DRAMA, TENSION, AND GREAT PICKLEBALL IN NEWPORT BEACH: 4 TEAMS HEADED TO THE FINALS IN NEW YORK
Two favorites advanced without much drama. Two favorites fell along the way. St. Louis Shock, New Jersey 5s, Dallas Flash, and Brooklyn Pickleball Team punched their tickets to the semifinals — and each one had a hero of their own.
The top eight teams from the MLP regular season faced off this weekend at the Tennis and Pickleball Club in Newport Beach, California. The level of play was intense, dramatic, and absolutely entertaining — with two upsets nobody saw coming.
Before we get into the action: there's a break in play next week. The semifinals pick back up Friday, August 28 in New York.
St. Louis Shock: The Most Dominant Team Of The Weekend
St. Louis left no doubt. They handled their series against Texas Ranchers with total authority — 3-0 and 3-0 in both matches, never giving the Ranchers a moment's breathing room in any category.
Hero of the day: Hayden Patriquin. All four St. Louis players finished among the weekend's statistical top four, but Patriquin was once again the standout name — the same story he's been writing all season, leading the Shock match after match with total consistency. Whoever has to face them in the semifinals won't be looking forward to it.
New Jersey 5s Got Past Palm Beach — With Anna Leigh Waters Carrying The Team
First things first, credit where it's due: Palm Beach Royals had a fantastic first season in the MLP, exceeding expectations and playing at an elite level in the playoffs.
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The first match was a nailbiter — New Jersey took the Dreambreaker 21-17, with Will Howells closing it out over Casey Diamond. In the second match, New Jersey's men turned the tide with a commanding 11-2.
Hero of the day: Anna Leigh Waters. Even in a weekend with ups and downs — she and Noé Khlif lost both mixed matches, something that hadn't happened to her against the same opponent since last year's final — Waters was the one who carried the team on her shoulders in the moments that mattered, holding New Jersey together through stretches where the rest of the roster couldn't find its rhythm. Without her level of play, this series likely goes to a third match.
The question hanging over the 5s now: do they stick with Khlif alongside Waters in mixed heading into the semis, or try a different formula?
Dallas Flash Landed The First Big Blow Of The Weekend
Dallas Flash came in as the No. 6 seed, but they didn't feel like a sixth-place team. They didn't earn a single standings point at MLP Austin and looked like their season was over. Everything changed when they traded Tyra to Columbus for Danni-Elle Townsend, then added Alix Truong. Since then, Dallas has won two regular season events and steamrolled the No. 11 Las Vegas Night Owls in Round 1.
This series against Los Angeles Mad Drops was the most dramatic of the weekend — it went to a third match on Sunday. Dallas started rough, losing women's doubles 6-11. But JW Johnson and Augie Ge answered with a dominant 11-2 in men's doubles, and JW alongside Brooke Buckner sealed mixed doubles over Ben Johns and Jade Kawamoto.
Hero of the day: Danni-Elle Townsend. In the deciding mixed doubles match, she and Augie Ge jumped out to a 9-0 lead — Los Angeles refused to fold, clawing back to 7-9, but Townsend held the line right when it mattered most, closing it out 11-8 and sealing Dallas Flash's spot in the semifinals. The same energy that earned her the season's Most Improved Player award is exactly what carried her team into New York.
Brooklyn Knocked Out The Defending Champions
Nobody quite knew what to expect from Brooklyn Pickleball Team. Riley Newman came in with a bone bruise on his knee, barely off crutches a month ago. Rachel Rohrabacher is still recovering after a video board fell on her foot/ankle.
And yet, Brooklyn eliminated Columbus Sliders, the defending champions. The first match was decided by a Dreambreaker Brooklyn dominated from start to finish. The second, also settled in a Dreambreaker, saw Columbus storm back with five straight points to force a third match.
Hero of the day: Riley Newman. Playing through an injury that had him hobbling just a month ago, Newman was the one who sealed the deciding point of the weekend — alongside Jackie Kawamoto, they closed out an 11-8 win to complete Brooklyn's upset. Playing hurt and being the one who closes out the elimination of the defending champion is exactly the kind of performance that defines a season.
The Road To New York
St. Louis Shock, New Jersey 5s, Dallas Flash, and Brooklyn Pickleball Team advance to the semifinals. The specific matchups will be announced Monday afternoon.
