MLP’s Orlando Squeeze surge with Magic-backed blueprint

Major League Pickleball begins its regular season this weekend, and the Orlando Squeeze are seeing “merchandising, a popular social media presence and tons of support across the country,” according to Jason Beede of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Their “bright orange uniforms are hard to miss,” and their mascot, Lil’ Squeezy, is a “fan favorite.” The team’s Instagram account “garners 12,500 followers -- more than double and sometimes triple that of most MLP teams.” The Squeeze were founded in 2023 by Magic Managing Dir Ryan DeVos, along with other members of the DeVos family. The family, which owns the Magic, “relies on their experience” from the NBA club when running the Squeeze. Ryan DeVos said, “We have the operational know-how on the back end from our time with the Magic. … So, it’s easy for us to kind of apply those learnings and ultimately do things at the highest level.” Beede notes the players “recognize and appreciate that level of investment.” Squeeze player Federico Staksrud: “If they do something, they’re going to do it 100%” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/22).