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Major League Pickleball trade deadline roundup

Alex Lantz
Director of Content

Last Edited

Jul 21 2025

Category

News

Several teams have made big changes in the past week ahead of the Major League Pickleball trade deadline, and we're here to recap all the moves.

Even the deadline itself was changed multiple times, which allowed the biggest blockbuster of them all to go through. The trade deadline was originally supposed to be July 14, but was pushed back to July 16, then pushed back again to Monday, July 21, at noon ET.

Below you'll find a recap of all the moves that were made and updated rosters for each team. We've put them in order of which trades we think will have the biggest impact on the Premier Level playoff race.

Ben Johns heading to Los Angeles Mad Drops in head-turning move

This trade came through on Saturday afternoon and immediately vaulted LA into the conversation as a title contender. It's easily the most impactful trade in MLP history, and you can find more in-depth analysis of this trade in our story from Saturday.

The terms of the deal:

Move No. 1
LA adds Brandon French to fill open roster spot.

Trade No. 1
LA acquires Ben Johns and Etta Tuionetoa from Carolina.
Carolina acquires French, Danna Funaro and cash considerations from LA.

Trade No. 2
Utah acquires Etta Tuionetoa from LA.
LA acquires Mehvish Safdar and cash considerations from Utah.

The league does not announce how much cash was exchanged in trades, but I have to assume Carolina received the maximum amount allowed in this deal, which is $200,000 per player. I suspect that's why they packaged Etta Tuionetoa with Johns, so they could essentially get $400,000 for Johns by collecting $200,000 for each player.

I don't know that for a fact -- but I think it's reasonable to assume it's at least close to that.

New Jersey 5s in championship-or-bust mode

The New Jersey 5s also made a big move to bolster their men's lineup, acquiring Noe Khlif from the Miami Pickleball Club with the intention of starting him ahead of Zane Navratil going forward. We also took a closer look at that trade here.

The terms of the deal:

-Miami acquires Craig Johnson and cash
-New Jersey acquires Noe Khlif

Orlando makes move to improve women's lineup

This trade came through Sunday evening and also involved three teams, but the biggest name on the move is Milan Rane, who heads to Orlando in place of Samantha Parker.

Orlando got off to a hot start this season, but has struggled in recent events. The women's doubles pair of Lacy Schneemann and Parker was 9-15, as was the mixed doubles pair of Dylan Frazier and Parker. This move is a clear effort by Orlando to bolster those lines.

The terms of the deal:

Trade No. 1
-Dallas receives Samantha Parker
-Orlando receives Tatiana Ruhl and cash

Trade No. 2
-Orlando receives Milan Rane
-Miami receives Tatiana Ruhl and cash

Carolina fire sale continues with more trades

After selling off Ben Johns and Etta Tuionetoa for cash, the Hogs were back Sunday and Monday taking bids for the rest of their players.

The terms of the deals:

Trade No. 1
-Dallas Flash receive Roscoe Bellamy
-Carolina Hogs receive Ivan Jakovljevic and cash

Trade No. 2
-Carolina Hogs acquire Ava Ignatowich, Craig Johnson and cash
-Miami Pickleball Club acquires Tamaryn Emmrich and Martin Emmrich

Nashville Chefs make move with hopes of winning Challenger Level championship

The Nashville Chefs -- The Kitchen's MLP team -- made a move at the last minute to get Genie Erokhina in place of Michelle Esquivel, who was placed on Injured Reserve.

The terms of the deal:

Move No. 1
Nashville Chefs add Chloe Igleski and place Esquivel on Injured Reserve

Trade
-Utah Black Diamonds acquire Chloe Igleski and cash
-Nashville Chefs acquire Genie Erokhina

The Chefs have been in second place in the Challenger Level standings all season, and finished second to Las Vegas at the MLP Mid-Season Tournament. The league announced last week that the winner of this season's Challenger Level championship will be promoted to the Premier Level for the 2026 season, so several Challenger teams made moves Monday.

D.C. Pickleball Team makes addition to men's lineup

The D.C. Pickleball Team on Monday added Rafa Hewett to the roster and placed Stefan Auvergne on Injured Reserve.

California Black Bears also make change to men's lineup

-California Black Bears acquire Martin Emmrich
-Miami Pickleball Club acquires Juan Benetiz and cash

Updated Major League Pickleball Premier Level rosters

Carolina Hogs
Men: Brandon French, Craig Johnson, Ivan Jakovljevic
Women: Liz Truluck, Danna Funaro, Ava Ignatowich

Dallas
Men: JW Johnson, Augie Ge, Roscoe Bellamy
Women: Jorja Johnson, Tyra Black, Samantha Parker

Los Angeles Mad Drops
Men: Ben Johns, Hunter Johnson, Wesley Burrows, Thomas Wilson (IR)
Women: Catherine Parenteau, Jade Kawamoto, Mehvish Safdar

Miami Pickleball Club
Men: Jay Devilliers, Yuta Funemizu, Juan Benitez
Women: Tatiana Ruhl, Mya Bui, Tamaryn Emmrich

New Jersey 5s
Men: Noe Khlif, Zane Navratil, Will Howells
Women: Anna Leigh Waters, Meghan Dizon, Mari Humberg

Orlando
Men: Federico Staksrud, Dylan Frazier, Grayson Goldin, Tom Evans (restricted list)
Women: Lacy Schneeman, Milan Rane, Allison Phillips

Utah Black Diamonds
Men: Tyler Loong, Connor Garnett, Yates Johnson
Women: Etta Tuionetoa, Allyce Jones, Chloe Igleski

Updated Major League Pickleball Challenger Level rosters

Nashville Chefs
Men: Marshall Brown, Anderson Scarpa
Women: Ewa Radzikowska, Genie Erokhina

D.C. Pickleball Team
Men: Daniel De La Rosa, Rafa Hewett
Women: Andrea Koop, Christa Gecheva

California Black Bears
Men: Michael Loyd, Martin Emmrich
Women: Lina Padegimaite, Layne Sleeth

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