2025 Major League Pickleball Standouts: The 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) regular season has wrapped up after a year filled with standout performances, close playoff races, and rising talent. With tight battles between the St. Louis Shock and Dallas Flash for the top spot, and late drama between the Miami Pickleball Club and Chicago Slice, it’s time to spotlight the players who stood out the most.
Most Valuable Player
Four players made strong cases for Most Valuable Player.
Anna Leigh Waters had another great season, finishing with a 49-7 record. Her mixed doubles play with Will Howells was solid, but her women’s doubles record with Meghan Dizon stood out more due to the difficulty of the pairing.
Jorja Johnson went an impressive 51-7. She teamed up with top 10 players JW Johnson and Tyra Black. She mainly played the right side in women’s doubles but stayed very involved, playing an active style that added value to her results.
Hayden Patriquin posted the best men’s record at 50-7. He played with elite partners Anna Bright and Gabe Tardio. Still, 50 wins in one season is a major achievement.
The top pick for MVP, though, is Gabe Tardio. Tardio finished 49-9 overall. With Hayden Patriquin, he went 27-2 in men’s doubles, the best team performance in MLP this year. Tardio also posted a 21-7 mixed record with Kate Fahey, a partner ranked #15 in women’s mixed doubles. That performance stood out the most.
“Tardio right now is arguably the best player in the world. It is definitely him or Ben Johns. I have to go Tardio this year, based on the full body of work.”
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Most Improved Player
Several players raised their level in 2025, but one stood out most.
Jorja Johnson went from second team All-MLP in 2024 to first team in 2025, becoming more consistent overall.
Jade Kawamoto had a big year, teaming up with Catherine Parenteau in women’s doubles. They were nearly unbeatable mid-season. Kawamoto also had a strong mixed record with Hunter Johnson at 18-7.
Yuta Funemizu ended the year with a 10-18 record but started from almost no recognition. He showed promise and could improve further next season.
The winner is Blaine Hovenier. In 2024, he played at the Challenger Level, but in 2025, he led his team with a 25-31 record. His teammates had an average ranking of 49, yet he helped lift their performance.
“Hovenier’s enthusiasm and super positive attitude clearly helped his teammates all year, raising their level of play. Hovenier is well-deserving of recognition as most improved.”
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Super Sub of the Year
Filling in during last-minute situations isn’t easy, but these players made the most of it.
Wyatt Stone made a big impact in Salt Lake City. Texas needed to win all matches to reach the playoffs. With Christian Alshon out, Stone stepped in and went 6-4, keeping Texas in the hunt.
Pat Smith came in for Riley Newman at MLP Phoenix. Without any warmup, he went 2-0 for the Brooklyn Aces in an important match early in the season.
The winner is AJ Koller. He mostly subbed for Dekel Bar on Brooklyn and impressed everyone. He went 13-5 in mixed doubles with Rachel Rorhabacher and had an 8-7 record in men’s doubles with Riley Newman.
“Pretty good for a guy who was not only undrafted, but was never picked up on waivers! Not sure what the various MLP general managers were thinking, but Koller is a very deserving winner of this award.”
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All Effort Award
MLP rewards energy and hustle, and some players made that their trademark. Blaine Hovenier is once again a nominee. His drive and effort helped inspire his team throughout the year.
Anna Bright gave everything on the court for the St. Louis Shock. Her intensity and leadership played a key part in St. Louis finishing at the top. The winner is Allyce Jones of the Utah Black Diamonds. Her non-stop energy made her a fan favorite.
“Jones was the effort highlight reel. Who can forget the diving ATP at Salt Lake City? That was the high effort shot off the year. Allyce Jones is my pick for the high effort player of the year.”
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Looking Ahead
As the MLP playoffs approach, the focus shifts to crowning a champion. The 2025 regular season showed growth, depth, and rising stars. With players like Gabe Tardio, Jorja Johnson, and Blaine Hovenier leading the way, MLP is stronger than ever and fans can expect even more excitement in the postseason.
News in Brief: 2025 Major League Pickleball Standouts
The 2025 MLP season wrapped up with standout players earning praise. Gabe Tardio was named MVP, Blaine Hovenier was most improved, AJ Koller took super sub honors, and Allyce Jones earned the all effort award. With strong showings from many, the league heads into a thrilling playoff season.
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