{{Short description|American table tennis team}} {{Infobox sports team | name = Portland Paddlers | league = Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) | logo = Portland paddlers logo.jpg | conference = Western Division | founded = 2023 | location = Portland, Oregon | arena = Oregon Convention Center / Viking Pavilion | owner = Idan, Dorian, and Ohad Levi | coach = Christian Lillieroos | championships = | website = {{URL|https://mltt.com/team/portland-paddlers/}} }}
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.<ref name="Sale">{{cite web |last=MLTT Staff |title=Major League Table Tennis Unveils Sale of Its First Six Teams |url=https://www.mltt.com/news/major-league-table-tennis-unveils-sale-of-its-first-six-teams |website=mltt.com |date=September 21, 2023 |access-date=March 14, 2026}}</ref>
== History == 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.<ref name="OPB">{{cite news |last=Foden-Vencil |first=Kristian |title=Portland’s love of table tennis means a major league team today and a rich history in ‘ping-pong diplomacy’ |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2024/09/28/portland-table-tennis-major-league-team-ping-pong-diplomacy/ |work=Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) |date=September 28, 2024 |access-date=March 14, 2026}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Franklin">{{cite news |last=Lubin |first=Jake |title=Portland Paddlers: Ping Pong Prose and Prowess |url=https://fhspost.com/11230/sports/portland-paddlers-ping-pong-prose-and-prowess/ |work=The Franklin Post |date=January 28, 2026 |access-date=March 14, 2026}}</ref> 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.<ref name="PaddlePalace">{{cite web |last=Paddle Palace Staff |title=Major League Table Tennis partners with Leaf Trading Cards and Paddle Palace |url=https://blog.paddlepalace.com/2024/09/major-league-table-tennis-partners-with-leaf-trading-cards-and-paddle-palace/ |website=Paddle Palace Blog |date=September 13, 2024 |access-date=March 14, 2026}}</ref>
== Division alignment == 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.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! 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 == 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 === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Player !! Country !! Notes |- | '''Jens Lundqvist''' || {{SWE}} || 3x Olympian; Former World No. 19 |- | '''Kang Dong-Soo''' || {{KOR}} || Former South Korean National Champion |- | '''Nikhil Kumar''' || {{USA}} || 2020 Tokyo Olympian; Acquired via trade |- | '''Hampus Nordberg''' || {{SWE}} || Founding member of the franchise |- | '''Kotomi Omoda''' || {{JPN}} || 2025 MLTT Female MVP Finalist |- | '''Sid Naresh''' || {{USA}} || 2025 MLTT Champion; Acquired via trade |- | '''Minhyung Jee''' || {{AUS}} || Acquired via trade from Atlanta (Dec 2025)<ref name="Trade">{{cite web |title=Blazers trade Minhyung Jee to Paddlers |url=https://www.mltt.com/news/blazers-trade-minhyung-jee-draft-pick-to-paddlers-for-rachel-sung |website=mltt.com |date=December 22, 2025 |access-date=March 14, 2026}}</ref> |- | '''Min Hyeok Kim''' || {{KOR}} || Korean National Doubles Champion |}
== Season-by-season == {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! 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 == {{Reflist}}
Category:Table tennis teams in the United States Category:2023 establishments in Oregon Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 2023 Category:Professional sports clubs and teams in the United States Category:Sports clubs and teams in Portland, Oregon