MLP Orlando got the 2025 MLP season off to a fast start. But what is likely to end up being the top story was the final match between New Jersey and St. Louis. Right after  the first mixed doubles match, Anna Leigh Waters and Hayden Patriquin got in a heated argument. Patriquin, by all reports, called waters a “F**king b*tch,” causing Waters to chase after Patriquin into the St. Louis bench area. St. Louis team officials tried to restrain Wayers, which led to shouts from the New Jersey bench. In the end, no physical confrontation occurred, and the match continued, albeit with the heat turned way up. In the next mixed match, Zane Navratil hit a full drive from the kitchen line right at Gabe Tardio, tagging him. Tardio, consistent with his personality, took it entirely in stride, even though Navratil’s shot was clearly targeting, albeit below the neck. In an interview after the match, Patriquin gave a half-hearted apology for what he said. MLP came out with a fairly light-heated statement on Monday saying Patriquin should not say those words, Waters should stay on her side of the court, and let’s move on.

 

 

 

 

 

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Social media exploded after the match. Lots of opinions about what Patriquin did, what Waters did, what everyone on site should have done differently, and approving or attacking MLP for its statement. We can only wait now to see what Memes of Pickleball will say.

 

From my perspective, I think the public gets a lot wrong on what occurred. First, what Patriquin said is just not a big deal. Remember, at the last PPA event Christian Alshon flipped off Eric Oncins after the match, and everyone just moved on. Is what Alshon did good? Is what Patriquin said good? Of course not. But athletes say and do things in the heat of the moment all the time. So long as it is not physical, it just is not a big deal. Smack talk and sports go hand in hand.

 

Second, Waters’ reaction is fine. You get insulted by an opponent and want to give it right back to them? No problem. Just look at what UFC fighters say to each other in the pre-match introductions. Smack talk going back and forth is part of the game and makes for spicy rematches. Waters did cross a line by invading the St. Louis bench. That is a sports no-no. You don’t go into the other team’s space, period. She should have been immediately restrained. The New Jersey bench was way out of line to criticize the one St. Louis team official who tried unsuccessfully to block Waters from chasing after Patriquin. But, in the end, nothing of consequence happened.

 

There is a third item, that has by and large not been discussed on social media, Navratil’s shot that hit Tardio. The rules don’t forbid the shot, even though it was clearly targeting, because it was aimed below the neck. Navratil was 100% trying to hit Tardio, with zero intent to keep his shot within the court. Navratil is blameless under the current rules, as what he did was similar to a baseball pitcher hitting an opposing batter to send a message. But, should that type of shot be legal? I say no. What if Navratil’s shot ticks the top of the net? Tardio could quite literally lose an eye. With paddles so strong and players so powerful, we need limits on what is acceptable play. Amateurs mimic what they see pros do. Do you really want to see 3.5s slamming the ball as hard as they can at the kitchen line with an intent to hit the opponent? I do not. Every major sport empowers the referee to call a penalty for a play that is meant to hit the opponent with the ball or otherwise do a play that in the referee’s judgment is designed to hit/hurt the opponent. Pickleball should be no different.

 

But the real question we should all be asking is when does New Jersey play St. Louis again?

 

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