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New chapter is up

Summary:

New chapter is up

Summary:

October 16, 2025 (by: Major League Table Tennis) MLTT WEEK 3 PLAYER POWER RANKINGS Major League Table Tennis†top Season 3 players arenâ€t the names you would expect. Some are rookies, others are improved players, and a few crack the top ten due to a few things they do very well. But these players have shaped not just their teams, but MLTT as a whole so far. Here are the 10 top players so far…

October 5, 2025 (By Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) Major League Table Tennis brought its high-octane  format to the Pacific Northwest this weekend, with Week 3 action at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. The hometown Portland Paddlers hosted three other teams – the Los Angeles Spinners, Chicago Wind, and defending champion Carolina Gold Rush.  The weekend was packed with action, with the…

In a city where basketballs bounce louder than paddles, Portland’s Major League Table Tennis team—the Portland Paddlers—is quietly creating a new kind of sports buzz. As they prepare to host their second event of the 2025–26 season at the Oregon Convention Center, the Paddlers are poised to show that table tennis in the U.S. is not just a basement hobby anymore—it’s a fast-growing professional sport with global flair and serious local pride.

The Rise of Major League Table Tennis in America

Major League Table Tennis (MLTT), founded in 2023 by software entrepreneur and table tennis devotee Flint Lane, is the first professional table tennis league in the United States. The league features ten teams from across the country, with the Portland Paddlers proudly representing the Pacific Northwest.

While sports like basketball, soccer, and baseball dominate Portland’s headlines, the Paddlers have been carving out their own niche. With quick rallies, razor-sharp reflexes, and a growing fan base, they’re proving that table tennis has a home in America’s sports landscape.

This weekend, the Portland Paddlers are hosting a key set of matches against the Los Angeles Spinners, the Chicago Wind, and the Carolina Gold Rush. These games mark Week 3 of the 15-week MLTT tournament, which stretches from March 2025 through early 2026. Fans can catch all the action free sports live at the Oregon Convention Center, where high-speed rallies and international rivalries promise a show unlike any other.

Building a Global Team in Portland

The Portland Paddlers’ eight-player roster reflects the international spirit of modern table tennis. It includes players from Sweden, Japan, Korea, and the United States—all united under the guidance of Coach Christian Lillieroos.

Among them is Swedish star Hampus Nordberg, who has become a fan favorite in Portland for his energy, technical mastery, and humor. Drafted as the team’s top pick last season, Nordberg embodies the kind of global connection MLTT was built to foster.

“It’s a very special league to play here in the U.S.,” Nordberg said. “A fun and new crazy experience.”

For Nordberg, the recent surge in table tennis’s global popularity traces back to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Swedish sensation Truls Möregårdh captured silver in the men’s singles. That performance, he believes, inspired a new generation of fans and players alike—both in Sweden and beyond.

What Makes MLTT Unique

MLTT’s structure is designed to balance elite competition with pure entertainment. Each weekend, four of the league’s ten teams gather in one city, where they play a rotating series of matches across three days—Friday through Sunday.

Each MLTT matchup follows a five-game format:

Two singles matches

One doubles match

Two final singles matches

But the real magic comes at the end: The Golden Game. This thrilling finale sees every team member rotate in every four points in a race to reach 21. It’s a fast, unpredictable, and often emotional showdown—exactly the kind of drama that hooks new fans to free sports live experiences.

Coach Lillieroos describes it as “massive drama” that keeps spectators on the edge of their seats. The Golden Game format has become a defining feature of MLTT, blending intensity with a team-oriented spirit rarely seen in traditional table tennis competitions.

From Practice Tables to the Spotlight

The Portland Paddlers aren’t just playing—they’re grinding. Nordberg and his teammates practice six or seven times a week, mixing technical drills with endurance training and strength work.

“My joke is always that the only thing you need to be good at in table tennis is you have to be a professional bodybuilder, and a marathon runner, and a chess player, and then you become a good table tennis player,” Lillieroos said with a laugh.

Behind the humor lies truth: table tennis demands lightning reflexes, strategic brilliance, and mental stamina. These athletes may make it look effortless, but every rally is the result of hours of precision training.

As fans tune in to free sports live streams or pack the stands in Portland, they’re witnessing the highest level of table tennis ever played on U.S. soil.

Portland’s Home Advantage

The Oregon Convention Center will play host to this weekend’s matches, giving the Paddlers a rare home-court edge. Local supporters, from longtime table tennis enthusiasts to curious newcomers, are expected to fill the arena with energy.

Coach Lillieroos is confident that the home crowd could make all the difference. “I believe that we have a very good home court crowd, and I think that’s gonna help us,” he said.

The excitement isn’t just about competition—it’s about community. The Paddlers’ rise mirrors a broader movement across Portland to embrace alternative and emerging sports. Just as the Timbers ignited soccer passion and the Thorns reshaped women’s sports fandom, the Paddlers are showing that even the soft ping of a paddle can resonate deeply with fans hungry for something new.

Changing the Game for U.S. Table Tennis

The Portland Paddlers’ success story is part of a larger narrative about where table tennis is headed in the U.S. Once seen primarily as a casual pastime, it’s now evolving into a structured, professional sport. With MLTT providing consistent national exposure, new training centers, and pathways for young athletes, the sport’s foundation is stronger than ever.

Events like this weekend’s MLTT meet demonstrate that free sports live can thrive beyond mainstream leagues. Fans can watch athletes from around the world compete with speed, strategy, and intensity—all without the massive paywalls or corporate gloss that dominate other pro sports.

For many, that’s exactly what makes MLTT and the Portland Paddlers worth cheering for.

The Future is Fast

As the Paddlers aim for a stronger finish this season—after placing third in the West Division for two straight years—their focus remains sharp. With new recruits, renewed motivation, and the support of Portland’s growing fan base, they’re ready to make 2025–26 their breakthrough year.

And while the Blazers, Thorns, and Timbers may continue to headline Portland’s sports news, the Paddlers are serving up something just as thrilling—lightning-fast rallies, passionate athletes, and the thrill of free sports live competition.

When the first serve flies this weekend, it won’t just be another game. It’ll be another step toward a new chapter in U.S. table tennis—one that’s fast, fierce, and unmistakably Portland.

October 2, 2025 (by: Major League Table Tennis) WEEK 3 PREVIEW OF MLTT IN PORTLAND MLTT returns this weekend to Portland, Ore., with six matches that promise tight scorelines, momentum swings, and moments of brilliance from some of the best players in the world. With roster rules ensuring every player has a role and a format that rewards both depth and chemistry, fans can expect battles that go…

By Sean Oâ€Neill, MLTT Commentator & Fan Forever What a ride.Season 2 of Major League Table Tennis delivered firepower, flair, and fellowship from coast to coast. From golden games to behind-the-scenes heroics, each match and moment added another chapter to our growing legacy. To our fans, players, coaches, owners, and staff — thank you. Youâ€ve built something special. This league is no longer…

September 21, 2025 (By Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) The second weekend of Major League Table Tennis featured six matches at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The first two matches were played on Friday – the New York Slice and the Florida Crocs kicked off at 4pm.  The Slice won a tight 13-8 match that needed a strong finish in the Golden Game.  Koki Niwa started the…