Carolina Hogs and Texas Ranchers Pickleball Trade: Major League Pickleball confirmed a major mid-season trade on Tuesday, shifting team lineups ahead of two important upcoming events. The Carolina Hogs acquired Etta Tuionetoa from the Texas Ranchers in exchange for Kaitlyn Christian and cash considerations. Both teams are preparing for their next tournaments in early July.
Trade Details and Player Moves
The Carolina Hogs, currently holding a 2–12 record with 7 points, made a move to strengthen their lineup by bringing in Etta Tuionetoa. The 17-year-old rising star has shown promise and will join a Carolina team led by Ben Johns and Martin Emmrich.
In return, the Texas Ranchers (8–6, 27 points) received veteran Kaitlyn Christian, known for her doubles skills, along with additional financial support. Texas aims to build a deeper and more experienced squad as they head into the second half of the season.
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Updated Team Rosters
With this trade, the Carolina Hogs roster now includes Ben Johns, Martin Emmrich, Roscoe Bellamy, Etta Tuionetoa, Tamaryn Emmrich, and Liz Truluck. The Hogs are next scheduled to compete at MLP New York from July 3 to July 6.
The Texas Ranchers will now field a team of Christian Alshon, Eric Oncins, Wyatt Stone, Tina Pisnik, Kaitlyn Christian, and Felicity Di Laura. The Ranchers’ next competition will be the Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament, running from July 9 to July 13.
Why This Trade Matters
This deal is expected to impact the second half of the 2025 Major League Pickleball season. For Carolina, Tuionetoa’s addition brings youthful energy and strong potential to a team that has struggled. For Texas, Christian’s experience could boost their playoff push in a tightly contested Premier division.
With both teams set to return to action in July, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how these roster changes affect team chemistry and performance in the coming matches.
News in Brief: Carolina Hogs and Texas Ranchers Pickleball Trade
Major League Pickleball announced a trade between the Carolina Hogs and Texas Ranchers. Etta Tuionetoa joins Carolina, while Kaitlyn Christian moves to Texas with added cash. Both teams return to action in July, and the trade may influence playoff hopes and on-court success in the 2025 season.
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