The exciting 2025 MLP regular season has concluded. We had a year-long fight for top spot between St. Louis and Dallas, a late surge by LA, and a down to the wire playoff fight between Miami and Chicago. Let’s look back at some of the standout performances, and who is worthy of recognition.

 

 

In my opinion, there are several worthy candidates. Anna Leigh Waters had her usual outstanding year, going 49-7. One important item to always look at are the partnerships. Going 20-2 with a top 10 partner is not as impressive to me as going 18-4 with a player ranked #20. Waters had a great mixed partner in Will Howells, and a good women’s doubles partner in Meghan Dizon. Thus, Waters’ gender doubles record was more impressive to me than her mixed record.

 

Next up is Jorja Johnson. She went 51-7, with only two losses in mixed. She did have top 10 partners in both doubles events, playing with JW Johnson and Tyra Black. But 51-7 is super impressive no matter who you play with. She did play right side in women’s doubles, which is not quite as valuable as left side, depending on partnership style. Jorja plays an active left side, so I do not discount for this factor much at all.

 

The third possibility is Hayden Patriquin, who posted the best men’s record at 50-7. He benefitted from playing with not just top 10, but top 5 partners in Anna Bright and Gabe Tardio. But, again, 50 wins is 50 wins.

 

The final candidate is my personal pick, Gabe Tardio. Tardio was 49-9 overall. He combined with Patriquin to put up that stunning 27-2 record in men’s doubles. Men’s doubles is the deepest and toughest event in MLP. The next best men’s team lost six times; Tardio/Patriquin were thus not just the best, but very clearly the best. But, Tardio’s mixed record of 21-7 with Kate Fahey is what most impressed me. Fahey is a fine player, and improving, but is ranked #15 in women’s mixed doubles. To put up that good a record with the #15 ranked player as your partner is much more impressive to me than going 27-2 with a top 5 partner. Tardio right now is arguably the best player in the world. It is definitely him or Ben Johns. I have to go Tardio this year, based on the full body of work.

 

 

 

This is another category with multiple deserving candidates.

 

Jorja Johnson was awfully good in 2024, but she stepped up another notch in 2025. She went from a second team All-MLP selection to first team. She was more consistent in 2025.

 

Jade Kawamoto improved significantly in MLP 2025, forming a very strong women’s doubles team with Catherine Parenteau. They faded a touch at the end, but for a stretch of the season they were unbeatable. Kawamoto also went 18-7 with Hunter Johnson, a very good record.

 

Yuta Funemizu went from unknown to a very fun watch by the end of the year. His record was only 10-18, but to get to where he finished the season from where he started was a major accomplishment. He looks to have a high ceiling, so it will be fun to see how far Funemizu can climb in the player standings in 2026.

 

The final candidate is my pick, Blaine Hovenier. Blaine progressed from a so-so Challenger Level player in 2024 to a solid team leader in MLP 2025. His record was 25-31 on a team with an average player ranking of 49. Hovenier’s enthusiasm and super positive attitude clearly helped his teammates all year, raising their level of play. Hovenier is well-deserving of recognition as most improved.

 

 

 

Injuries and scheduling conflicts are inevitable. 2025 was no different and we saw a number of players get the call to fill in, sometimes at the very last minute, with few reps to get them ready. Here’s some candidates for super sub 2025.

 

Wyatt Stone stole the show at MLP Salt Lake City. He got the call for Texas to fill in for Christian Alshon. Texas needed to sweep Salt Lake City to catch LA for the 6th seed, and many thought with Alshon out, it was a lost cause. Stone said “not so fast” and went 6-4, getting Texas to within one win of that #6 seed.

 

Pat Smith came off the bench at MLP Phoenix to go 2-0 in a key match for Brooklyn when Riley Newman got hurt in the middle of that MLP event. With no warmup, Smith played solid pickleball. Many have forgotten that performance because it was early in the MLP year, but it was a great effort on no notice and it should not be forgotten.

 

Sticking with Brooklyn, we get to my pick for super sub of the year, AJ Koller. Koller bounced around a little but ended up filling in mainly for Dekel Bar and Brooklyn. Koller was 13-5 in mixed doubles with Rachel Rorhabacher, and was a respectable 8-7 in men’s doubles with Riley Newman. Pretty good for a guy who was not only undrafted, but was never picked up on waivers! Not sure what the various MLP general managers were thinking, but Koller is a very deserving winner of this award.

 

 

 

Enthusiasm and effort make a huge difference at MLP, much more so than a PPA event. Fans can see how players who give 110% are rewarded with better results. 

 

Blaine Hovenier is our first candidate for the all effort award. As previously mentioned, he clearly was into MLP as much as anyone. He gave his all every time out.

 

Anna Bright can always be counted on in MLP to push herself and her team. While some may say she goes a little too far with her MLP enthusiasm, I will just say St. Louis was #1 this year due to talent, but also due to mental toughness, and that toughness starts with Bright setting the tone.

 

My winner is the third choice, Allyce Jones. We could well pick anyone on Utah, which was a high effort team all year. But Jones was the effort highlight reel. Who can forget the diving ATP at Salt Lake City? That was the high effort shot off the year. Allyce Jones is my pick for the high effort player of the year.

 

 

Congrats to MLP and the players who made the 2025 season special. On to the playoffs!

 

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