Michael Loyd

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MICHAEL LOYD
Professional Pickleball Player | PPA Tour & Major League Pickleball
Hometown: Grew up across Texas
Current Residence: Austin, Texas
Age: 27
Height: 5’11” (180 cm)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2023
Disciplines: Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles
DUPR: Singles 5.97 | Doubles 6.29 (DUPR ID: 8JEJDO)
Sponsors: HEAD, The Picklr, Stack Athletics
MLP Team: California Black Bears
College: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (D-I tennis); MBA
Other Roles: Head coach & content creator, Pickleball Hub; Head of Development, Texas Ranchers Academy

Michael Loyd is a professional pickleball player on the PPA Tour and in Major League Pickleball, competing in men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles out of Austin, Texas. A breakout singles threat with a flair for the spotlight, Loyd has quickly become one of the most recognizable rising stars in the men’s pro game.

Loyd grew up across Texas playing basketball and tennis, and went on to compete in Division I tennis at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He first tried pickleball in 2020 as a way to stay active during the pandemic, but didn’t fully commit until 2022, after finishing his collegiate tennis career and earning his MBA. He worked for HEAD pickleball before deciding to chase the pro game in September 2023.

The gamble paid off fast. In 2024, Loyd made a stunning run to the men’s singles final at the Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships—knocking off then-World No. 1 Ben Johns in the Round of 16 along the way before falling to Federico Staksrud in the title match. The breakthrough established him as a genuine singles contender and one of the tour’s most exciting young players.

In Major League Pickleball, Loyd was drafted 26th overall by the Texas Ranchers in the 2025 Premier Level Draft, then was traded midseason to the California Black Bears. Beyond competing, he is the head coach and content creator for the instructional platform Pickleball Hub, and in early 2026 was named Head of Development for the Texas Ranchers Academy. The oldest of three siblings, Loyd enjoys collecting (he’s a noted Pokémon fan), tattoos, and volunteering with youth at his local church.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Runner-up (silver) in Men’s Singles at the 2024 Lapiplasty Pickleball World Championships — his first PPA Tour final
  • Upset then-World No. 1 Ben Johns in the Round of 16 at 2024 PPA Worlds
  • Drafted 26th overall by the Texas Ranchers in the 2025 MLP Premier Level Draft; later traded to the California Black Bears
  • Top-30 PPA Tour men’s singles player (ranked #26, June 2026)
  • Head coach & content creator for Pickleball Hub; Head of Development, Texas Ranchers Academy (2026)
  • Division I college tennis player at UT Rio Grande Valley

CURRENT PPA TOUR RANKINGS (JUNE 2026)
Singles: #26 — 1,600 pts
Doubles: #43 — 1,750 pts
Mixed Doubles: #42 — 950 pts