Premier Level Teams and Their Current Player Salaries: Major League Pickleball (MLP) has disclosed crucial updates for the 2025 season, including expanded roster sizes for Premier Level teams, new salary structures, and significant changes to player eligibility and waiver rules. These updates will reshape how teams build their rosters and approach the competition, making it one of the most dynamic seasons in MLP history.
Premier Level Rosters Expanding to Six Players
One of the biggest changes for 2025 is the expansion of Premier Level rosters from four players to six players, with each team required to have three women and three men.
This shift allows teams to bring in more talent, providing greater flexibility in their strategies and lineups. However, this change only applies to Premier Level teams, while Challenger Level teams will keep their four-player rosters.
UPA Player Signings: A Key Factor for Eligibility
Another important update is the requirement for players to be exclusively signed with the UPA in order to play in MLP events. In 2024, teams could acquire unsigned UPA players, but this would cost them $20,000—half of which went to the league, and the other half went to the player. For 2025, teams must ensure that all their players are signed to a UPA contract.
As a result, teams need to be aware of which players are eligible for selection, as the league has yet to disclose a full list of signed players. With the increase in roster sizes for Premier teams and the continuation of four-player rosters for Challenger teams, the total number of players in the league will rise to 120—an increase from 88 in 2024.
Player Salaries for Premier Level Teams in 2025
MLP has also revealed the current 2025 salaries for each Premier Level team. These figures show the total salary a team would owe to the league if they kept all players on their roster.
However, teams are not allowed to retain every player, so these numbers are expected to change as teams make strategic decisions to stay within the league’s salary cap.
| Team | 2025 Level | Current 2025 Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Orlando Squeeze | Premier | $635,000 |
| Columbus Sliders | Premier | $509,000 |
| LA Mad Drops | Premier | $500,000 |
| New Jersey 5s | Premier | $499,000 |
| St. Louis Shock | Premier | $498,500 |
| New York Hustlers | Premier | $495,500 |
| Texas Ranchers | Premier | $491,500 |
| D.C. Pickleball Team | Premier | $491,000 |
| Arizona Drive | Premier | $468,500 |
| Carolina Pickleball Club | Premier | $455,000 |
| Dallas Flash | Premier | $440,500 |
| Utah Black Diamonds | Premier | $99,500 |
| Atlanta Bouncers | Premier | $0 |
| Chicago Slice | Premier | $0 |
| Miami Pickleball Club | Premier | $0 |
| SoCal Hard 8s | Premier | $0 |
Teams like Orlando Squeeze and Columbus Sliders, with high salaries of $635,000 and $509,000, will need to make careful roster decisions to comply with salary cap restrictions. In contrast, teams such as the Utah Black Diamonds with a salary of $99,500, and those with no salaries (like Atlanta Bouncers and Chicago Slice), will have more flexibility to make player acquisitions.
Lineup Submission and Waiver Process
In 2025, teams must submit their lineups the day before each competition. The exact process for lineup submission will be clarified later. This rule allows teams to plan their strategies ahead of time.
The waiver period is also undergoing changes. Teams will have the opportunity to make two waiver selections, with the order determined by points earned per match played to date.
Only players with UPA contracts will be eligible for waiver claims. Additionally, players who were not drafted or signed in MLP Free Agency but selected on waivers will not be eligible to be kept in future seasons.
Teams will also no longer be allowed to loan players between Challenger and Premier Level teams. If a player is injured, the team can substitute a replacement from their own roster.
Implications for Teams
The salary structure and expanded roster sizes will impact how teams approach player signings, roster management, and tournament strategies.
Teams with higher salaries, like Orlando Squeeze and Columbus Sliders, will need to make adjustments to balance their rosters while staying within financial limits. Meanwhile, teams with lower salaries or no salaries, such as Utah Black Diamonds and SoCal Hard 8s, will have more room to acquire new players.
With the expanded roster sizes and the introduction of the waiver period, MLP teams must carefully manage their lineups and salaries to stay competitive throughout the season.
What’s Next for MLP in 2025
As the 2025 season approaches, these changes will shape the competitive landscape of Major League Pickleball. Fans and analysts will closely follow the rosters, salaries, and waiver moves to see how each team adapts to the evolving rules.
News in Brief: Premier Level Teams and Their Current Player Salaries
Major League Pickleball has announced changes for the 2025 season, including expanded rosters for Premier Level teams, new UPA player eligibility rules, and updated waiver processes. These changes will significantly impact team strategies, roster management, and the overall competition.
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