Ben Johns and Collin Johns’ MLP Withdrawal: Ben Johns and Collin Johns withdrew from four remaining matches with the Carolina Hogs at the Major League Pickleball (MLP) event in Columbus, Ohio, in early May. The reason was poor lighting. The United Pickleball Association (UPA) said the players had been given permission, but it sparked major backlash.
How It Started: Concerns Over Lighting
The day before the MLP Columbus event began, Ben Johns reached out to United Pickleball Association Chief Executive Officer Connor Pardoe. Ben was concerned about the lighting on the Championship Court. Pardoe, aware of Ben’s known medical condition that affects his vision, told him it was okay to withdraw if he needed to.
The levels of light here, by the numbers, are ~1/3 that of professional tennis. There have to be some minimum standards met. I would respect anyone’s choice not play in this, including his, disregarding my extra medical issue. H just got hit in the face. Coincidence? Maybe.
— Ben Johns (@BenJohns_pb) May 2, 2025
Connor Pardoe said, “Ben felt uncomfortable. He was unable to locate the ball, he wasn’t able to perform to the best of his ability.”
Connor Pardoe added, “Some people might say it’s preferential treatment for Ben, but I’d like to think we would try to handle the situation the same for everybody.”
Although Pardoe wasn’t at the event, Major League Pickleball Commissioner Samin Odhwani was. He and Ben stayed in touch through text. Ben used a light meter on the court and said it was too dark, but he still tried to play.
Statement from UPA CEO @connorpardoe_pb and MLP Commissioner @SaminOdhwani
"We are thrilled with the overall passion, excitement, and high level of play to start the 2025 MLP season, and want to keep the focus on the court for the duration of the event in Columbus.
That said,…
— Major League Pickleball (@MajorLeaguePB) May 2, 2025
The Carolina Hogs lost to the Phoenix Flames on Thursday. Then on Friday, they lost to the Atlanta Bouncers. During that match, Ben and Collin seemed to give little effort. Ben stood with his hands at his sides for much of the match. Afterward, Ben told Samin the lighting was worse and that he was pulling out of the rest of the event. Samin permitted him to do so.
View this post on Instagram
Communication Problems
According to Connor Pardoe, the bigger issue was the lack of clear communication. The league did not explain clearly what was expected of Ben and Collin after they chose to stop playing.
“I don’t think we realized the impact it was going to have on the rest of the event,” said Connor Pardoe.
View this post on Instagram
There was also confusion about whether the brothers would stay and support their team. The league assumed they would, but that was never directly stated.
Connor Pardoe said, “We were very accommodating to them to pull out of the event. Whether we should have or should not have done that, that’s something that we’re going to learn from at the league level.”
What Happened Next?
Many fans and players were angry. They expected a fine or suspension. Instead, the punishment was financial. On Wednesday, Major League Pickleball announced that Ben Johns and Collin Johns would not receive payouts for the four matches they missed.
After formal review of the events at the MLP Columbus 2025 event, it has been determined that Ben Johns and Collin Johns were granted permission to withdraw from their remaining matches through on-site league approval.
Ben Johns and Collin Johns have agreed to forfeit their…
— Major League Pickleball (@MajorLeaguePB) May 7, 2025
Ben lost $60,000, and Collin lost $18,000. That means Ben earns about $15,000 per MLP match. Since league officials permitted them to withdraw, a traditional fine was not issued.
View this post on Instagram
Unanswered Questions
Two questions remain. First, why was Collin Johns allowed to withdraw when only Ben Johns had a medical reason?
Connor Pardoe admitted, “The thing that we did that was wrong, is that we allowed Collin to pull out. But we allowed it. Let’s be clear.”
Second, if safety was the issue, why did Ben and Collin appear to give up during a match before pulling out? Connor Pardoe did not talk directly about their effort in the match. But he made it clear that the effort is now being taken seriously.
“If maximum effort is not given, we are going to have the right to fine, suspend and even terminate contracts,” said Connor Pardoe. On May 7, a memo was sent to all PPA and MLP players warning against low effort.
Memo to All PPA and MLP Players
You owe it to your fans, broadcasters, partners – and most importantly yourselves – to give 100% effort each and every time you step on the court. Instances of “lack of effort” in both PPA and MLP events have occurred and are not isolated incidents. We are nipping this in the bud now so that this does not become a trend or theme. There will be zero tolerance for this behavior.
Each case brought forward of suspected “lack of effort” will be evaluated by Chris Patrick (PPA Tour Deputy Commissioner), Connor Pardoe (PPA Tour CEO) and Samin Odhwani (MLP Commissioner). Repercussions for determined “lack of effort” can include fines, suspensions and termination of contract.
We are all in this together and want the best product for our players, fans, sponsors and media partners. This all starts with the players and we appreciate the leadership qualities you bring to the court and the community. If there is something that we can do better as a tour or league, we encourage you to work directly with us to help find solutions rather than taking issues to social media. We have made tremendous progress over the past few years, and with your continued partnership, we will keep moving forward and improving together.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Connor, Chris or Samin.
Thanks,
PPA/MLP Team
What It Means Moving Forward
This situation has started an important conversation about professionalism in pickleball. The league has promised stricter rules for players who don’t give full effort.
Connor Pardoe said, “We’re going to continue to grow the professionalism of the sport. And our goal is to get a little bit bigger, a little bit better, a little bit more professional every single week. And you know, we’re doing that.”
News in Brief: Ben Johns and Collin Johns’ MLP Withdrawal
Ben Johns and Collin Johns withdrew from the 2025 MLP Columbus event due to poor lighting. Though they got permission, fans were upset. The league did not fine them but took away $78,000 in payouts. A new memo now warns all players that a lack of effort may lead to fines or suspensions.