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MLP Week 6 Power Rankings: Brooklyn wins without starters, Phoenix goes up in flames

Alex Lantz
Director of Content

Last Edited

Jul 01 2025

Category

News

The second weekend in a row of pro pickleball in southern California wrapped up Sunday with the conclusion of MLP San Clemente.

We saw a few teams in the middle of the pack battling for points that will impact their playoff seedings and a few teams on the bubble just trying to keep their playoff hopes alive.

While the event was missing the consensus top 3 teams -- Dallas, St. Louis and New Jersey -- there were still plenty of storylines and drama, which we'll dive more into below. It also was the second event where we've seen the Challenger Level teams.

It's hard to declare a sure-fire winner at the Premier Level from the weekend, as Brooklyn and Columbus both went 3-1 while Los Angeles went 4-1, and each of their losses exposed their relative weaknesses.

In Challenger, Las Vegas was handed its first loss of the season, but the Night Owls went 4-1 on the weekend and they continue to look like the team to beat in the division. The Nashville Chefs -- The Kitchen's MLP team -- went 3-2 for the second event in a row and are now alone in second place in the standings.

Major League Pickleball Premier Level standings (as of June 30)

Major League Pickleball Challenger Level standings (as of June 30)

Major League Pickleball Week 6 power rankings

#1: Dallas Flash ↔️

Starters: Jorja Johnson, Tyra Black, JW Johnson, Augie Ge
Bench players: Ivan Jakovljevic, Tatiana Ruhl

Previous ranking: #1
Record: 14-0
Dreambreaker record: 2-0

Best result: Win vs. New Jersey in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: None

They didn't play at MLP San Clemente. Next event: Mid-Season Tournament, July 9-13.

#2: St. Louis Shock ↔️

Starters: Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio
Bench players: Judit Castillo, Erik Lange

Previous ranking: #2
Record: 13-1
Dreambreaker record: 1-1

Best result: Win vs. New Jersey in regulation
Worst result: Loss vs. LA in a Dreambreaker

They didn't play at MLP San Clemente. Next event: Mid-Season Tournament, July 9-13.

#3: New Jersey 5s ↔️

Starters: Anna Leigh Waters, Meghan Dizon, Will Howells, Zane Navratil
Bench players: Mari Humberg, Craig Johnson

Previous ranking: #3
Record: 12-3
Dreambreaker record: 2-2

Best result: Win vs. Brooklyn in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: Loss vs. Utah in a Dreambreaker

They didn't play at MLP San Clemente. Next event: Mid-Season Tournament, July 9-13. It will be interesting to see who gets the nod to start as their second women's player moving forward -- the 5s recently made a trade to get Mari Humberg back, who was the team's No. 2 women's player during last season's runner-up finish to the Dallas Flash. The Mid-Season Tournament seems like a good opportunity to experiment.

#4: Brooklyn Pickleball Team ⬆️

Starters: Rachel Rohrabacher, Jackie Kawamoto, Dekel Bar, Riley Newman
Bench players: Hannah Blatt, Pat Smith

Previous ranking: #5
Record: 10-5
Dreambreaker record: 0-3

Best result: Win vs. LA in regulation (x2)
Worst result: Loss vs. Utah in a Dreambreaker

Brooklyn was dealt a tough hand this week with all three of their men's players unavailable due to injuries/illnesses. But they still managed to play well with subs AJ Koller and Rafa Hewett and get out of town with 10 out of a possible 12 standings points, their only blemish being a Dreambreaker loss to Utah. The 0-3 record in Dreambreakers is a concern come playoff time, though, as they are unlikely to beat any of the top 3 teams in regulation and it doesn't seem like they have much hope in a Dreambreaker scenario against those squads. Next event: MLP New York City July 3-6.

