Major League Pickleball is split into two levels of play this season, the challenger and premier level. During the halfway point of this season teams will redraft and can choose players from the premier or challenger level to draft. There were just as many eyes on the challenger level as the premier level this weekend out of curiosity for who might get moved up. Here are our superlatives for challenger level play across MLP Mesa.
Challenger Level Teams To Watch: Orlando Squeeze, Bay Area Breakers, Chicago Slice, Utah BLQK, Brooklyn Aces, Atlanta Bouncers
The six teams predicted to move on to the playoffs heading into the weekend held true. These teams were the most talked about in the challenger level and for good reason. The Bay Area Breakers and Utah Black Diamonds distanced themselves, both earning a spot in the championship.
Standouts: Ewa Radikowska, Rachel Summers, Andreas Siljestrom, Coach Scott Crandall
The female tandem of Ewa Radikowska and Rachel Summers were a standout for most fans watching the challenger level at MLP Mesa. They both helped propel the Bay Area Breakers to a championship.
We’ve also seen a lot of pro tennis players take a shot at pickleball and we are still finding out that skills on the tennis court don't always translate to the elite level of pickleball... that is unless you're Andreas Siljestrom. The big man finished his first MLP event as the 15th ranked player in point differential and will surely continue to make a splash with his unique combination of skill and size.
Living Up To The Hype: Connor Garnett, Christian Alshon and Pablo Tellez
Connor Garnett was one of the names that was constantly being brought up as a player to watch, and boy oh boy did he live up to the hype. Garnett finished the weekend as the Number 10 ranked player in point differential percentage, and this was while going against the other teams' top mixed doubles tandems. Lots of eyes on him and the dude delivered.
Christian Alshon and Pablo Tellez continued to impress, lifting the Bay Area Breakers to a championship. There is no question these two players are Premier level talents so don't be surprised if they get called up to the big leagues during the next MLP Draft half way through 2023.