Portland Paddlers
 | |
| Founded | 2023 |
|---|---|
| League | Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) |
| Conference | Western Division |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Arena | Oregon Convention Center / Viking Pavilion |
Owner | Idan, Dorian, and Ohad Levi |
Head coach | Christian Lillieroos |
| Website | mltt |
The Portland Paddlers are a professional table tennis team based in Portland, Oregon. The team competes in the Western Division of Major League Table Tennis (MLTT). Founded in 2023 as one of the league's eight inaugural franchises, the Paddlers represent the Pacific Northwest in the first professional team-based table tennis league in the United States.[1]
History
[edit]The Portland Paddlers were established in 2023 for the inaugural season of Major League Table Tennis. In September 2023, the franchise was acquired by Idan, Dorian, and Ohad Levi, owners of the international diamond firm Idor Diamonds.[2] Idan Levi, a former member of the Israeli national table tennis team, serves as the primary lead for the ownership group.
The team frequently hosts league events at the Oregon Convention Center and the Viking Pavilion at Portland State University. In January 2026, the Paddlers recorded a dominant three-day home stand at the Oregon Convention Center, securing their position at the top of the Western Division.[3] The franchise maintains a strategic partnership with Paddle Palace, the largest table tennis equipment distributor in North America, which serves as the team's primary training hub and fulfillment partner for the league.[4]
Division alignment
[edit]In 2025, MLTT expanded from eight to ten franchises, leading to a geographical realignment. The Chicago Wind moved to the Western Division to accommodate expansion teams in New York and Atlanta. The Seattle Spinners relocated to become the Los Angeles Spinners.
| Western Division | Eastern Division |
|---|---|
| Portland Paddlers | Atlanta Blazers |
| Bay Area Blasters | Carolina Gold Rush |
| Chicago Wind | Florida Crocs |
| Los Angeles Spinners | New York Slice |
| Texas Smash | Princeton Revolution |
Roster and personnel
[edit]The team is led by Head Coach Christian Lillieroos, a veteran international coach and member of the USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame.
Current roster
[edit]| Player | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jens Lundqvist |  Sweden | 3x Olympian; Former World No. 19 |
| Kang Dong-Soo |  South Korea | Former South Korean National Champion |
| Nikhil Kumar |  United States | 2020 Tokyo Olympian; Acquired via trade |
| Hampus Nordberg | Sweden | Founding member of the franchise |
| Kotomi Omoda |  Japan | 2025 MLTT Female MVP Finalist |
| Sid Naresh | United States | 2025 MLTT Champion; Acquired via trade |
| Minhyung Jee |  Australia | Acquired via trade from Atlanta (Dec 2025)[5] |
| Min Hyeok Kim | South Korea | Korean National Doubles Champion |
Season-by-season
[edit]| Season | Matches | Record | Points | Division Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | 22 | 9–13 | 217 | 3rd, West | — |
| 2024–25 | 18 | 6–12 | 171 | 3rd, West | — |
| 2025–26 | 18 | 16–2 | 260 | 1st, West | Champions |
References
[edit]- ↑ MLTT Staff (September 21, 2023). "Major League Table Tennis Unveils Sale of Its First Six Teams". mltt.com. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ↑ Foden-Vencil, Kristian (September 28, 2024). "Portland's love of table tennis means a major league team today and a rich history in 'ping-pong diplomacy'". Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ↑ Lubin, Jake (January 28, 2026). "Portland Paddlers: Ping Pong Prose and Prowess". The Franklin Post. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ↑ Paddle Palace Staff (September 13, 2024). "Major League Table Tennis partners with Leaf Trading Cards and Paddle Palace". Paddle Palace Blog. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Blazers trade Minhyung Jee to Paddlers". mltt.com. December 22, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2026.