An arbitrator rather than a jury will decide a professional tennis and pickleball player’s claims that Major League Pickleball fired her in 2024 for complaining about not receiving timely wages, a judge has ruled.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lynne M. Hobbs granted the organization’s motion to compel arbitration of Rianna Valdes’ lawsuit, which alleges fraud, wrongful termination, breach of contract, failure to pay wages and wrongful business practices.
The judge put the case on hold pending the outcome of the arbitration and scheduled a status conference for Dec. 18. In their court papers, MLP attorneys contended that Valdes’ was bound to arbitrate any disputes under an August 2023 player agreement.
MLP was formed in 2021 and has about 100 top-ranked professional players and features 22 hometown teams across two levels, premier and challenger. Premier Level is home to the top 48 players drafted, while the Challenger Level highlights the next group of 40 players aspiring to become pro pickleball’s next stars.
MLP began offering lucrative contracts to professional players such as Valdes, to grow its professional player roster, the suit states. MLP offers the same employment contract to each player, but requires them to execute an exclusive contract which misclassifies each as independent contractors, according to the complaint.
The contract between Valdes, 28, and MLP called for her to receive an annual pay of $150,000 in 2024-26, and she agreed, among other things, to take part in MLP-hosted events and obtain permission to participate in non-MLP play, the suit states.
Valdes also was required to promote MLP during the contract term and get approval for third-party endorsements, the suit further states.
MLP was late in paying Valdes’ monthly $12,500 checks in 2024 and when she complained, the organization sent her a letter stating she failed to attend “any required event” without being specific, the suit states.
Valdes continued to ask for unpaid wages and in July, MLP sent her a termination notice while still not honoring her money demands, the suit states.
Valdes alleges that MLP’s true motive in firing her was financially motivated because the organization was cashing out its player contracts due to financial problems.
“When Valdes refused to accept a lowball offer to buy her agreement, she received a letter terminating her agreement,” according to the suit filed Nov. 27.