This month, we had the pleasure of watching Major League Pickleball Finals here in NY at CityPickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park. After catching this action last month for their last NY tournament at Randall’s Island, we knew we would be in for a day of great matches! This 3 day event kicked off on the Fri. the 22nd where we watched the Premier teams battle it out. This included Columbus Sliders, Los Angeles Mad Drops, New Jersey 5s, and St Louis Shock. There were great moments as we watched Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Men’s Doubles. For those who came on the 2nd day, they were able to see the Premier teams play their final matched and the first day of the Challengers Las Vegas Night Owls and Nashville Chefs.

On Sun. the 24th, attendees were able to watch the finalists from the Premier team - Columbus Sliders vs New Jersey 5s and the last matchs of the Challengers with Las Vegas Night Owls vs Nashville Chefs. Ultimately, the Premier finalists were the Columbus Sliders and the Challengers finalists were the Las Vegas Night Owls!

It was an incredible weekend of matches, love of pickleball and we enjoyed that our team was able to catch it all thanks to Dulce Vida Tequila who provided us with VIP tickets so that we could see it all in the VIP/Owners tents as they are the official and exclusive tequila partner of MLP.

The next 3 day event to watch for the MLP season of 2025 will be the Edward Jones MLP Cup Oct 31 - Nov 2nd at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, TX. As this is the final match of the MLP season, we’re already excited for what’s to come next year!

IG @majorleaguepb

PHOTOGRAPHY | Major League Pickleball | PG 72 Sye Williams |

Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL FINALS 2025, CITYPICKLE CENTRAL PARK, NYC in mag.

Last year, we had enjoyed seeing our cover star, Tyson McGuffin play pickleball at Lifetime Fitness alongside Andre Agassi, Collin Johns, Ben Johns, and Anna Bright. It was the first time that we had seen the game in person as we were introduced to it like many during the pandemic on TV. Once we got to know more about the game, we realized that 5X Grand Slam Champion and 4X National Champion!

No wonder he loves the game and is passionate about it. Not only does he play it, but he infuses the passion of the game to others through teaching others to play it. Since we had just spent 4th of July Weekend watching Major League Pickleball Tournament on Randall's Island at John McEnroe's Sportime, we knew that we wanted to know more about him and the game. We took some time to talk about how he got into the sport, giving us background on it, why he loves it, and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: I know that Pickleball was invented in 1965, but for us, it was the pandemic that introduced me to it and it seems like it has been gaining awareness exponentially! How did you come to the sport?

TYSON MCGUFFIN: In 2016 I was a Tennis Pro at a club in Yakima, WA and one of my members kept bugging me to try this silly named sport. I told him no several times. He started waiting to ask me after each of my lessons at the club. I finally gave in. I showed up at a beat up YMCA gym floors. I thought as a 5.5 Tennis player I could easily hang with the 4.5 top court. Long story short I couldn't, I got my butt kicked by a few 55+ guys. I went home that night consumed as much Pickleball content I could find on YouTube came back to that next week and found success. That same member with a group of others encouraged me to play tournaments. I learned quickly I could hang with some of the top players in the country. My 1st year I was offered a paddle contract and the rest is history.

AM: Our first Pickleball match was when we attended the one at Lifetime here in NYC where you are on a panel with the Johns brothers as well as Anna Bright and Andre Agassi. It was also the first time that we watched you play. When did you realize that you wanted to play it professionally?

TM: After just one tournament at 4.5, I realized I could compete with the 5.0/Pro players. So my next tournament I gave it a shot and landed a sponsorship. There was so much competitive spirit left in me after years of Wrestling and Tennis, I couldn't pass up a chance to reignite that fire.

AM: We enjoyed watching the MLP NY Tournament over the Fourth of July Weekend as we saw a number of the franchises playing. For those that are not familiar with the sport what are the similarities and differences to tennis.

TM: To start, the court size is much different. You can fit 4 Pickle courts on a Tennis court. You can essentially have 16 people playing in the same amount of space. It's loud, has more of a backyard feel and the overall barrier to entry is lower. It takes 6 or more months to be decent at Tennis, in Pickle someone can play their 1st and find success. They say Pickle is making Tennis courts fun again. Pickle wouldn't be where it is today without the Tennis community. There are plenty of similarities, court positioning, techniques, and tactics. Most all of the pros on tour have some sort of Tennis background.

AM: You play in the PPA as well as the MLP for the Phoenix Flames. For our community who is newer to the sport can you tell us a bit about each of these organizations - the PPA and the MLP?

TM: MLP is newer to the sport. A team based (originally rally scoring) format. It's rowdy, loud and has other similarities to team-based franchised sports. PPA is the original tried and true, similar to ATP format. A tour with rankings and points individually based. This format shows who the best of the world are.

AM: You compete in Men's Singles, Men's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles - how do you approach playing Singles versus Doubles?

TM: Singles has had my heart from day one. I don't know if it's the inner wrestling me, but that never say never isn't over until it's over mentality does well in Singles. I would say Singles is more physical and Doubles has a different strategy in many situations. I've come a long ways in the Doubles side and now see the art in Doubles as well.

AM: Does Pickleball have a season what are the months that it is played in terms of a tour perspective?

TM: Professional Pickleball is pretty much year-round. The tour is starting to change this slightly. MLP will essentially become a summer league with PPA taking the majority of the summer months off. There will also be a break at the end of the year.

AM: What is an average week like for you in terms of training for your next match and during the off season, what is that like.

