MLP Austin Recap: 5s and Flash Dominate in the Texas Heat
The Major League Pickleball (MLP) Austin event, held over Memorial Day Weekend from May 23-26 at the Austin Pickle Ranch, marked a significant milestone in the 2025 season. This tournament saw the first appearance of six Challenger Level teams alongside five Premier Level teams, creating an exciting mix of established and up-and-coming talent.
Premier Level Action: A Battle of Titans
The Premier Level competition was fierce, with 10 matches showcasing the best of the best in pickleball. Let’s break down how each team fared in the Austin heat.
Dallas Flash: Maintaining Momentum
The Dallas Flash entered the tournament as the top-ranked team and, despite technically losing their #1 overall ranking, proved why they’re still a force to be reckoned with. Going undefeated in Austin, they secured victories against Miami and Orlando in regulation, while overcoming New Jersey and Texas in nail-biting Dreambreakers.
One of the most surprising statistics from the weekend was the performance of Augie and JW, who went 1-3 in men’s doubles. Their sole victory came against the Miami men, a result few would have predicted given their usual dominance.
However, the Flash’s strength lay in their mixed doubles performance. Tyra and Augie, who were considered the team’s weak link last year in terms of win percentage, started the 2025 season with an impressive 6-2 record. This improvement ties them for the seventh-best mixed doubles team in the Premier Level, out of 32 teams. Their success in mixed doubles has allowed Dallas to weather unexpected losses in men’s doubles while still maintaining their competitive edge.
New Jersey 5s: The Surprise Package
The New Jersey 5s entered the event in fifth place, with question marks surrounding their men’s doubles team and the mixed doubles pairing of Meghan Dizon and Zane Navratil. However, they quickly silenced doubters with a series of impressive performances.
Will Howells and Zane Navratil went on a tear, finishing the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record. They defeated formidable teams including Eric Oncins/Christian Alshon, Jay Devilliers/Noe Khlif, Augie Ge/JW Johnson, and Dylan Frazier/Federico Staksrud. Even more impressive was the manner of their victories, winning by a combined score of 45-27. This outstanding performance has catapulted Howells and Navratil to a 7-3 record as a men’s doubles duo, placing them fourth in the rankings.
While Meghan Dizon and Zane Navratil’s mixed doubles record of 2-8 might not seem impressive at first glance, one of those wins came at a crucial moment. They defeated Eric Oncins and Tina Pisnik 11-8 in the third game of the final match of MLP Austin, securing a regulation win for the 5s. This victory showed signs of improvement for the duo, though they’ll need to continue this upward trajectory in future events for the team to challenge the top two spots.
Anna Leigh Waters, a cornerstone of the 5s, continued to showcase her elite skills. She finished the tournament with a 6-2 record, dropping only one game each in women’s and mixed doubles. Waters’ performance solidified her position as the seventh-best player in the 2025 overall rankings.
The 5s’ performance in Austin was a statement of intent. They secured 10 points out of a possible 12, matching the Flash’s weekend tally despite losing to them in a Dreambreaker. With victories over every team they’ve faced except the Flash and the Shock (both losses coming in Dreambreakers), the 5s have established themselves as serious contenders for the top spot.
Texas Ranchers: Home Court Advantage
Playing in their hometown, the Texas Ranchers had high expectations for MLP Austin. While they secured regulation wins against Orlando and Miami, they suffered a regulation loss to the 5s and a Dreambreaker defeat to the Flash.
The loss to the 5s was particularly disappointing for the Ranchers. There was significant hype surrounding this matchup, but an unexpected loss in men’s doubles, followed by Zane and Meghan’s victory over Eric and Tina in mixed doubles, left the Ranchers without any points from this crucial encounter.
Despite not meeting all their goals, the Ranchers’ performance can still be considered a success. They defeated the teams they were expected to beat and even managed to take a point from the Shock. Importantly, they maintained their fourth position in the standings.
Beyond their on-court performance, the Ranchers organization deserves praise for hosting an exceptional MLP event. The hometown crowd remained engaged and enthusiastic throughout the weekend, creating an electric atmosphere that enhanced the overall experience for players and spectators alike.
Orlando Squeeze: Holding Steady
The Orlando Squeeze faced a challenging schedule in MLP Austin, going up against three of the top four teams. While they lost these high-profile matchups, they managed to secure a regulation win against the Miami Pickleball Club, as expected.
Despite losing their first three matches, the team showed resilience by bouncing back on Monday to clinch the win against Miami. This performance demonstrates that Orlando is a solid team capable of competing at the Premier Level.
However, with their current roster, it seems unlikely that the Squeeze will be able to challenge the top three teams come playoff time. While a roster change isn’t out of the question, it doesn’t appear probable at this stage.
Miami Pickleball Club: Facing Adversity
The Miami Pickleball Club has faced some unfortunate scheduling in the 2025 season. Their decision to draft Mya Bui was based on her potential and ability to improve throughout the year. However, with Miami having played in all three events so far, totaling 15 matches (60% of their season), they haven’t had the luxury of time for Bui to develop fully.
MLP Austin proved to be a tough outing for Miami, as they lost all four of their matches. This string of defeats has dropped them to ninth place overall in the standings, precariously close to the playoff cutoff (top 10 make the playoffs in Premier).
It’s worth noting that Miami entered each match as the underdog, so these results weren’t entirely unexpected. However, particularly in their final match against Orlando, there were signs of waning energy and effort. This can be a common issue when a team is under stress and feeling like victories are out of reach.
