Roster Moves for MLP 2025: The Player Keeper Deadline for the 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season has officially passed, setting the stage for the upcoming Premier Level and Challenger Level drafts on March 2 and 3, respectively. Teams have now finalized their retained players, with several high-profile drops making waves across the league.
Each dropped player—along with any United Pickleball Association (UPA)-contracted player not currently on an MLP roster—will have a chance to be selected in the upcoming drafts. The following is a breakdown of which players were kept, who was dropped, and the potential reasons behind these decisions.
Team-by-Team Keeper and Drop List
| Team | Dropped Players | Kept Players & Salaries | Total Spent on Keepers | Draft Needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey 5s | Amanda Hendry (Contract) | Anna Leigh Waters ($340K), Zane Navratil ($82.5K), Will Howells ($27.5K) | $450K | 1 male, 2 females |
| New York Hustlers | Susannah Barr (Contract), Jack Sock (Team choice) ($275K), Riley Newman (Team choice) ($275K), Lea Jansen (Team choice) ($77K) | None | None | 3 males, 3 females |
| Orlando Squeeze | Vivienne David (Team choice) ($140K) | Federico Staksrud ($200K), Dylan Frazier ($177.5K), Lacy Schneemann ($20.5K) | $398K | 1 male, 2 females |
| Phoenix Flames | Jay Devilliers (Team choice) | Meghan Dizon ($150K), Tyson McGuffin ($145K), Jessie Irvine ($5.5K) | $300.5K | 2 males, 1 female |
| SoCal Hard Eights | Max Manthou (Contract) | Judit Castillo, Irina Tereschenko, Erik Lange | None | 2 males, 1 female |
| St. Louis Shock | Kate Fahey (Team choice) ($8.5K) | Anna Bright ($295K), Hayden Patriquin ($102.5K), Gabe Tardio ($92.5K) | $490K | 1 male, 2 females |
| Texas Ranchers | Quang Duong (Waiver) | Christian Alshon ($265K), Etta Tuionetoa ($157.5K), Tina Pisnik ($69K) | $491.5K | 2 males, 1 female |
| Utah Black Diamonds | Genie Bouchard (Waiver) | Connor Garnett ($70K), Tyler Loong ($29K), Alix Truong ($0.5K) | $99.5K | 1 male, 2 females |
What’s Next?
With the keeper decisions finalized, teams will now turn their focus to the draft, where they will fill out their rosters. Players not retained—whether due to contract issues, team strategies, or waiver releases—will have the opportunity to be selected. With multiple top-tier athletes available, the draft promises to be highly competitive.
The Premier Level draft is scheduled for March 2, followed by the Challenger Level draft on March 3. Teams with the most open roster spots, such as the New York Hustlers, will be looking to make significant additions.
News in Brief: Roster Moves for MLP 2025
The 2025 MLP Player Keeper Deadline has passed, with top players dropped and retained across teams. The Premier and Challenger drafts on March 2-3 will determine final rosters. Notably, New York Hustlers kept no players, while Texas Ranchers and St. Louis Shock spent the most on keepers.
ALSO READ: Major League Pickleball Trade Window: Key Moves Before the Deadline