TM: I am a reps guy. My preferred week would be at home. On a daily basis, I'm up training by 6am then I head to hot Yoga. After dying for an hour or more there, I typically head to strength & conditioning training with my man Craig. After training there I'll either get another practice in or a round of golf. Whatever I can fit before picking up my kids from school. From there I'm in 100% husband/dad mode until 8pm where I'm in bed prepping to do it all again the next day.

AM: Pickleball is obviously a total body sport, but what are 3 workouts that you do to optimize yourself in the sport?

TM: Hot Yoga, strength training, & fast twitch functional training.

AM: In addition to being a player, you are also a major advocate for the sport and pushing its awareness! You are an IPTPA and PPR certified coach. You also created the McGuffin Signature PB Camps and TM PB Coaching. Can you tell us about both of these companies that you have built?

TM: I taught mostly Tennis & Pickle for almost 8 years before starting my own camp business. For me teaching and growing the sport helps me give back to the sport that's given me plenty. TM Signature PB Camps is one of the best in the business. We believe the game is evolving and our teaching has to evolve with it. Personally I enjoy the learning curve at an amateur level. It'd take me months maybe even years to swe a player's level change in Tennis, in Pickle I can witness a camper go up a full half level in two 5 hour days.

AM: In addition to all of the work that you do, you have your own podcast, The McGuffin Show what can you tell us about this?

TM: I started The McGuffin Show out of a desire to make sure we were doing things others were not. It was a place for me and my co-hosts to be ourselves and talk about the wild ride we're on with the sport. Amateur and professional side are both growing at such a rapid pace we need media to help everyone keep up.

AM: We have been watching a few of your episodes of Making McGuffins - why did you want to create this series?

TM: My wife and I started Making McGuffins again out of a desire to stay ahead and do something nobody else was doing. We thought at worst case we'd be documenting the craziest time of our lives. It's also a way to showcase my wife and kiddos. My wife is my true hero and helps in every department of my life and business.

AM: As someone who travels a lot for the sport, what are 3 things that you like to have with you to make your hotel feel a bit like home?

TM: We typically stay in Airbnbs, laundry is must with how much I sweat. We also bring our whole team typically 2+ kids, Nanny, and sometimes trainer & videographer. A house is a must with our crew.

I travel with my cold plunge and all of my Hyperice recovery devices. This is a must to try to stay in routine.

Last, but not least my family. Keeping them on the road for me reminds me what's really important at the end of the day. It lowers my ego. Kids don't care what your results were, you're still expected to be Dad whether you win or loose.

AM: When you're not focused on Pickleball tournaments, training, educating etc, how do you take time for yourself?

TM: My wife & I love to travel. We also enjoy good food. Music is big for me, I like attending festivals a few times a year. Mostly though, our family loves spending time outside. We live in beautiful North Idaho with so much to do outside. I love to golf and spend time by the lake.

AM: You are a 5X Grand Slam Champion and a 4X National Champion - what do you want your legacy to be in the sport?

TM: I want to leave a legacy in the sport giving back as much if not more than it's given me. I want to help insure its continued growth all around the world. I've witnessed Pickleball transform lives, including mine.

AM: For those that are starting out and want to play, what are 3 pieces of advice you have to get them into the sport?

TM: Put yourself out there it's hard to find a more inviting sport. Find a local find a more inviting sport. Find a local park or look up your local ambassador they'll show you how to play. When you get comfortable playing identify who you are as a player. The beauty of Pickleball is there isn't just one way to play. Figure out your strengths and build your game around them. Lastly go to Tyson McGuffin YouTube page and take advantage of all of our free instruction. Once you're at a 3.0 level or above take one of our camps listed on TysonMcGuffin.com.

IG @tysonmcguffin

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT + BACK COVER, PG 16, 22, 25 Sye Williams | PG 19 - 20 Jay Valeriano | PG 26 Mad Rabit |

As we mentioned in our cover interview of Tyson McGuffin, we had the pleasure of attending MLP's New York City Pickleball Tournament at John McEnroe's Sport Time that took place July 3-6 as guests of Dulce Vida Tequila. On the day that we watched the matches, we enjoyed being able to watch teams that played in the Premier (Carolina Hogs, New York Hustlers, Miami Pickleball Club, Columbus Sliders, Orlando Squeeze, Brooklyn Pickleball Team) and Challenger (California Black Bears, Bay Area Breakers, Las Vegas Night Owls, Nashville Chefs, Florida Smash, D.C. Pickleball Team) Leagues.

As we sat in the sponsor tent we were able to enjoy watching the matches on both sides of the tent while also being able to meet various teams' ownership/management. We also enjoyed sipping cocktails and being able to see the athletes up close, as well as to get to know more about them through their play as well as being able to see the fans enjoying their favorite pickleball player!

We enjoyed seeing the match between the Nashville Chefs and California Black Bears which kicked off our morning. D.C. Pickleball Team and Bay Area Breakers was another great match - both of those were on the Grandstand Court for the Challengers League.

On the Championship court, the Premier League teams played. Our favorite match from that game was the last one of the night where we watched the Orlando Squeeze and Brooklyn Pickleball Team play. Brooklyn Pickleball Team was the host for this weekend's event and the energy was next level as the fans cheered on the Brooklyn team and we loved seeing the flags and signs - the fact that they won was definitely a great end to seeing the matches throughout the day!

We'll be back for the MLP Finals that will take place here at CityPickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park August 22 - 24th as guests of Dulce Vida Tequila and tickets are still available!

We can't wait for next month and you can see some great moments from this great weekend earlier this month.

IG @majorleaguepb

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | PG 29 Dulce Vida