MLP 2025 Final Waiver Window: Which Teams Should Rethink Their Roster?

Jun 12

Major League Pickleball’s final waiver period for 2025 has officially begun, and Premier-level teams have some tough calls to make.

Each of the 16 squads has submitted their list of four protected starters, effectively shielding those players from being picked up by rival franchises. That leaves two players per team exposed—and available to be claimed via waivers. With Thursday’s noon deadline fast approaching, the question becomes: who should make a move, and who is likely to stay put?

There are no trades here, only waiver claims. And while some teams are set and standing pat, others have real opportunities to upgrade. The final list of moves will be revealed on Monday, but for now, let’s break down what’s at stake—and who should be looking over their shoulder.

The Teams That Likely Stand Still

Eight franchises appear content with their current lineup and are unlikely to make a move: Dallas, St. Louis, New Jersey, LA, Brooklyn, Columbus, Texas, and Utah. These teams are either satisfied with their initial draft or not in a position to overhaul without major internal implications.

Atlanta Bouncers

Likely Drops: Todd Fought (6-24), Victoria DiMuzio (5-19)

Fought brings effort and grit, but his numbers haven’t helped Atlanta win. DiMuzio still plays like a project—not quite ready for Premier-level consistency. Roscoe Bellamy could be a better fit, particularly over Fought.

Prediction: No moves. Atlanta may choose chemistry over an upgrade.

Carolina Pickleball Club

Likely Drops: Collin Johns (9-11), Tammy Emmrich (9-19)

In a surprising decision, Carolina protected Brandon French over Collin Johns. The logic? Johns’ energy has been off, and the team seems to think no other franchise will pick him up. If that’s the gamble, it might work. But it’s still puzzling. Tammy Emmrich, meanwhile, plays with heart but may be more suited to the Challenger level.

Ideal Scenario: Drop Johns for AJ Koller—a proven MLP veteran with chemistry potential alongside Ben Johns—and replace Emmrich with Christa Gecheva, who has clicked with Kaitlyn Christian in the PPA.

Prediction: No moves. Carolina seems locked into their decisions, even if better alternatives exist.

Chicago Slice

Likely Drop: Max Freeman (8-20)

Freeman’s doubles play hasn’t caught up to Premier expectations. He’s growing, but Chicago could aim higher.

Ideal Pickups: Erik Lange or Roscoe Bellamy—both more seasoned and court-ready.

Prediction: No moves. Chicago seems inclined to give Freeman more runway.

Miami Pickleball Club

Likely Drop: Mya Bui (10-20)

Bui was a reach on draft day. She’s exceeded expectations slightly but hasn’t cemented her place. Miami should be eyeing Rachel Rettger, who shined in 2024, or Helena Jansen, who’s made strong recent impressions.

Decision Factors: Milan Rane’s preferred side matters. Rettger is stronger on the right; Jansen excels on the left. That choice could guide the move.

Prediction: No moves—but it would be a missed opportunity.

New York Hustlers

Likely Drops: Dominique Schaefer (6-16), Lingwei Kong (3-13), Donald Young (5-9)

Schaefer has shown improvement and Young’s style meshes well with Zane Ford. Kong, however, remains a liability in high-level matchups.

Ideal Pickup: Rettger or Gecheva could offer more consistency.

Prediction: No moves. New York seems hesitant to shake up the roster mid-season.

Orlando Squeeze

Likely Drop: Samantha Parker (13-17)

Parker came out of the gates strong but has cooled off. She wasn’t projected as a Premier-level talent, and the numbers are starting to reflect that.

Ideal Fit: Rettger or Gecheva, depending on whether Lacy Schneemann wants to play left or right.

Prediction: No moves. Orlando is likely banking on internal growth.

Phoenix Rise

Likely Drops: Jack Sock (7-21), Genie Bouchard (4-22)

Sock’s crossover appeal hasn’t translated into MLP wins—he was the lowest-rated player in 2024 and hasn’t improved much in 2025. Bouchard hasn’t shown Premier-level ability either.

Ideal Pickups: Roscoe Bellamy could complement Tyson McGuffin well, and Helena Jansen would be a smart partner for Jessie Irvine.

Challenge: Teams can only make one waiver move per period. With that constraint, Phoenix may be forced to keep Sock and prioritize replacing Bouchard.

Prediction: No moves. Sadly, Phoenix doesn’t appear to be prioritizing competitiveness.

SoCal Hard Eights

Likely Drop: Ryan Fu (4-24)

This one's baffling. SoCal exposed Roscoe Bellamy instead of Fu, despite Bellamy clearly being the better player. Fu’s stats speak for themselves—and not in a good way.

Ideal Pickup: Pat Smith. He’s 2-0 and would bring veteran balance to the youthful energy of Blaine Hovenier. Erik Lange is also in the mix, but Smith may be the smoother fit.

Prediction: No moves. If SoCal didn’t keep Bellamy over Fu, they’re unlikely to rethink things now.

Final Word: Fear Of Admitting Mistakes

In theory, this final waiver window should be a moment for fine-tuning. Several teams could meaningfully upgrade.

Yet most won’t. Why? Making a waiver move is a subtle admission that a draft pick didn’t pan out—and teams don’t like to admit mistakes.

But this isn’t about pride. It’s about performance. And for teams truly serious about contending, the opportunity is right here, right now.

Will anyone take it? Monday will tell.

Rahul Khadke