By: Sean O’Neill, U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Famer
June 24, 2025
With the 2025 U.S. Nationals right around the corner, now’s a perfect time to revisit the defining moments of Major League Table Tennis Season 2—and see what they might foreshadow for Season 3. Each team delivered drama, grit, and a few surprises that have reshaped the league heading into the fall.
- Enzo Angles (left) and Hong Lin swapped their Season 1 MVP trophies for a Season 2 championship trophy.
- Golden Game wins in front of their home crowd in Raleigh.
- Romain Lorentz clinching the final point over Free Agent Angela Guan for the Texas Smash in the Golden Game in the Championship Match. Romain will take on Coaching duties for the LA Spinners next season, what a way to go out in style!
Note: Hong Lin will not be returning for Season 3, and defensive standout Wei Wang joins the team as part of the Sid Naresh (left) trade with Portland.
- Liam Pitchford’s (right) electric MLTT debut.
- Rivalry win over Princeton to open the season.
- Marc Duran serving up electrifying highlights each and every match.
Note: Croc favorite, Matti Ekholm was picked up by Los Angeles with the final pick of the draft.
- Benedek Oláh (left) and Jiangshan Guo ignited a mid-season push.
- Hosting a packed house in Lawrenceville.
- Showcasing breakout moments despite missing the playoffs.
- Hosting Season 2’s opening weekend in Portland.
- Strong play from Swedish duo Hampus Nordberg (right) & Jens Lundquist.
- Falling just short of the playoffs as a result of the final weekend of the season.
Note: Nikhil Kumar had a stellar off-season and will be joined by Sid Naresh, who arrives from Carolina in exchange for Wei Wang.
- Clinching spot in play-off spot in the West Division with a powerful 51-12 final-weekend surge.
- Dominant showings from Co-MVP Taehyun Kim (left).
- Watching Coach Tim Wang make the successful transition from player to coach to Playoffs.
Note: Lily Zhang is back and ready to make an impact in Season 3.
- Battling to a first-place finish in the West.
- Key Golden Game wins to stay in the playoff race.
- Veteran leadership showing in tough road matches.
LOS ANGELES SPINNERS (formerly Seattle Spinners)
- Ľubomír Pištej’s epic comebacks in the Golden Game.
- Olajide Omotayo’s (left) breakout moment mid-season.
- Spinners vs. Croc’s in Pomona during the wild fires going the full distance in Golden Game. Instant replay controversy and Vivarilli vs. Ekholm in a 21-20 battle of the ladies
Note: The team relocates from Seattle to Los Angeles for Season 3, bringing an exciting blend of returning stars and fresh energy to the West Coast.
- Emmanuel Lebesson (right) leading multiple Golden Game finishes.
- Hosting high-drama matches in Chicago.
- Completing a remarkable Season 2 turnaround to earn the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
From Co-MVP runs to clutch road wins and breakout rookies, every squad left its mark last season and those storylines are just getting started. New rosters. Fresh rivalries. Two expansion teams. Season 3 is shaping up to be the most competitive yet.
Want to relive these moments? Check out highlight reels and player recaps on the MLTT YouTube and Instagram accounts—and don’t forget to swing by the Paddle Palace booth at Nationals to talk trades, draft steals, and who’s ready to rise.
About The Author:
Sean O’Neill is a U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Famer, Olympian, and one of the most respected voices in the sport. With decades of experience on and off the court, he brings expert analysis, insider perspectives, and unfiltered takes on the tactics, trends, and stories shaping table tennis today.
