2025 MLP Roster Shakeup: The 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) Player Keeper Deadline has officially passed, finalizing team rosters ahead of the upcoming draft. Each team had the opportunity to retain up to three players from last season by paying a portion of the draft capital originally used to acquire them. The remaining roster spots will be filled during the Premier Level and Challenger Level drafts on March 2 and 3, respectively.
Key Roster Decisions
Teams across MLP made significant choices on who to keep and who to release. Players who were not retained will re-enter the draft pool, allowing other teams to make selections based on their needs. Some notable roster changes include:
- Atlanta Bouncers retained Jaume Martinez Vich, Vivian Glozman, and Todd Fought while dropping Emily Cederquist due to contract reasons. The team now requires one male and two female players in the draft.
- Carolina Pickleball Club kept Ben Johns ($420K), Kaitlyn Christian ($29.5K), and Collin Johns ($0.5K), while dropping Yana Newell due to contract issues. Their remaining draft needs include one male and two female players.
- Chicago Slice did not keep any players, releasing Jack Munro, Megan Fudge, Allison Harris, and Brendon Long. The team now has three male and three female roster spots to fill.
- Columbus Sliders retained Andrei Daescu ($265K), Parris Todd ($92.5K), and CJ Klinger ($1K) while dropping Callie Smith ($74K) as a team decision. They need one male and two female players.
- D.C. Pickleball Team dropped James Ignatowich ($250K) while keeping Rachel Rohrabacher ($165K), Jackie Kawamoto ($142.5K), and Dekel Bar ($76K). Their draft focus will be on acquiring two males and one female player.
- Dallas Flash secured JW Johnson ($195K), Jorja Johnson ($142.5K), and Tyra Black ($92.5K) while releasing Augie Ge ($10.5K). The team is looking for two males and one female player in the draft.
- Los Angeles Mad Drops retained Catherine Parenteau ($220K), Jade Kawamoto ($85K), and Hunter Johnson ($10K) while dropping Thomas Wilson ($185K). They will seek two males and one female player in the draft.
- Miami Pickleball Club held onto Eric Oncins and Milan Rane but released Noe Khlif (waiver) and Bobbi Oshiro (contract). They need two male and two female players.
What Comes Next?
With the keeper deadline set, teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming Premier Level and Challenger Level drafts.
The available players include those dropped from their previous teams and others under UPA contracts who were not on MLP rosters last season. These drafts will play a crucial role in shaping the competition for the 2025 season.
Impact on the League
The decisions made during the keeper process highlight each team’s strategy and financial commitments. High-value players like Ben Johns and JW Johnson were retained at significant costs, while others, such as James Ignatowich and Thomas Wilson, will now seek new teams in the draft.
The upcoming selection process will determine how teams balance experience with fresh talent as they build their rosters for the new season.
News in Brief: 2025 MLP Roster Shakeup
The 2025 MLP Player Keeper Deadline has passed, with teams finalizing which players to retain. Players not kept will enter the Premier and Challenger Level drafts on March 2-3. High-profile retentions include Ben Johns ($420K) and JW Johnson ($195K), while notable drops include James Ignatowich and Thomas Wilson. Draft preparations are underway.
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