Sahra Dennehy
Trade acquisitionMarch 3, 2026
View player profile →TEAM PROFILE · MLP
California Black Bears
California · Major League Pickleball
The California Black Bears won the 2025 Challenger-level MLP Cup before rebuilding their 2026 roster around Sahra Dennehy, Zoey Weil, Jalina Ingram, Dylan Frazier, Pablo Tellez and Martin Emmrich.
FRANCHISE HIGHLIGHTS2025MLP CUP CHAMPIONCHALLENGER LEVELCALIFORNIA
LeagueMajor League Pickleball
DivisionChallenger Level
2025 resultMLP Cup champion
2026 resultLate playoff push
General managerRitchie Tuazon
Documented September 10, 2026
Final 2026 California Black Bears roster
California completed the season with the six-player group below. Luca Mack was on injured reserve and is not included in the active six.
Zoey Weil
Trade acquisitionJuly 13, 2026
View player profile →Jalina Ingram
Trade acquisitionJuly 13, 2026
View player profile →Dylan Frazier
Trade acquisitionJuly 14, 2026
View player profile →Pablo Tellez
Trade acquisitionJuly 7, 2026
View player profile →Martin Emmrich
Waiver claimJuly 21, 2026
View player profile →Roster construction
How California assembled its final six
Dennehy joins California
California acquired Sahra Dennehy from the Texas Ranchers in exchange for Layne Sleeth.
Tellez arrives from Bay Area
California acquired Mya Bui, Pablo Tellez and cash considerations from the Bay Area Breakers for Kiora Kunimoto and James Delgado.
Three deadline additions
The Black Bears acquired Jalina Ingram from Chicago, Zoey Weil from Florida and Dylan Frazier from Miami in three separate trades.
Emmrich completes the roster
California claimed Martin Emmrich after Orlando waived him, completing the final documented six-player group.
From BLQK to the Black Bears
California Black Bears history
An original MLP franchise
The organization competed under the California BLQK Bears styling before adopting the California Black Bears name.
Challenger-level MLP Cup champion
California defeated the D.C. Pickleball Team 3–0 to win the Challenger-level bracket at the 2025 MLP Cup.
A complete midseason rebuild
The Black Bears used trades and the waiver process to assemble a new six-player roster during a late playoff push, but did not qualify for the postseason.
2025 title and 2026 rebuild
A cup champion reshaped at the deadline
2025 MLP CUP3–0FINAL VS. D.C.
California swept D.C. to win the Challenger-level bracket at the 2025 MLP Cup.
The roster changed substantially in 2026. Four July trades and a waiver claim produced the final group, which made a late push but did not qualify for the playoffs.
Ownership and operations
The people behind the Black Bears
Ritchie Tuazon
Owner · General manager
Jimmy Miller
President
Official MLP match footage
Watch the California Black Bears
CALIFORNIA BLACK BEARS · MLP
California Black Bears vs. New Jersey 5s
2026 MLP Orlando · Full match
CALIFORNIA BLACK BEARS · MLP
Palm Beach Royals vs. California Black Bears
2026 MLP Orlando · Full match
CALIFORNIA BLACK BEARS · MLP
California Black Bears vs. Carolina Hogs
2026 MLP Austin · Full match
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Official team, league and tournament records