#5: Los Angeles Mad Drops ⬇️

Starters: Jade Kawamoto, Catherine Parenteau, Hunter Johnson, Quang Duong
Bench players: Wes Burrows, Danna Funaro, Thomas Wilson (IR)

Previous ranking: #4
Record: 14-5
Dreambreaker record: 5-1

Best result: Win vs. St. Louis in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: Loss vs. Orlando in regulation

I'm dropping them a spot this week because their one loss at MLP San Clemente was to Brooklyn, and they are now 0-2 against Brooklyn on the season. But I still think this team will be dangerous the rest of the season and in the playoffs. They are now 10-2 in matches where they have played all 4 of their starters, and one of those losses was against Dallas. They continued to prove this week that they have arguably the best Dreambreaker lineup in the league, with Dreambreaker wins over Columbus and Phoenix. Unfortunately for them, a Dreambreaker win only counts for 2 standings points, so their spot in the points standings will always be a little lower than where I think they fall in terms of ability to win matches.

#6: Texas Ranchers ↔️

Starters: Tina Pisnik, Kaitlyn Christian, Christian Alshon, Eric Oncins
Bench players: Wyatt Stone, Felicity Di Laura

Previous ranking: #6
Record: 8-6
Dreambreaker record: 0-3

Best result: Win vs. Brooklyn in regulation
Worst result: Loss vs. Carolina in a Dreambreaker

They didn't play at MLP San Clemente. Next event: Mid-Season Tournament July 9-13. It's hard to think Texas got better by swapping Etta Tuionetoa for Kaitlyn Christian, so I considered moving them down just based on that. But I'm going to take a wait-and-see approach. Next event: MLP Mid-Season Tournament July 9-13.

#7: Orlando Squeeze ↔️

Starters: Lacy Schneemann, Samantha Parker, Dylan Frazier, Federico Staksrud
Bench players: Grayson Goldin, Alli Phillips, Tom Evans (on restricted list)

Previous ranking: #7
Record: 10-5
Dreambreaker record: 2-0

Best result: Win vs. LA in regulation
Worst result: Loss vs. Texas in regulation

They didn't play at MLP San Clemente. Next event: MLP New York July 3-6.

#8: Columbus Sliders ↔️

Starters: Lea Jansen, Parris Todd, Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger
Bench players: Ross Whittaker, Marcela Hones

Previous ranking: #8
Record: 10-5
Dreambreaker record: 1-1

Best result: Win vs. Texas in regulation
Worst result: Loss vs. Orlando in regulation

They went 3-1 at MLP San Clemente, but their three wins came against SoCal, Utah and Phoenix -- all teams we haven't named yet. In fact, they've beaten Phoenix twice and Utah twice this year, accounting for nearly half of their wins. Their only real quality win this season was against Texas two months ago, and they lost in a Dreambreaker to LA on Sunday at MLP San Clemente. That was a good chance for them to prove they belong higher on this list, but they didn't get it done. I'm just not convinced this team is very good, despite what their roster looks like on paper. Next event: MLP New York July 3-6.

#9: Miami Pickleball Club ↔️

Starters: Milan Rane, Mya Bui, Jay Devilliers, Noe Khlif
Bench players: Yuta Funemizu, Ava Ignatowich

Previous ranking: #9
Record: 6-9
Dreambreaker record: 3-1

Best result: Win vs. Utah in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: Loss vs. Orlando in a Dreambreaker

They had the week off. Next event: MLP New York July 3-6.

#10: Chicago Slice ↔️

Starters: Vivian Glozman, Callie Smith, James Ignatowich, Max Freeman
Bench players:
Pierina Imparato, Carlos Di Laura

Previous ranking: #10
Record: 4-10
Dreambreaker record: 2-4

Best result: Win vs. Utah in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: Loss vs. SoCal in a Dreambreaker

This team will need to figure out their Dreambreaker troubles to stay in the race for a playoff berth. I do think it's a good sign that they can get to a lot of Dreambreakers, though, because they are guaranteeing themselves points in those scenarios. I also think the addition of Glozman in place of Vivienne David will be a plus for this team. Next event: MLP Mid-Season Tournament. 

