The Picklr MLP Salt Lake City Event Preview

And just like THAT. The 2025 Major League Pickleball (MLP) regular season is on its last stop before the playoffs.

The Picklr MLP Salt Lake City is going to be held at The Picklr in Kaysville, Utah, a northern suburb of Salt Lake City, from Thursday, July 31–Sunday, August 3.

Seven Premier Level teams are playing in the event, while all six Challenger Level teams are also playing.

Top Storylines Headed Into MLP Salt Lake City

Four Teams are Fighting for Two Playoff Spots

Eight teams have clinched a playoff berth, while four teams have been mathematically eliminated from contention. 

This leaves four teams fighting it out for the last two playoff spots.

Here are the four teams, their place in the standings, and the teams they play in Salt Lake City:

• Utah Black Diamonds - 20 matches played, 23 points, 1.15 PPM, 9th in PPM
  • Play Texas, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami
• Miami Pickleball Club - 20 matches played, 19 points, 0.95 PPM, 10th in PPM
  • Play Chicago, Texas, Atlanta, New Jersey, Utah
• Chicago Slice - 20 matches played, 18 points, 0.9 PPM, 11th in PPM
  • Play Texas, Miami, Utah, New Jersey, Orlando
• Atlanta Bouncers - 20 matches played, 14 points, 0.7 PPM, 13th in PPM
  • Play Orlando, Miami, Texas, Utah, New Jersey

The Challenger Level Playoff Seeding Will Be Determined

The Las Vegas Night Owls are on the fast track to the #1 seed in the Challenger Level. They just need to earn two standings points in their five matches in Salt Lake City to lock up the #1 seed.

The Chefs are most likely going to end up with the #2 seed, as long as they earn at least six points from their five matches. 

The most intriguing race in Challenger is the #3 seed. D.C. has a five point lead on Bay Area for that coveted spot. The #3 seed is very important because whoever gets it will be able to choose their opponent in the first round of the playoffs. 

D.C. is playing with Rafa Hewett this weekend, as Stefan Auvergne picked up an injury in MLP St. Louis.

Orlando, Miami, and Utah are Debuting New Rosters

There was a flurry of trades made at the trade deadline, and all three teams mentioned made some moves.

Utah traded away Genie Erokhina to the Nashville Chefs (Challenger), and picked up Etta Tuionetoa from the Carolina Hogs.

Orlando traded away Samantha Parker to the Dallas Flash, and picked up Milan Rane from Miami.

Miami made a ton of moves for cash, including trading Noe Khlif to the New Jersey 5s, Milan Rane to Orlando, and getting rid of a couple of other assets for cash.

These three teams have the most changed rosters headed into MLP Salt Lake City - it will be interesting to see which team gels the best.

Premier Level Standings with MLP Salt Lake City Participants

Number of Matches Per Premier Level Team

Match Schedule along with How to Watch MLP Salt Lake City

Blue is Premier Level, and Peach is Challenger Level

Additionally, regional networks will be airing the following matches: 

Thursday, July 31

• ATL vs. ORL (2:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. ET) on FanDuel Sports Network Florida
• MIA vs. CHI (3:30 p.m. MT / 5:30 p.m. ET) on FanDuel Sports Network Florida

Friday, August 1

• TEX vs. MIA (12 p.m. MT / 2 p.m. ET) on FanDuel Sports Network Florida

Saturday, August 2

• NJ vs. MIA (2:30 p.m. MT / 4:30 p.m. ET) on FanDuel Sports Network Sun and FOX 5 New York

Sunday, August 3 – all Championship Court matches on MSG Networks and:

• ORL vs. NJ (4:30 p.m. MT / 6:30 p.m. ET) on FOX 5 New York

Team by Team Breakdown and Analysis

New Jersey 5s

Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 21 matches played, 53 points, 2.52 PPM, 3rd in PPM

# Matches: 4

Opponents: Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Orlando

Projected Starters: Anna Leigh Waters, Meghan Dizon, Will Howells, Noe Khlif

Bench: Mari Humberg and Zane Navratil

The 5s are the best team at this event, and should clean up, considering they don't even play the Ranchers this weekend. Noe Khlif seemed to find his footing with the team in MLP Dallas, and the 5s should be rolling, headed into the playoffs.

