Major League Table Tennis arrives in Los Angeles for a marquee December weekend at Terasaki Budokan, one of the most intimate and energetic venues in the league. From December 12-14, four teams across both conferences meet for a slate that promises defining matchups, star power, and meaningful movement in the standings.

This is also the first-ever home weekend for the Los Angeles Spinners. After playing out of Seattle last season, the franchise now welcomes MLTT fans to downtown L.A. in a moment that carries both symbolic and competitive weight.

WEEKEND MATCH SCHEDULE

All matches at Terasaki Budokan, Los Angeles, CA

Friday, December 12

4:00 PM PT – New York Slice vs. Bay Area Blasters
7:30 PM PT – Atlanta Blazers vs. Los Angeles Spinners

Saturday, December 13

4:00 PM PT – New York Slice vs. Atlanta Blazers
7:30 PM PT – Bay Area Blasters vs. Los Angeles Spinners

Sunday, December 14

11:00 AM PT – Bay Area Blasters vs. Atlanta Blazers
2:30 PM PT – New York Slice vs. Los Angeles Spinners

LA Spinners: A Historic Weekend at Home

The Spinners’ long-awaited home debut will arrive after a 1-2 showing in Broward, where they delivered a decisive 17-4 win over Bay Area after falling to Chicago and Florida. This weekend becomes a moment of truth for their playoff hopes.

With the Western Conference featuring Portland, Texas, Bay Area, Chicago, and L.A., only the top two will reach Championship Weekend. L.A. understands that home court is arriving at the perfect moment, and their margin for error is shrinking.

Oshima vs. Niwa: A Potential Showcase Duel

Although both have played full MLTT seasons to this point, this weekend presents the strongest chance yet for #1 pick Yuya Oshima and #2 pick Koki Niwa to meet, either in singles or the Golden Game.

Their contrasting styles make the matchup compelling:

• Yuya Oshima (Atlanta Blazers)
Power-based, heavy acceleration, fearless from both wings.

• Koki Niwa (New York Slice)
Creative, improvisational, excellent at changing pace and rhythm mid-rally.

A head-to-head between them would be one of the most anticipated singles showdowns of the entire regular season.

Conference Context

Western Conference

Portland Paddlers
Texas Smash
Bay Area Blasters
Chicago Wind
Los Angeles Spinners

Eastern Conference

New York Slice
Princeton Revolution
Carolina Gold Rush
Atlanta Blazers
Florida Crocs

Only the top two teams from each conference will qualify for Championship Weekend, making every inter-conference match this weekend especially meaningful.

Team Storylines Heading into the Weekend

Los Angeles Spinners

The Budokan’s tight environment suits L.A.’s emotional and expressive roster. Their 17-4 win over Bay Area in Broward showed flashes of their ceiling. The question now is whether they can create consistency with the support of their home crowd.

Bay Area Blasters

The Blasters need to convert competitive efforts into full-weekend results. Their Saturday matchup vs L.A. and Sunday match vs Atlanta carry serious playoff implications. Will Elsayed Lashin and Lily Zhang continue their MVP-ish performances in SoCal?

New York Slice

New York leads the Eastern Conference with structured, disciplined play and excellent leadership from head coach Adam Hugh, who manages lineups with the precision of a seasoned “player traffic cop.”
With Niwa anchoring the men’s rotation, the Slice remain the most stable team entering this weekend.

Atlanta Blazers

Despite being an expansion team, Atlanta is gaining traction. Their roster is largely new, but Oshima gives them a foundation to compete immediately. Their matchup with L.A. on Friday could define their weekend.

Featured Women’s Rematch: Lily Zhang vs. Matilda Ekholm

One of the most compelling rematches of the season returns this weekend. In Broward, Matilda Ekholm earned the win using pace variation, selective aggression, and pinpoint placement.

Matilda plays with fire and emotion, but she stayed composed in Broward—one of the keys to her success. Repeating that level of control will be the challenge in LA’s loud home environment.

Lily Zhang, competitive to her core, rarely lets a tough result go unaddressed. Expect tactical adjustments and sharper timing from her side of the table.

Their rematch is a highlight of the weekend slate.

Why Fans Should Tune In on TableTennis.TV

This weekend combines:

 • L.A.’s first-ever home match
• A possible Niwa–Oshima showdown
• A playoff race tightening in both conferences
• A Lily vs. Matilda rematch with real stakes
• A West full of must-win scenarios for LA and Bay Area
• New York’s quest to stay on top of the East
• The Budokan atmosphere: intimate, intense, and loud

Every match brings meaning. Every rotation matters. And the entire playoff picture can shift before the league enters the winter break.

Ticket available at https://tickets.mltt.com.