New York, August 28-30. Four teams, four different heroes, one crown still up for grabs.
Two favorites advanced without much drama. Two favorites fell along the way. St. Louis Shock, New Jersey 5s, Dallas Flash, and Brooklyn Pickleball Team punched their tickets to the semifinals — and each one had a hero of their own.
The top eight teams from the MLP regular season faced off this weekend at the Tennis and Pickleball Club in Newport Beach, California. The level of play was intense, dramatic, and absolutely entertaining — with two upsets nobody saw coming.
Before we get into the action: there's a break in play next week. The semifinals pick back up Friday, August 28 in New York.
St. Louis Shock: The Most Dominant Team Of The Weekend
St. Louis left no doubt. They handled their series against Texas Ranchers with total authority — 3-0 and 3-0 in both matches, never giving the Ranchers a moment's breathing room in any category.
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Hero of the day: Hayden Patriquin. All four St. Louis players finished among the weekend's statistical top four, but Patriquin was once again the standout name — the same story he's been writing all season, leading the Shock match after match with total consistency. Whoever has to face them in the semifinals won't be looking forward to it.
New Jersey 5s Got Past Palm Beach — With Anna Leigh Waters Carrying The Team
First things first, credit where it's due: Palm Beach Royals had a fantastic first season in the MLP, exceeding expectations and playing at an elite level in the playoffs.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
The first match was a nailbiter — New Jersey took the Dreambreaker 21-17, with Will Howells closing it out over Casey Diamond. In the second match, New Jersey's men turned the tide with a commanding 11-2.
Hero of the day: Anna Leigh Waters. Even in a weekend with ups and downs — she and Noé Khlif lost both mixed matches, something that hadn't happened to her against the same opponent since last year's final — Waters was the one who carried the team on her shoulders in the moments that mattered, holding New Jersey together through stretches where the rest of the roster couldn't find its rhythm. Without her level of play, this series likely goes to a third match.
The question hanging over the 5s now: do they stick with Khlif alongside Waters in mixed heading into the semis, or try a different formula?
Dallas Flash Landed The First Big Blow Of The Weekend
Dallas Flash came in as the No. 6 seed, but they didn't feel like a sixth-place team. They didn't earn a single standings point at MLP Austin and looked like their season was over. Everything changed when they traded Tyra to Columbus for Danni-Elle Townsend, then added Alix Truong. Since then, Dallas has won two regular season events and steamrolled the No. 11 Las Vegas Night Owls in Round 1.
This series against Los Angeles Mad Drops was the most dramatic of the weekend — it went to a third match on Sunday. Dallas started rough, losing women's doubles 6-11. But JW Johnson and Augie Ge answered with a dominant 11-2 in men's doubles, and JW alongside Brooke Buckner sealed mixed doubles over Ben Johns and Jade Kawamoto.
Hero of the day: Danni-Elle Townsend. In the deciding mixed doubles match, she and Augie Ge jumped out to a 9-0 lead — Los Angeles refused to fold, clawing back to 7-9, but Townsend held the line right when it mattered most, closing it out 11-8 and sealing Dallas Flash's spot in the semifinals. The same energy that earned her the season's Most Improved Player award is exactly what carried her team into New York.
Brooklyn Knocked Out The Defending Champions
Nobody quite knew what to expect from Brooklyn Pickleball Team. Riley Newman came in with a bone bruise on his knee, barely off crutches a month ago. Rachel Rohrabacher is still recovering after a video board fell on her foot/ankle.
And yet, Brooklyn eliminated Columbus Sliders, the defending champions. The first match was decided by a Dreambreaker Brooklyn dominated from start to finish. The second, also settled in a Dreambreaker, saw Columbus storm back with five straight points to force a third match.
Hero of the day: Riley Newman. Playing through an injury that had him hobbling just a month ago, Newman was the one who sealed the deciding point of the weekend — alongside Jackie Kawamoto, they closed out an 11-8 win to complete Brooklyn's upset. Playing hurt and being the one who closes out the elimination of the defending champion is exactly the kind of performance that defines a season.
The Road To New York
St. Louis Shock, New Jersey 5s, Dallas Flash, and Brooklyn Pickleball Team advance to the semifinals. The specific matchups will be announced Monday afternoon.
New York, August 28-30. Four teams, four different heroes, one crown still up for grabs.
