Professional pickleball has become a popular and rapidly growing sport, with its own Major League Pickleball (MLP) league. The MLP brings together top-ranked players to compete in team-based competitions, with 24 teams split across two levels: the Premier Level and the Challenger Level.
The Premier Level consists of 48 of the best players divided among teams in 12 cities, while the Challenger Level includes up-and-coming players who are looking to make a name for themselves in the sport. One of the teams in the Premier Level is the Orlando Squeeze, based in Orlando, Florida. The Squeeze was formed in 2023 by the Devos Family, who are also the owners of the Orlando Magic National Basketball Association Franchise.
In early April, the Squeeze drafted a brand new team for the upcoming season, including players like Federico Staksrud, Vivienne David, Parris Todd, and Tyson McGuffin. The first event for MLP in 2024 is scheduled for May 9-12 in Atlanta. This event will kick off the professional pickleball season and fans can learn more about how to get tickets and check out the upcoming schedule on the MLP website. As professional pickleball continues to grow in popularity and recognition, elite players are getting drafted, traded and playing for paychecks in this competitive and fast-growing sport.
