The Fives Did It Again: New Jersey Sweeps St. Louis to Win MLP Columbus 2026
The Fives Did It Again
And the Rest of the MLP Is Officially on Notice
MLP Columbus 2026 | Super Sunday | Pickle & Chill, Columbus, Ohio
There were those who believed St. Louis Shock would be the wall. The team that would stop the celebration. The team that would remind New Jersey that winning pool play and winning with the belt on the line are two very different things.
The Fives heard all of it.
And they answered with a sweep.
The Scoreboard Says It All
Women's Doubles: 11-3.
Men's Doubles: 11-8.
Mixed Doubles #1: 11-9.
Three matches. Three wins. Zero concessions.
The 3-0 result wasn't an accident—it was the product of a team that knows exactly what to do when the pressure rises and mistakes become more expensive.
On social media, there was no attempt at moderation.
"SWEPT EM CLEAN" became the team's official proclamation.
"With the belt goes hard."
"We are back."
Not arrogance. Just the language of a team that believes this moment belongs to them.
The Match That Could Have Gone Either Way
MX1 was a different story.
If the first two matches were dominant, mixed doubles became a battle of nerves. The 11-9 scoreline never felt comfortable. Momentum shifted repeatedly. Long rallies tested both teams. At several moments, either side could have seized complete control.
In the end, the team that made fewer mistakes in the biggest moments imposed its will.
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Two late unforced errors from Anna Bright opened the door.
New Jersey walked through it.
The partnership of Anna Leigh Waters and Noe Khlif—the combination the Fives invested in at Dallas and confirmed in Columbus—crossed the finish line together.
And they did it with the calm confidence of players who already know what winning feels like.
Anna Leigh: More Than Points
Some players win matches.
Some players win teams.
Anna Leigh Waters does both.
On court, she was relentless, energetic, and constantly setting the tone.
But her influence was just as visible off the court.
She was the first voice from the bench, the source of energy when momentum shifted, and the leader who refused to let doubt enter the conversation.
When MX1 hung in the balance, she and Khlif steadied the ship and delivered the final blow.
There is a reason New Jersey looks different when Anna Leigh is fully locked in.
On Sunday, she was.
St. Louis: A Rival Worth Respecting
For the Shock, the takeaway is complicated.
The loss hurts—especially knowing how close they came in mixed doubles.
But Columbus also reinforced something many already suspected:
St. Louis is not a temporary contender.
They are New Jersey's biggest challenger.
Anna Bright, Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio, and Kate Fahey have the talent, depth, and mentality to push the Fives again.
And if the small mistakes get cleaned up—as they often do with a team of this caliber—the Shock will be right back in the championship conversation when the biggest trophies are handed out.
What It Means for the Season
With 25 standings points secured, the New Jersey 5s didn't just win Columbus.
They sent a message to the entire league.
They have the best player in the world.
They have one of the most effective mixed doubles pairings in professional pickleball.
And perhaps most importantly, they possess the hardest thing to build in sports:
A winning mentality.
The message to everyone else is simple:
To beat the Fives, you'll have to play nearly perfect.
And even then, it still might not be enough.
Next stop:
MLP St. Louis | June 4–7 | Chaifetz Arena.
The Shock will be at home.
The rematch is already on the calendar.
The Fives Did It Again
And the Rest of the MLP Is Officially on Notice
MLP Columbus 2026 | Super Sunday | Pickle & Chill, Columbus, Ohio
There were those who believed St. Louis Shock would be the wall. The team that would stop the celebration. The team that would remind New Jersey that winning pool play and winning with the belt on the line are two very different things.
The Fives heard all of it.
And they answered with a sweep.
The Scoreboard Says It All
Women's Doubles: 11-3.
Men's Doubles: 11-8.
Mixed Doubles #1: 11-9.
Three matches. Three wins. Zero concessions.
The 3-0 result wasn't an accident—it was the product of a team that knows exactly what to do when the pressure rises and mistakes become more expensive.
On social media, there was no attempt at moderation.
"SWEPT EM CLEAN" became the team's official proclamation.
"With the belt goes hard."
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"We are back."
Not arrogance. Just the language of a team that believes this moment belongs to them.
The Match That Could Have Gone Either Way
MX1 was a different story.
If the first two matches were dominant, mixed doubles became a battle of nerves. The 11-9 scoreline never felt comfortable. Momentum shifted repeatedly. Long rallies tested both teams. At several moments, either side could have seized complete control.
In the end, the team that made fewer mistakes in the biggest moments imposed its will.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Two late unforced errors from Anna Bright opened the door.
New Jersey walked through it.
The partnership of Anna Leigh Waters and Noe Khlif—the combination the Fives invested in at Dallas and confirmed in Columbus—crossed the finish line together.
And they did it with the calm confidence of players who already know what winning feels like.
Anna Leigh: More Than Points
Some players win matches.
Some players win teams.
Anna Leigh Waters does both.
On court, she was relentless, energetic, and constantly setting the tone.
But her influence was just as visible off the court.
She was the first voice from the bench, the source of energy when momentum shifted, and the leader who refused to let doubt enter the conversation.
When MX1 hung in the balance, she and Khlif steadied the ship and delivered the final blow.
There is a reason New Jersey looks different when Anna Leigh is fully locked in.
On Sunday, she was.
St. Louis: A Rival Worth Respecting
For the Shock, the takeaway is complicated.
The loss hurts—especially knowing how close they came in mixed doubles.
But Columbus also reinforced something many already suspected:
St. Louis is not a temporary contender.
They are New Jersey's biggest challenger.
Anna Bright, Hayden Patriquin, Gabe Tardio, and Kate Fahey have the talent, depth, and mentality to push the Fives again.
And if the small mistakes get cleaned up—as they often do with a team of this caliber—the Shock will be right back in the championship conversation when the biggest trophies are handed out.
What It Means for the Season
With 25 standings points secured, the New Jersey 5s didn't just win Columbus.
They sent a message to the entire league.
They have the best player in the world.
They have one of the most effective mixed doubles pairings in professional pickleball.
And perhaps most importantly, they possess the hardest thing to build in sports:
A winning mentality.
The message to everyone else is simple:
To beat the Fives, you'll have to play nearly perfect.
And even then, it still might not be enough.
Next stop:
MLP St. Louis | June 4–7 | Chaifetz Arena.
The Shock will be at home.
The rematch is already on the calendar.
