Portland Paddlers

Portland Paddlers
Founded2023
LeagueMajor League Table Tennis (MLTT)
ConferenceWestern Division
LocationPortland, Oregon
ArenaOregon Convention Center / Viking Pavilion
Owner
Idan, Dorian, and Ohad Levi
Head coach
Christian Lillieroos
Websitemltt.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.

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. 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. 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.

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.

Western DivisionEastern Division
Portland PaddlersAtlanta Blazers
Bay Area BlastersCarolina Gold Rush
Chicago WindFlorida Crocs
Los Angeles SpinnersNew York Slice
Texas SmashPrinceton 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

PlayerCountryNotes
Jens Lundqvist Sweden3x Olympian; Former World No. 19
Kang Dong-Soo South KoreaFormer South Korean National Champion
Nikhil Kumar United States2020 Tokyo Olympian; Acquired via trade
Hampus Nordberg SwedenFounding member of the franchise
Kotomi Omoda Japan2025 MLTT Female MVP Finalist
Sid Naresh United States2025 MLTT Champion; Acquired via trade
Minhyung Jee AustraliaAcquired via trade from Atlanta (Dec 2025)
Min Hyeok Kim South KoreaKorean National Doubles Champion

Season-by-season

SeasonMatchesRecordPointsDivision FinishPlayoffs
2023–24229–132173rd, West—
2024–25186–121713rd, West—
2025–261816–22601st, WestChampions

References

  1. ↑ MLTT Staff (September 21, 2023). "Major League Table Tennis Unveils Sale of Its First Six Teams". mltt.com. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Lubin, Jake (January 28, 2026). "Portland Paddlers: Ping Pong Prose and Prowess". The Franklin Post. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Blazers trade Minhyung Jee to Paddlers". mltt.com. December 22, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2026.