As we head into Thanksgiving, all 10 Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) teams have plenty to feel thankful for. It’s only fitting for us to pause, pick up a warm drink, and take stock of Season 3 before MLTT’s playoff push arrives.

Each squad is built differently, but we’re thankful those differences make each matchup feel exciting and new. Here are the single traits each team should mention before they say grace and dig in at the dinner table. 

EAST DIVISION

Princeton Revolution: Adaptability

Few teams shuffle lineups, matchups, and roles with more confidence. Every weekend feels like a puzzle, and Princeton solves most of them with a smile and a surprise twist.

This group blends creative problem-solving with calm execution. Their Golden Game decisions often look risky on paper, but the choices make perfect sense once their players step onto the court. Princeton is also lucky to have a roster that thrives under pressure. When a match enters its chaotic final stretch, the Revolution play some of their most inspired table tennis.

This season, Princeton has become a model of consistency, flexibility, and steady improvement. They are building something that feels durable.

New York Slice: Star Power

Few teams carry themselves with the confidence and cultural flair of the Slice. Their players compete with a distinct style: sharp timing, balanced aggression, and a sense of rhythm that frustrates opponents.

They also get to be thankful for Koki Niwa, who has shown fans what it means to watch an Olympic medalist at close range. Niwa’s creativity and poise have become must-see moments each weekend. His presence gives the Slice an anchor and a spark at the same time.

The Slice always seem to live in the fine print of tight matches. Golden Points, nail-biting finishes, and tactical swings tend to favor New York. Some holiday wish lists may include “competitive edge.” The Slice already found theirs.

Carolina Gold Rush: Firepower

Carolina’s roster blends elite talent with remarkable composure. Big moments feel smaller when this team is involved. Their Golden Game strategies are sharp, their doubles remain steady, and their team chemistry continues to strengthen.

Enzo Angles anchors the team with a level of reliability and intensity that sets the standard for the entire organization. His willingness to travel coast to coast to teach, coach, and uplift American players says a lot about his value beyond the table.

The Gold Rush have become a model squad. They show up, they deliver, and they leave every match looking prepared for whatever comes next.

Florida Crocs: Resilience

This season has tested the Crocs with injuries, lineup shifts, and pressure moments that could have derailed them. Instead, they responded with grit and creativity.

The Crocs also get to smile about Marc Duran, whose two-handed Spanish backhand lit up Broward and reminded everyone how skill and flair can live on the same blade. Duran’s energy lifted the room and gave Florida a spark when they needed it most.

Florida continues to claw their way into relevance through consistency and smart lineup management. Every weekend, they prove they belong in the discussion.

Atlanta Blazers: Homecoming

The Blazers have quickly become one of the most spirited teams in MLTT. Their bench stays engaged. Their players show natural chemistry. Their Golden Game units look more polished each weekend.

Their new star attraction, Tom Feng, finally had the chance to play in front of a home crowd. And he delivered with the energy, charisma, and explosive shot-making that makes him one of America’s most dynamic athletes.

As an expansion team, Atlanta entered Season 3 with questions. They have answered all of them with heart, humor, and an unmistakable desire to compete.

WEST DIVISION

Chicago Wind: Veterans

Chicago’s time-tested leadership approaches each match with purpose. Their structure, discipline, and match management give them an edge in the tight West race.

Chicago can be especially thankful for Robert Gardos, who shows the league what professionalism looks like every single weekend. The sport needs role models who elevate the game as much as they compete, and Gardos continues to deliver both qualities with ease.

The Wind feel like a playoff team. They know who they are, how they want to play, and how to win matches when margins shrink.

Bay Area Blasters: Experience

When the Bay Area Blasters get hot, matches end quickly. They’ve been to the postseason in both MLTT campaigns – and they act like it. They often look like the team with the highest ceiling in the league.

They also get to appreciate Elsayed Lashin, whose career keeps aging in reverse. Lashin competes with wisdom, strength, and the kind of composure that comes from decades in the heat of world-class matches. His presence stabilizes the entire team.

Bay Area’s identity remains straightforward. Attack with confidence. Trust the talent. Make every match feel like a sprint.

Los Angeles Spinners: Emotion

Few teams generate bigger swings of momentum or create more dramatic storylines than the Spinners. 

The Spinners should especially appreciate Matilda Ekholm, whose competitive spirit feels evergreen. Every ball, every point, every rally — Ekholm gives the same fire she did years ago on the world’s stage. You see determination, intelligence, and joy in equal parts.

What you don’t see as often are the flashes of anger that popped up too often during the end of her time with the Florida Crocs. Mati herself will admit her stint in L.A. has helped her regulate those moments, and the Spinners only stand to benefit from that. 

Texas Smash: Leaders

Texas doesn’t lose focus after back-to-back trips to the MLTT Championship Game. If they make a third such trip, it’ll be because of the cool-headed composure of their most tenured players. 

The Smash can feel proud of David McBeath, who has balanced the arrival of a new family member with a season full of clutch performances. His leadership has been a stabilizing force for the entire roster. The same can be said for Amy Wang, who is growing up as a person and player in front of MLTT’s audience. 

Leadership in a team setting also often stems from the example set by a coach. While Jorg Bitzigeio hasn’t physically manned the Smash’s sidelines, his presence is felt and his players follow. 

Portland Paddlers: Energy

Portland’s roster blends international experience with American talent in a way that gives their roster a new lightness. They play free and they’re fun to watch.

That goes double for Kotomi Omoda, whose pure energy lifts the entire arena whenever she steps on court. Her enthusiasm carries the team forward and her confidence shows up in every serve and every rally. You also see a more energized Nikhil Kumar and Sid Naresh, longtime doubles partners who teamed up in Portland for Season 3. 

That energy is contagious. There’s no flashy drama. No misplaced noise. Just smart, crisp, confident table tennis – and that raises everyone’s power levels. 

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