MLP Australia Shuffle Draft 2025: Three standout players from the United Pickleball Association Asia Trailblazers Programme have been selected in the Major League Pickleball Australia 2025 Mid Season Premier Shuffle Draft, held on 5 August 2025. Yufei Long of China, Jimmy Liong of Malaysia, and Ken Tam of Vietnam were chosen by top MLP teams for the second half of the season.
Rising Trailblazers Join MLP Australia
The Mid Season Shuffle Draft lets MLP Australia teams replace one player and add a new one. Yufei Long was drafted by the Sydney Smash, Jimmy Liong was picked up by the Northern Crocs, and Ken Tam was added to the Southeast Asia Surge lineup.
All three athletes are part of the first class of 12 players from the UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme, launched to grow elite pickleball talent in the region.
Player Ratings and Performances
Yufei Long has a DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) of 5.315 in singles and 5.372 in doubles. She had a strong season, including nearly reaching the quarterfinals in women’s doubles with teammate Jaime Wei at the Select Medical Orange County Cup in San Clemente, California.
She then made history by becoming the first women’s champion of the PPA Tour Asia at the Panas Malaysia Open 2025. In the final, she defeated Nicole Schoeman, the former first overall pick in MLP Australia.
Jimmy Liong holds a 5.271 singles rating and 5.321 doubles rating. He recently reached the semifinals at the Panas Malaysia Open 2025, showing steady improvement in international events. His selection to MLP Australia is expected to boost his growth even further.
Ken Tam has a singles rating of 5.155 and a doubles rating of 5.299. His draft into the Southeast Asia Surge confirms his rising status among Vietnam’s top pickleball players.
More Asian Players Enter the League
In addition to Yufei Long, Jimmy Liong, and Ken Tam, three more players from Asia were also drafted. Vietnam’s Nok Yiu Tang and Japan’s Mihae Kwon and Mayu Ito were all selected, continuing the trend of growing Asian talent in MLP Australia.
Looking Ahead
The MLP Australia 2025 season resumes in September. With new players like Yufei Long, Jimmy Liong, and Ken Tam joining the action, fans can expect stronger international competition. Their involvement also highlights the growing impact of the UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme in developing the next generation of top players.
News in Brief: MLP Australia Shuffle Draft 2025
Yufei Long, Jimmy Liong, and Ken Tam were drafted into Major League Pickleball Australia on 5 August 2025. All three are part of the UPA Asia Trailblazers Programme. Their selection shows Asia’s rising talent in pickleball. The MLP Australia 2025 season continues in September with stronger global participation.
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