Like Orlando, Miami might consider some roster changes, but finding available players who could significantly improve the team might prove challenging.
Challenger Level: New Teams, New Excitement
The introduction of the Challenger Level teams added a fresh dimension to MLP Austin. Let’s look at how these new entrants fared in their debut event.
Las Vegas Night Owls: The Team to Beat
The Las Vegas Night Owls emerged as the standout team in the Challenger Level. Comprising Pablo Tellez, James Delgado, Brooke Buckner, and Zoey Wang, this team boasts players who could easily compete as backups in the Premier Level.
Their dominance was such that even if a match went to a Dreambreaker, opponents struggled to come close to beating them. Barring significant roster changes across the league, the Night Owls look set to finish first and potentially sweep all Challenger events this year.
James Delgado, the least experienced player of the group, showed impressive potential in his MLP debut. His deceptive two-handed shots off the bounce caught many opponents off guard. While not overly demonstrative, Delgado’s intensity and quiet self-motivation hint at a promising future in the sport.
Nashville Chefs: A Strong Finish
The Nashville Chefs had a rocky start, losing their first two matches in Dreambreakers. However, they showed remarkable resilience by winning their next three matches, securing a second-place finish in the tournament.
Marshall Brown was a standout performer for the Chefs, finishing as the third-best Challenger Level player of the weekend. His energy and enthusiasm seemed to lift the entire team throughout the event.
Michelle Esquivel and Anderson Scarpa played crucial roles in the Chefs’ Dreambreaker victory over D.C. Esquivel went 7-4 against Mari Humberg, while Scarpa dominated Daniel De La Rosa with an 8-3 scoreline.
The Chefs’ ability to overcome their early setbacks and finish strong bodes well for their future in the Challenger Level.
D.C. Pickleball Team: Mixed Results
The D.C. Pickleball Team’s performance in Austin can be viewed from two perspectives. On the positive side, they secured at least one point in every match they played. However, they also lost three Dreambreakers, and by significant margins.
In those three Dreambreaker losses, D.C. was outscored by a combined 43-64, averaging a 14-21 scoreline. This suggests that while they can compete in regulation play, they struggle in the high-pressure Dreambreaker format.
D.C.’s strength lies in their gender doubles, where they went 8-2 overall as a team. All four of their players finished the event ranked in the top 10:
- De La Rosa – 4th
- Koop – 5th
- Auvergne – 6th
- Humberg – 9th
Moving forward, D.C. should focus on maintaining their strong gender doubles performance while aiming to improve in mixed doubles to avoid frequent Dreambreakers.
Teams Needing Changes
The bottom three teams in the Challenger Level – the Bay Area Breakers, California Black Bears, and Florida Smash – struggled throughout the tournament. Each team has areas that need addressing if they hope to compete with the top Challenger teams.
Bay Area Breakers: Inconsistent Performance
The Breakers managed one regulation win and a Dreambreaker victory but lost three matches in regulation. Eric Roddy’s leadership and positive energy, along with Alix Truong’s competitive drive, were bright spots for the team.
DJ Young showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency, while Funaro’s 3-7 record and 22nd overall ranking (out of 24 players) indicate areas for improvement.
California Black Bears: Finding Their Footing
The Bears had a challenging start, losing to Florida in their opening match. They bounced back with a regulation win over the Breakers and a Dreambreaker victory against the Chefs.
Rafa Hewett struggled, finishing as the lowest-ranked player with only one win in 10 games. The partnership of Hewett and Benitez failed to click, winning just one of their five games together.
Lina Padegimaite was a bright spot, finishing eighth overall and the highest-ranked Black Bear player. Her partnership with Sleeth in women’s doubles shows promise and could challenge the top teams in future events.
Florida Smash: A Tough Weekend
The Smash started strong with a win in their first match but failed to earn a single point in their next four encounters. Cason Campbell showed significant improvement in his doubles game, suggesting potential for future success with partner Travis.
However, the women’s team of Frantova and Ansboury struggled mightily, going 0-5 with an average game score of 5.4-11. This is an area that needs immediate attention if the Smash hope to compete in future events.
Looking Ahead: MLP Phoenix
With MLP Austin concluding on Monday, teams have a quick turnaround before MLP Phoenix kicks off on Thursday. This rapid-fire scheduling will test the endurance and adaptability of all teams involved.
As the season progresses, we can expect to see teams making adjustments based on their performances in Austin. The Challenger Level teams, in particular, will be looking to apply the lessons learned from their first major event.
For fans and analysts alike, MLP Phoenix promises to be another exciting chapter in what’s shaping up to be a thrilling 2025 season. With teams jostling for playoff positions and newcomers looking to make their mark, every match will be crucial.
Conclusion: A Thrilling Start to the Season
MLP Austin provided a perfect blend of established stars and emerging talent, setting the stage for an exciting 2025 season. The Dallas Flash and New Jersey 5s have established themselves as the teams to beat in the Premier Level, while the Las Vegas Night Owls look set to dominate the Challenger Level.
As teams prepare for MLP Phoenix, they’ll be looking to build on their successes and address their weaknesses. With the playoff picture already starting to take shape, every point will be crucial in the coming events.
For pickleball fans, the 2025 MLP season is shaping up to be the most competitive and exciting yet. With the sport’s rapid growth and the increasing level of play, we can expect more thrilling matches, unexpected upsets, and memorable moments as the season unfolds.
