Major League Pickleball announced the third trade of the 2025 season Tuesday afternoon, one that features the Orlando Squeeze and Phoenix Flames (formerly AZ Drive) each swapping two players.

Here are the details:

• Orlando acquires Dylan Frazier and Lacy Schneemann.
• Phoenix acquires Tyson McGuffin, Meghan Dizon, and cash considerations.
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Here are the updated team rosters after the trade:

• Orlando: Federico Staksrud, Vivienne David, Dylan Frazier, Lacy Schneemann
• Phoenix: Andrei Daescu, Jessie Irvine, Tyson McGuffin, Meghan Dizon
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As a reminder, each team must declare its keepers and drop at least one player on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 6p.m. CT.

Breaking things down

Let’s look at how these trades impact each roster.

Orlando: Federico Staksrud, Vivienne David, Dylan Frazier, Lacy Schneemann

On paper, Federico Staksrud and Dylan Frazier would make a very dangerous men’s doubles team. Not only are they both ranked inside the top-5 in the PPA men’s doubles rankings, but there would also be little question as to who would play what side. Staksrud is left-side player, while Frazier’s success has come with him playing the right side. He has been trying to play the left more in 2025 by partnering with Pablo Tellez, but I don’t envision him having any issue playing the right next to Staksrud.

The Vivienne David/Lacy Schneemann combination has also proven to be strong. They have made two PPA finals together, most recently last April at the North Carolina Cup. They also have well-defined sides and roles, with Schneemann taking the left and David being most comfortable playing the right side.

Of course, though, Orlando must drop at least one player. As a reminder, teams must pay ½ of what it cost to draft a player in 2024 to keep them in 2025. Orlando, then, would have to pay $200K to keep Staksrud, $177.5K to keep Frazier, $140K to keep David, and $20.5 to keep Schneemann.

In my opinion, Staksrud and Frazier are both too good to drop, especially at their prices. That leaves either David or Schneemann. I think you have to keep Schneemann here for the price. She should be full of confidence after earning her first two PPA titles at the Proton Australia Pickleball Open two weeks ago and is a great value for the cost.

David is also a great player, but she hasn’t been playing as many tournaments recently and would cost a lot more to keep. She certainly belongs on a Premier level roster, but I would expect her to be dropped by Orlando ahead of the deadline.

Phoenix: Andrei Daescu, Jessie Irvine, Tyson McGuffin, Meghan Dizon

Like the Squeeze, the Flames’ men’s doubles pairing should be very strong. Daescu/McGuffin had a great run together at the 2024 PPA Finals, going 3-0 in pool play before eventually falling in the semifinals. Daescu, especially, has had a strong start to 2025 with a bronze medal at the PPA Masters and a title at the Proton Tucson Open.

The pairing of Jessie Irvine/Meghan Dizon is an interesting one, since both players have had most of their success playing the right side. Dizon had a disappointing 2024 MLP season for being drafted in the second round, but she would still be a valuable member of any Premier level roster.

Similarly, Irvine had a tough start to 2024 with the Carolina Pickleball Club but finished the season playing very well after being traded to Phoenix.

As for who to drop, it should be clear that dropping Daescu or McGuffin is simply not an option. I think they will make far too good of a pairing to consider dropping either one of them. That leaves either Dizon (keeper cost $150K) or Irvine (keeper cost of $5.5K) to be dropped.

In my opinion, the players are close enough in skill level that it would make sense to save the money and keep Irvine over Dizon. That being said, Dizon won mixed doubles medals with both Daescu and McGuffin in 2024 and should be able to perform well with either one.

Additionally, Dizon is a Proton-sponsored player, and a group headlined by Charles Darling and Tim Fyke of Proton Sports recently bought a controlling share of the Phoenix franchise in late January. It would not be surprising to see them keep a Proton player on the roster when given the chance.

In either case, Phoenix would need to pursue a left-side female player in the Premier level free agency draft, which is scheduled for Mar. 2.