Non-Playoff Teams Gear Up for a 2025 Comeback: The Major League Pickleball event in Miami has ended, bringing the regular season to a close. With the playoffs set to commence, attention shifts to the six teams competing for the championship title, while the remaining six begin the task of re-assessing their strategies for the upcoming 2025 season.
Non-Playoff Teams and Their 2025 Outlook
Among the six teams left behind—the Los Angeles Mad Drops, Arizona Drive, Orlando Squeeze, Carolina Pickleball Club, Columbus Sliders, and Utah Black Diamonds—the path to success was fraught with challenges. Each squad now faces critical decisions as they regroup and strategize for the future.
Los Angeles Mad Drops
Finishing the season with 31 points, the Los Angeles Mad Drops endured a frustrating year, largely hindered by the absence of Thomas Wilson. Despite the reliable performance of Hunter Johnson as a late addition, the team couldn’t overcome Thomas Wilson’s injury.
The team faces a crucial decision regarding Thomas Wilson’s future; if he returns, the Los Angeles Mad Drops may retain him alongside Catherine Parenteau and potentially Hunter Johnson. However, should Thomas Wilson not return, the team will need to identify a suitable replacement.
Arizona Drive
With a total of 29 points, the Arizona Drive experienced frequent success but struggled to find a consistent rhythm. The pairing of Dylan Frazier and Andrei Daescu ultimately fell short of expectations.
However, following some trades, the duo of Lacy Schneemann and Jessie Irvine began to find their footing, particularly Jessie Irvine, who shone in the latter part of the season. Management now faces daunting decisions, weighing the merits of retaining or releasing any player on the roster.
Orlando Squeeze
Similar to Arizona Drive, the Orlando Squeeze mirrored their inconsistency, displaying flashes of brilliance one match only to falter in the next. Federico Staksrud and Tyson McGuffin underperformed, while the newly formed partnership of Vivienne David and Meghan Dizon struggled to mesh, with both players preferring to play on the right side.
Meghan Dizon is likely to be released, given her failure to justify her auction price, and the same could apply to Tyson McGuffin and Vivienne David. The organization may need to reallocate its budget to build a more efficient team around Federico Staksrud.
Carolina Pickleball Club
The Carolina Pickleball Club emerged as perhaps the most surprising disappointment of the season. With a player of Ben Johns‘ caliber, a playoff berth seemed almost a certainty.
However, the team’s mixed doubles pairing with Collin Johns fell flat, failing to dominate even in men’s doubles. It may be in Carolina Pickleball Club’s best interest to explore alternatives, pairing Ben Johns with players who can complement his skills.
Names like Tyler Loong, Jaume Martinez Vich, or Dekel Bar come to mind as potential fits. After trades brought in Kaitlyn Christian and Brooke Buckner, the organization might consider replacing them with equally skilled players.
In a bold move, dropping the entire team—including Ben Johns—could create a dramatic shake-up heading into the 2025 season.
Columbus Sliders
The Columbus Sliders also shared in the disappointment, finishing with a mere 21 points. The initial pairing of Riley Newman and Connor Garnett failed to ignite, while the women drafted struggled to find their form.
The Columbus Sliders made the most trades among the non-playoff teams, but ultimately to no avail. Jay Devilliers and Callie Jo Smith are obvious candidates for release, and Parris Todd might follow suit. A fresh start may even involve dropping Riley Newman, hoping to snag him again at a reduced price.
Utah Black Diamonds
Positioned at the bottom of the standings with 14 points, the Utah Black Diamonds faced an uphill battle throughout the season. Their trade for Connor Garnett provided a glimmer of hope, and Alix Truong showed signs of improvement.
However, all four players on the roster are likely to be released as Utah Black Diamonds seeks to rebuild. The team has the option to reclaim their former players or pursue new talent that better fits their vision.
News in Brief: Non-Playoff Teams Gear Up for a 2025 Comeback
The Major League Pickleball event in Miami has concluded, marking the end of the regular season. Six teams will now compete for the championship title, while six others reflect on a challenging season and strategize for 2025.
Teams like the Los Angeles Mad Drops and Carolina Pickleball Club face critical decisions regarding player futures, while the Utah Black Diamonds aim to rebuild after a disappointing campaign.
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