Predicted Points: The 5s earn 11 points out of a possible 12 points in Salt Lake City.

Texas Ranchers

Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 20 matches played, 36 points, 1.80 PPM, 7th in PPM

# Matches: 5

Opponents: Chicago, Utah, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta

Projected Starters: Christian Alshon, Tina Pisnik, Eric Oncins, Kaitlyn Christian

Bench: Felicity Di Laura and Wyatt Stone

The Ranchers didn't play their best in MLP Dallas. Christian Alshon looked off from his normal self, and the team lost some games and matches I was surprised about.

They have one more shot at righting the ship before the playoffs. They would need to play nearly perfect in SLC in order to leapfrog the Mad Drops for the 6th seed, so I expect them in the 7th spot.

Predicted Points: The Ranchers earn 8 of the possible 15 points from MLP Dallas, earning a playoff berth.

Orlando Squeeze

Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 20 matches played, 34 points, 1.7 PPM, 8th in PPM

# Matches: 5

Opponents: Atlanta, Texas, Chicago, Utah, New Jersey

Projected Starters: Federico Staksrud, Dylan Frazier, Lacy Schneemann, Milan Rane

Bench: Alli Phillips and Grayson Goldin

The Squeeze haven't played in nearly a month, and they haven't played as a full team with Milan Rane, ever. This is their only warmup before the playoffs. They get five matches to put everything together.

Predicted Points: The Squeeze earn 11 points out of a possible 15 points in Salt Lake City.

Utah Black Diamonds

Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 20 matches played, 23 points, 1.15 PPM, 9th in PPM

# Matches: 5

Opponents: Texas, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami

Projected Starters: Etta Tuionetoa, Allyce Jones, Connor Garnett, Tyler Loong

Bench: Chloe Igleski and Yates Johnson

The Black Diamonds were already looking like a playoff team before they upgraded to Etta Tuionetoa at the trade deadline.

This team is going is the favorite for one of the two remaining playoff spots, but could really use wins against Chicago, Atlanta and Miami, to solidify that spot. The good news is, they don't have to play the 5s.

Predicted Points: The Black Diamonds earn 8 points out of a possible 15 points in Salt Lake City.

Miami Pickleball Club

Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 20 matches played, 19 points, 0.95 PPM, 10th in PPM

# Matches: 5

Opponents: Chicago, Texas, Atlanta, New Jersey, Utah

Projected Starters: Jay Devilliers, Tammy Emmrich, Yuta Funemizu, and Mya Bui

Bench: Tatiana Ruhl and Juan Benitez

Miami gutted their team for cash at the trade deadline, trading away Noe Khlif and Milan Rane for money. This was a smart move in the long term, as Miami isn't really competing for a championship this year, but could use the cash in the off season to upgrade their team.

Devilliers and Bui are the only two players still left on the team that started the season on the team.

Predicted Points: Miami earns 2 points out of a possible 15 points in Salt Lake City.

Chicago Slice

Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 20 matches played, 18 points, 0.9 PPM, 11th in PPM

# Matches: 5

Opponents: Texas, Miami, Utah, New Jersey, Orlando

Projected Starters: James Ignatowich, Max Freeman, Vivian Glozman, Callie Smith

Bench: Pierina Imparato and Carlos Di Laura

The Slice could pull off an upset in the playoffs if they sneak in. Glozman has a super high ceiling and so does Ignatowich - if both get hot, anything is possible.

The Slice have the toughest schedule, but I think they squeak into that last playoff spot.

Predicted Points: Chicago earns 8 points out of a possible 15 points in Salt Lake City.

Atlanta Bouncers

Points Per Match (PPM) & Standings: 20 matches played, 14 points, 0.7 PPM, 13th in PPM

# Matches: 5

Opponents: Orlando, Miami, Texas, Utah, New Jersey

Projected Starters: Jaume Martinez Vich, Todd Fought, Vivienne David, and Victoria DiMuzio

Bench: Rachel Rettger and Eric Roddy

I could see Roddy getting some playing time as well, like he did in MLP St. Louis. The Bouncers have the biggest hill to climb out of the teams still hunting for a playoff spot, AND a very difficult schedule to do it with.

Predicted Points: Atlanta only earns 3 points out of a possible 15 points in Salt Lake City.