Rivalries Ignite and New Stars Rise: Inside the Incredible 2025 Major League Pickleball Austin Showdown

2025 Major League Pickleball Austin Showdown: As the 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season barrels toward its summer crescendo, the upcoming events in Austin and Phoenix are shaping up to be pivotal moments. With standout franchises like the Dallas Flash and New Jersey 5s surging, and new storylines emerging from the Premier and Challenger levels, the table is set for a crucial back-to-back showdown.

On the latest edition of Inside MLP, hosts Dave Fleming and Will Daughton offered an in-depth recap of the action in Orlando and Columbus and previewed the compelling matchups and narratives fans can expect as 2025 MLP Austin and 2025 MLP Phoenix take center stage.

Dallas, St. Louis, and the Rise of Stability at the Top

Two events in, the Dallas Flash and St. Louis Shock remain the class of the 2025 MLP season. Both franchises are undefeated, but it’s Dallas—winning all matches in regulation—that stands out for its ruthless efficiency. Fleming attributed much of that success to continuity and chemistry.

“You’re seeing the difference when partnerships stick,” he said, pointing out how returning players like Augie Ge and Kaitlyn Christian are thriving in familiar pairings. The Shock, meanwhile, have embraced their villain status, playing with swagger and confidence.

While these powerhouse teams maintain their grip on the top, others are poised to challenge. The New Jersey 5s, anchored by Anna Leigh Waters, are still refining their chemistry with Megan Fudge.

Austin: Premier Showdowns and Challenger Debuts

2025 MLP Austin kicks off Memorial Day weekend with a unique Friday-to-Monday schedule and a stacked Premier draw that includes the Texas Ranchers, Dallas Flash, New Jersey 5s, Orlando Squeeze, and Miami Pickleball Club.

Three of the four semifinalists from the 2024 season will compete, with no shortage of intrigue. Local energy will be electric as the host team, the Texas Ranchers, aims to defend home turf against their in-state rivals, the Flash.

But it’s not just the Premier division drawing attention. Austin marks the start of the Challenger level in 2025, featuring all six teams: the Bay Area Breakers, California Black Bears, DC Pickleball Team, Florida Smash, Nashville Chefs, and Las Vegas Night Owls.

With up-and-coming talent and franchise pride on the line, this weekend offers a glimpse into the league’s next generation. And with social media hits like the Ranchers’ ACL-style poster hyping the event, MLP continues to blend high-level competition with cultural flair—“Keep it weird,” as Austin would say.

Jorja Johnson’s Streak and the True Test for Orlando and Miami

Few players have turned more heads this season than Jorja Johnson. After winning 85% of her points in Orlando, she enters Austin as the hottest name on tour. Her play with brother JW Johnson and Tyra Black has been lights-out, prompting Fleming to predict she may leave Austin still undefeated.

“Her middle name is ‘freaking’—she just keeps winning,” he said. The Dallas-based prodigy will have home-state support behind her as she faces deeper competition than ever.

Meanwhile, questions surround the sustainability of success for Orlando and Miami. Orlando boasts a 9–2 record, but most wins have come against lower-ranked teams. Miami, on the other hand, is adapting to major roster changes, including the high-profile trade of Erik Lange.

Rising stars like Milan Rain and Mya Bui have impressed, but the Austin slate offers a litmus test: can these squads hang with the juggernauts? For players like Mya, who thrived against middling teams, this is a chance to prove she belongs among the league’s elite.

Phoenix Preview: Redemption and Full-Strength Returns

One week after Austin wraps, the MLP caravan heads west to Phoenix, where six Premier teams will clash: Atlanta Bouncers, Brooklyn Pickleball Team, Dallas Flash, LA Mad Drops, Phoenix Flames, SoCal Hard Eights, and Utah Black Diamonds.

The focus will be on SoCal and Utah, who are still searching for their first wins. SoCal made a notable move during Waiver Period 1, picking up Roscoe Bellamy—a hulking presence expected to slot in immediately alongside fellow UCLA alum Blaine Hoveneir. The duo brings size, familiarity, and power.

For LA’s Mad Drops, all eyes are on Hunter Johnson’s return. After a freak dishwasher injury sidelined him, the team is finally back at full strength. Johnson’s Atlanta form suggests he’s moved past the mishap, and the question now is whether LA is a playoff-caliber team or just a middle-tier contender.

Fleming compared the current MLP landscape to Formula 1: “You’ve got the top tier, a midfield, and the bottom looking to claw their way up.” Phoenix could prove where the Mad Drops truly fit in that grid.

Matchups to Watch: Tussle for Texas and More

Among the most anticipated matchups of the Austin leg is the “Tussle for Texas”—Dallas Flash vs. Texas Ranchers on Saturday, May 24 at 4:30 PM. It’s more than a rivalry; it’s a battle for supremacy between two of the league’s most complete teams. With a full crowd expected, local bragging rights and playoff positioning are on the line in what should be a blockbuster showdown.

In Phoenix, watch for LA Mad Drops vs. Atlanta Bouncers, where depth and chemistry will be tested. Also, SoCal’s new-look men’s team will face steep tests right out of the gate.

Can Roscoe Bellamy make an immediate impact? Will Utah finally break through? With playoff implications rising and team identities forming, these next two weeks may be where the 2025 season takes shape—for better or worse.

Who’s Hot, Who’s Next, and What to Watch

From Jorja Johnson’s dominance to Dallas and St. Louis’s steady climb, the early part of the MLP season has brought clarity—and plenty of new questions.

The upcoming stretch in Austin and Phoenix will determine who can withstand the pressure, who can surprise, and who still has work to do. Can Orlando and Miami find legitimacy against elite squads? Will LA prove they belong in the top tier?

The only certainty: fans are in for two electric weekends of pickleball. As Dave Fleming put it best, “Now’s your chance to rise up the standings board—we’ll see who does it.”

News in Brief: 2025 Major League Pickleball Austin Showdown

Dave Fleming and Will Daughton recap the first two events of the 2025 Major League Pickleball season and preview upcoming action in Austin and Phoenix. Dallas Flash and St. Louis Shock remain unbeaten, while Jorja Johnson continues her dominant form.

Austin’s event will include top Premier teams and the launch of the Challenger level. Phoenix will see winless teams like Utah and SoCal push for breakthroughs, while LA Mad Drops return to full strength.

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