#11: Utah Black Diamonds ↔️

Starters: Allyce Jones, Genie Erokhina, Tyler Loong, Connor Garnett
Bench players: Mehvish Safdar, Yates Johnson

Previous ranking: #11
Record: 8-12
Dreambreaker record: 3-2

Best result: Win vs. New Jersey in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: Loss vs. SoCal in regulation

They went 2-3 in San Clemente, picking up much-needed standings points to keep them in the playoff hunt. I still think Chicago and Miami are slightly better, though. Next event: MLP Mid-Season Tournament July 9-13.

#12: Phoenix Flames ↔️

Starters: Jessie Irvine, Genie Bouchard, Jack Sock, Tyson McGuffin
Bench players: Alex Walker, Pesa Teoni

Previous ranking: #12
Record: 4-15
Dreambreaker record: 4-5

Best result: Win vs. Chicago in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: Loss to SoCal in regulation

MLP San Clemente was a disaster for this team. It was reported on the broadcast that Genie Bouchard and Jessie Irvine got into a disagreement that resulted in Irvine not playing for multiple matches and as of this writing it seems unlikely that both will be on the team going forward. Alex Walker played well off the bench, though, and they scratched out a win over SoCal and forced a Dreambreaker against LA on Sunday to steal a point there. I'll be on high alert for any trade news regarding this team in the coming weeks. Next event: MLP Mid-Season Tournament.

#13: Atlanta Bouncers ↔️

Starters: Vivienne David, Victoria Di Muzio, Todd Fought, Jaume Martinez Vich
Bench players:
Sam Querrey, Rachel Rettger

Previous ranking: #13
Record: 4-11
Dreambreaker record: 1-1

Best result: Win vs. Miami in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: Loss vs. Phoenix in a Dreambreaker

Of the bottom 5 teams, they have the highest quality win (in a Dreambreaker over Miami at MLP Columbus), but their only other wins are against the three teams we haven't named yet. Next event: MLP Mid-Season Tournament July 9-13.

#14: Carolina Hogs ↔️

Starters: Etta Tuionetoa, Tamaryn Emmrich, Ben Johns, Roscoe Bellamy
Bench players: Liz Truluck, Martin Emmrich

Previous ranking: #14
Record: 2-12
Dreambreaker record: 1-2

Best result: Win vs. Texas in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: Loss vs. New York in regulation

This team has undergone a major roster overhaul since our last power rankings. I want to see the new-look team in action before I make any judgements, but if Ben Johns somehow leads this team to a playoff berth after the start they had, it should go down as one of his greatest achievements. Can they go 7-4 in their remaining 11 matches? Would that even be enough? Next event: MLP New York July 3-6.

#15: New York Hustlers ↔️

Starters: Lingwei Kong, Dominique Schaefer, Zane Ford, Donald Young
Bench players: Luana Stanciu, Helena Spiridis (restricted list), Stephen Madonia

Previous ranking: #15
Record: 3-10
Dreambreaker record: 1-0

Best result: Win vs. Phoenix in a Dreambreaker
Worst result: Loss vs. Atlanta in regulation

They won the battle to not be ranked last on this list, beating SoCal in regulation at MLP Daytona Beach (they did have the benefit of using on-site sub AJ Koller, though). Next event: MLP New York July 3-6.

#16: SoCal Hard Eights ↔️

Starters: Cailyn Campbell, Jalina Ingram, Blaine Hovenier, Ryan Fu
Bench players: John Lucian Goins, Irina Tereschenko

Previous ranking: #16
Record: 3-16
Dreambreaker record: 1-4

Best result: Win vs. Phoenix in regulation
Worst result: Loss vs. New York in regulation

Despite going 1-4 at MLP San Clemente, this has become a fun team to watch with the youth they have on the women's side (Campbell is 15, while Ingram is 17). And even though I have them last on this list, I respect what SoCal is doing as a franchise -- investing in young players with the understanding that they aren't going to be competitive this season, but could be next year if they can grab a big name in free agency. Next event: MLP Mid-Season Tournament July 9-13.

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