Projected Starters: Callie Smith, Vivienne David, James Ignatowich, and Max Freeman

Bench: Pierina Imparato and Carlos Di Laura

Chicago is a good team who had a bad schedule in Orlando. They will be looking to right the ship in Columbus. Unfortunately, they are one of the only good teams not facing the Hustlers, so they don't have a walkover match.

They are going to have to fight and scrap and claw for every point in Columbus.

Predicted Points: 9 points in 6 matches, getting them above 1PPM, and closer to a playoff spot.

Carolina Hogs

PPM & Standings: 2 matches played, 0 points, 0 PPM, T-14th in PPM

# Carolina Matches: 6

Opponents: PHX, ATL, ORL, CHI, NY, MIA

Projected Starters: Kaitlyn Christian, Tammy Emmrich, Ben Johns, and Collin Johns

Bench: Liz Truluck and Brandon French

The Hogs are hoping to get off of zero standings points. I think Columbus is by far the most important event for Carolina in the 2025 season.

What do I mean by that? Ben and Collin Johns showed very little effort in the second half of the 2024 MLP season, when they were out of playoff contention. If the Hogs can earn some serious points in COlumbus, I think we see a more engaged brother duo. The women aren't going to win too many matches, but I expect a couple upsets.

Predicted Points: 11 points from their 6 matches, getting them firmly in playoff contention.

New York Hustlers

PPM & Standings: 2 matches played, 0 points, 0 PPM, T-14th in PPM

# NY Matches: 5

Opponents: MIA, PHX, CAR, STL, ORL

Projected Starters: Lingwei Kong, Helena Spiridis, Zane Ford, and Donald Young

Bench: Domi Schaefer and Stephen Madonia

New York has another tough round of matchups ahead of them in Columbus. Unfortunately, their best chance at earning some standings points is in their first match against Miami - they need to come out hot, otherwise I fear they could leave the event with zero standings points for the second straight time.

Predicted Points: 0 points