As we head into MLP (Major League Pickleball) week, there’s excitement but also plenty of lingering questions. What exactly is MLP today? When Steve Kuhn first came up with the idea of Major League Pickleball, I thought it was a fantastic concept. I loved the idea of creating a team-based, college tennis-like atmosphere where fans could rally behind teams, with each team made up of two men and two women. The potential for this product to build a massive fanbase was clear from the start, and I was super excited.
However, the way it’s been structured and rolled out this year has led to concerns. This is why I initially pulled my name from the draft at the start of the year—there were more questions than answers. How would the new organization function? How would it all be presented? The framework—having a structured calendar and playing for something meaningful—sounded great in theory. But the execution? That’s where many players, including myself, have voiced frustrations.
Even now, at the end of the season, some of these questions still linger. This weekend marks the last regular season event, and while I’m competing for the Chicago Slice, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about how the league will evolve. The Slice is currently second in the standings, and we’ve got four crucial matches left against some of the league’s toughest teams. Everyone’s hungry for wins, pushing to secure playoff spots.
If we finish in the top two, we’ll avoid going to Dallas and head straight to Orlando for the semifinals and finals, which would also grant us an automatic bid for promotion next year. But even that isn’t totally clear. Our team, like others, is structured in such a way that none of the players can be kept by the Chicago Slice, meaning we would need to be redrafted—so there’s uncertainty even around what promotion will look like for next year.
Still, I feel great about this weekend. Our team has been growing stronger with every MLP event, and we’ve really gelled off the court as well. The energy is high, and I believe we can perform well against anyone.
So, when people ask me if I’m excited to play this weekend, my answer is yes—but it’s a mixed kind of excitement. I’m eager to compete for the Chicago Slice, for our team, and for our owners. But from the standpoint of the MLP product, it’s been disappointing to see how things have unfolded this year. I had such high hopes for this idea, but the way it’s been executed leaves a lot to be desired.
At the end of the day, though, I get to do what I love—play pickleball. And for now, that’s what matters most. Let’s go SLICE! 🍕
Follow along online at: https://www.majorleaguepickleball.net
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