MLP Challenger Super-Duos Emerge as Trade Window Looms
What’s the Score?
As the Major League Pickleball (MLP) Challenger Season concludes, a comprehensive year-end recap has identified the most successful pairings based on win-rate metrics from the Mid-Season, the full season, and the MLP Cup. The data reveals a handful of "super-duos" who maintained win rates as high as 83.3%, providing a clear roadmap for teams as the upcoming trade window threatens to shake up these elite rosters.
Hit it deeper!
The performance metrics highlight specific players who have mastered the chemistry required for the Challenger level. In Women’s Doubles, the partnership of Brooke Buckner and Chao Yi Wang claimed the top spot with a 72.7% win rate over 33 matches. Their consistency was rivalled only by Layne Sleeth and Lina Padegimaite, who posted a 69.4% win rate across 36 matches. Ewa Radzikowska and Michelle Esquivel took the third spot with 60.9%.
In Men’s Doubles, the duo of Martin Emmrich and Michael Loyd set the gold standard, winning 10 of their 12 matches for a staggering 83.3% win rate. Anderson Scarpa and Marshall Brown followed as the second-most effective pair (66.7%), while Daniel De La Rosa and Stefan Auvergne maintained a 61.9% success rate.
Mixed Doubles success was dominated by Brooke Buckner and Pablo Tellez, who matched the top men’s duo with an 83.3% win rate. Chao Yi Wang also appeared twice in the top five for mixed doubles, finding success with both James Delgado (76.9%) and Pablo Tellez (68.4%). Alix Truong proved her versatility, tying for third place with two different partners—DJ Young and Jonathan Truong—both resulting in a 70% win rate.
The World Pickleball Verdict
These statistics represent more than just bragging rights; they are the currency of the MLP trade market. In a league defined by chemistry and rapid-fire momentum, finding a duo that wins over 70% of the time is rare. For GMs, the "Verdict" is clear: the data suggests that pairs like Buckner/Wang and Emmrich/Loyd are nearly irreplaceable assets. However, with the trade window approaching, the high value of these players makes them prime targets for teams looking to "buy" a championship-ready partnership. This data confirms that the Challenger level is no longer a developmental tier—it is a statistically rigorous arena of elite competition.