diff --git a/src/routes/(app)/matches/+page.server.ts b/src/routes/(app)/matches/+page.server.ts
index da7e814..59bfa1c 100644
--- a/src/routes/(app)/matches/+page.server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/(app)/matches/+page.server.ts
@@ -11,36 +11,44 @@ import type { PageServerLoad, Actions } from './$types';
 export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ locals }) => {
 	requireAuth(locals);
 
-	const [matches, teams, mappools, userTeamMemberships] = await Promise.all([
-		db.query.match.findMany({
-			with: { participants: { with: { team: true } }, mappool: { with: { slots: true } } },
-			orderBy: desc(match.createdAt),
-			limit: 50
-		}),
-		db.query.team.findMany({
-			with: { members: true },
-			orderBy: (t, { asc }) => [asc(t.name)]
-		}),
-		db.query.mappool.findMany({
-			with: { slots: true },
-			orderBy: (m, { desc }) => [desc(m.createdAt)]
-		}),
-		db.query.teamMember.findMany({
-			where: eq(teamMember.userId, locals.user!.id),
-			with: { team: true }
-		})
-	]);
+	const matches = await db.query.match.findMany({
+		with: { participants: { with: { team: true } }, mappool: { with: { slots: true } } },
+		orderBy: desc(match.createdAt),
+		limit: 50
+	});
 
 	return {
 		matches,
-		teams: teams.map((t) => ({ ...t, memberCount: t.members.length })),
-		mappools,
-		userTeams: userTeamMemberships.map((m) => m.team),
 		canCreateMatch: hasRole(locals.user!.role, 'referee')
 	};
 };
 
 export const actions: Actions = {
+	loadCreateFormData: async ({ locals }) => {
+		requireAuth(locals);
+
+		const [teams, mappools, userTeamMemberships] = await Promise.all([
+			db.query.team.findMany({
+				with: { members: true },
+				orderBy: (t, { asc }) => [asc(t.name)]
+			}),
+			db.query.mappool.findMany({
+				with: { slots: true },
+				orderBy: (m, { desc }) => [desc(m.createdAt)]
+			}),
+			db.query.teamMember.findMany({
+				where: eq(teamMember.userId, locals.user!.id),
+				with: { team: true }
+			})
+		]);
+
+		return {
+			teams: teams.map((t) => ({ ...t, memberCount: t.members.length })),
+			mappools,
+			userTeams: userTeamMemberships.map((m) => m.team)
+		};
+	},
+
 	createMatch: async ({ request, locals }) => {
 		// Only referees and admins can create matches manually
 		requireRole(locals, 'referee', 'Only referees and admins can create matches');
diff --git a/src/routes/(app)/matches/+page.svelte b/src/routes/(app)/matches/+page.svelte
index 9432825..0ba385c 100644
--- a/src/routes/(app)/matches/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/(app)/matches/+page.svelte
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 	let createError = $state('');
 	let inviteError = $state('');
 	let inviteSuccess = $state(false);
+	let formDataLoading = $state(false);
+	let formData = $state<any>(null);
 
 	// Challenge form state
 	let selectedCreatorTeamId = $state('');
@@ -18,10 +20,25 @@
 	let useCustomBo = $state(false);
 	let opponentSearch = $state('');
 
-	const personalTeam = $derived((data as any).userTeams?.find((t: any) => t.isPersonal));
-	const nonPersonalUserTeams = $derived(
-		(data as any).userTeams?.filter((t: any) => !t.isPersonal) ?? []
-	);
+	// Load form data when create/invite modals open
+	$effect(async () => {
+		if ((showCreate || showInvite) && !formData && !formDataLoading) {
+			formDataLoading = true;
+			const formData_elem = new FormData();
+			const response = await fetch('?/loadCreateFormData', {
+				method: 'POST',
+				body: formData_elem
+			});
+			const result = await response.json();
+			if (result.data) {
+				formData = result.data;
+			}
+			formDataLoading = false;
+		}
+	});
+
+	const personalTeam = $derived((formData ?? data).userTeams?.find((t: any) => t.isPersonal));
+	const nonPersonalUserTeams = $derived((formData ?? data).userTeams?.filter((t: any) => !t.isPersonal) ?? []);
 	const hasMultipleTeams = $derived(nonPersonalUserTeams.length > 0);
 
 	// Auto-select personal team by default
@@ -31,8 +48,8 @@
 		}
 	});
 
-	const selectedCreatorTeam = $derived(data.teams.find((t: any) => t.id === selectedCreatorTeamId));
-	const selectedInvitedTeam = $derived(data.teams.find((t: any) => t.id === selectedInvitedTeamId));
+	const selectedCreatorTeam = $derived((formData ?? data).teams.find((t: any) => t.id === selectedCreatorTeamId));
+	const selectedInvitedTeam = $derived((formData ?? data).teams.find((t: any) => t.id === selectedInvitedTeamId));
 	const creatorIsPersonal = $derived(selectedCreatorTeam?.isPersonal ?? true);
 
 	const creatorMaxSize = $derived(selectedCreatorTeam?.memberCount ?? 1);
@@ -42,7 +59,7 @@
 
 	// Filter opponent teams for search
 	const filteredOpponentTeams = $derived(
-		data.teams.filter((t: any) => {
+		(formData ?? data).teams.filter((t: any) => {
 			if (t.id === selectedCreatorTeamId) return false;
 			if (!opponentSearch) return true;
 			return t.name.toLowerCase().includes(opponentSearch.toLowerCase());
@@ -141,26 +158,22 @@
 			</p>
 		</div>
 		<div class="flex gap-2">
-			{#if (data as any).userTeams?.length > 0}
+			{#if (formData ?? data).userTeams?.length > 0}
 				<button
-					onclick={() => {
-						showInvite = !showInvite;
-						if (showInvite) showCreate = false;
-					}}
-					class="font-600 rounded-md border border-accent/30 px-4 py-2 text-sm text-accent transition-colors hover:bg-accent/10"
+					onclick={() => { showInvite = !showInvite; if (showInvite) showCreate = false; }}
+					disabled={formDataLoading && showInvite}
+					class="rounded-md border border-accent/30 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-600 text-accent transition-colors hover:bg-accent/10 disabled:opacity-50"
 				>
-					{showInvite ? 'Cancel' : 'Challenge'}
+					{showInvite && formDataLoading ? 'Loading...' : showInvite ? 'Cancel' : 'Challenge'}
 				</button>
 			{/if}
 			{#if data.canCreateMatch}
 				<button
-					onclick={() => {
-						showCreate = !showCreate;
-						if (showCreate) showInvite = false;
-					}}
-					class="font-600 rounded-md bg-accent px-4 py-2 text-sm text-surface-900 transition-colors hover:bg-accent-hover"
+					onclick={() => { showCreate = !showCreate; if (showCreate) showInvite = false; }}
+					disabled={formDataLoading && showCreate}
+					class="rounded-md bg-accent px-4 py-2 text-sm font-600 text-surface-900 transition-colors hover:bg-accent-hover disabled:opacity-50"
 				>
-					{showCreate ? 'Cancel' : 'New Match'}
+					{showCreate && formDataLoading ? 'Loading...' : showCreate ? 'Cancel' : 'New Match'}
 				</button>
 			{/if}
 		</div>