MLP Orlando 2025 Season Matchups: MLP Orlando kicked off the 2025 season with exciting matchups, including former women’s doubles partners facing off in intense showdowns. The three-day event featured top players like Anna Leigh Waters, Anna Bright, Catherine Parenteau, and Rachel Rohrabacher, competing in new pairings under the Major League Pickleball format.
Former Partners Meet in Early Matchups
One of the biggest storylines in Orlando was the face-off between new and former partners. With recent team changes in the PPA, MLP fans witnessed players competing against their old teammates.
In the New Jersey 5s versus Los Angeles Mad Drops match, Anna Leigh Waters teamed with Meghan Dizon to play Catherine Parenteau and Jade Kawamoto in women’s doubles. With the new single-game format to 11, quick starts were key. Parenteau and Kawamoto claimed the win, 11-8. Parenteau, fired up for the match, matched Waters in fast-paced rallies. Kawamoto stayed consistent, while Dizon’s extra errors tipped the balance.
Another key battle came when St. Louis Shock faced Brooklyn Pickleball Team. Anna Bright played with Kate Fahey against her former partner Rachel Rohrabacher. Bright led the charge, helping St. Louis win 11-4. Fahey played a solid game, keeping the ball in play and letting Bright control the offense.
Waters vs. Bright: A Tense Final Match
The weekend’s biggest draw was the final match between St. Louis and New Jersey. It brought Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright face-to-face in women’s doubles. Bright and Fahey started strong and held off a late push from Waters and Dizon to win 11-8. The match included ten game points before St. Louis closed it out.
Why the Wins and Losses Happened
Several factors shaped the outcomes in Orlando. Unlike the PPA, MLP matches are short—just one game to 11. This format gives less room for comebacks and increases the chance of upsets. Another difference is team formation. Players don’t get to pick their usual partners. Bright is widely seen as a stronger player than Parenteau, which is why Waters switched to her in the PPA. But in MLP, Waters was with Dizon, who is not a top 10 player.
In the match against St. Louis, Bright and Fahey targeted Dizon on 70% of the shots, according to RealClearStats. “Bright and Fahey did what everyone should always do against Waters and that is to freeze her out.”
Fahey had a rough patch but stayed steady enough to help secure the win. Bright also stood out. Parenteau and Rohrabacher played well, but not as well as Bright and Waters.
View this post on Instagram
What It Means for the Season Ahead
MLP’s format shows how even the top players can lose when paired with weaker teammates. The success of a team often depends on how well the weaker player performs under pressure.
If players like Dizon want to compete at the highest level in MLP, they will need to raise their consistency. As the season continues, expect more surprises, fierce matchups, and strategic play as teams adjust and players rise—or fall—based on their MLP lineups.
News in Brief: MLP Orlando 2025 Season Matchups
MLP Orlando launched the 2025 season with dramatic matches and big-name battles. Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright faced off after splitting as partners, with Bright leading her team to victory. MLP’s fast format and team shuffles created exciting upsets, showing how depth matters as much as star power.