The MLP Challenger Level Free Agency Draft took place, with teams bidding draft points for selection spots rather than individual players. Each team strategically secured players to complete their four-player rosters, setting the stage for an exciting 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season.
How the Draft Worked
The six Challenger Level teams participated in a unique bidding process, where they placed draft points to earn selection spots.
The minimum bid for each pick was 1K draft points, and the bidding continued until each roster was complete. This system allowed teams to make strategic choices based on roster needs and available talent.
Pick-by-Pick Coverage and Team Rosters
- Pick 1: Bay Area Breakers selected Eric Roddy with a 9K draft point bid.
- Pick 10: Bay Area Breakers selected Wyatt Stone with 1K draft points.
- Pick 11: Bay Area Breakers selected Lingwei Kong with 1K draft points.
- Final Roster: Eric Roddy, Wyatt Stone, Lingwei Kong, Allyce Jones.
Nashville Pandas Stack Their Squad
- Pick 2: Nashville Pandas selected Anderson Scarpa with 8K draft points.
- Pick 3: Nashville Pandas selected Marshall Brown with 7K draft points.
- Pick 9: Nashville Pandas selected Michelle Esquivel with 1K draft points.
- Final Roster: Anderson Scarpa, Marshall Brown, Michelle Esquivel, Ewa Radzikowska.
Las Vegas Night Owls Round Out Their Roster
- Pick 4: Las Vegas Night Owls selected James Delgado with 6K draft points.
- Final Roster: James Delgado, Pablo Tellez, Brooke Buckner, Zoey Wang.
Florida Smash Secure Back-to-Back Picks
- Pick 5: Florida Smash selected Sarah Ansboury with 5K draft points.
- Pick 6: Florida Smash selected Cason Campbell with 3K draft points.
- Final Roster: Travis Rettenmaier, Cason Campbell, Martina Frantova, Sarah Ansboury.
Brooklyn Aces Lock In Their Team
- Pick 7: Brooklyn Aces selected Stefan Auvergne with 2K draft points.
- Final Roster: Daniel de la Rosa, Stefan Auvergne, Andrea Koop, Mari Humberg.
California Black Bears Make Their Final Pick
- Pick 8: California Black Bears selected Stephen Madonia with 1K draft points.
- Final Roster: Rafa Hewett, Stephen Madonia, Lina Padegimaite, Layne Sleeth.
Looking Ahead to the 2025 MLP Season
With the draft complete, all six Challenger Level teams have locked in their rosters, bringing fresh talent and strategic lineups into the 2025 MLP season. The mix of experienced professionals and emerging stars will make for an exciting competition as teams look to make their mark in the league.
News in Brief: MLP Challenger Level Free Agency Draft
The MLP Challenger Level Free Agency Draft concluded with teams bidding for selection spots to build their rosters. Bay Area Breakers, Nashville Pandas, Las Vegas Night Owls, Florida Smash, Brooklyn Aces, and California Black Bears finalized their four-player squads. The 2025 MLP season promises exhilarating matchups and intense competition.
ALSO READ: 2025 MLP Premier Level Free Agency Draft Recap: Full Results and Key Takeaways
