Major League Pickleball (MLP) is set to return to action this week in San Diego, California, with the seventh stop of the regular season taking place at the Barnes Tennis Center. The event is crucial in shaping the playoff race, and several teams are looking to gain momentum, including the LA Mad Drops, who are seeking to bounce back from their losses in the Mid-Season Tournament.
The LA Mad Drops, who currently have 61 points, are looking to pick up momentum in San Diego, as they have this event and the upcoming Orlando event before heading into the playoffs. One of the top storylines for the San Diego event is the potential rematch of the Mid-Season Tournament bronze medal match between the LA Mad Drops and the Columbus Sliders, who defeated the Mad Drops 3-1 in the previous tournament. If this rematch were to happen, it would have significant implications, with 25 points going to the winner and 18 points to the loser of the Super Sunday finale.
Group Breakdown and Teams to Watch
The teams are divided into two groups: Group A and Group B. Group A consists of the LA Mad Drops, Dallas Flash, Utah Black Diamonds, Atlanta Bouncers, and Bay Area Breakers. Group B, on the other hand, is led by the Columbus Sliders, who are the definitive favorites, followed by the SoCal Hard 8s, Orlando Squeeze, Florida Smash, California Black Bears, and Phoenix Flames. The Sliders are expected to dominate Group B, but the other teams in the group are looking to cause upsets and gain points.
Two teams, the St. Louis Shock and the New Jersey Fives, have already mathematically clinched playoff berths. The LA Mad Drops and Columbus Sliders are also expected to clinch their playoff spots this weekend, as they currently have 61 and 65 points, respectively, and need to reach 68 points to secure their berths. On the other hand, the Bay Area Breakers and Florida Smash are at risk of being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs if they fail to surpass 16 points.
The following teams are favorites to win their groups and head to the Super Sunday Final:
- LA Mad Drops: Led by Ben Johns and Catherine Parenteau, the team is looking to bounce back from their losses in the Mid-Season Tournament.
- Columbus Sliders: With a strong roster including Andrei Daescu and Parris Todd, the Sliders are the definitive favorites in Group B.
- SoCal Hard 8s: The team, led by Meghan Dizon and Armaan Bhatia, could cause an upset and gain points in Group B.
- Phoenix Flames: Although they are currently at the bottom of the standings, the Flames are an up-and-coming team that could potentially cause surprises.
- California Black Bears: After making a few trades, the Black Bears are looking to find chemistry and get hot in Group B.
The Super Sunday schedule has been altered due to the FIFA World Cup, with matches starting earlier than usual. The #2 seeds will face off on Championship Court at 8am PST, while the #4 seeds will play each other on Grandstand. The #1 seeds will face off on Championship Court at 9:30am PST, and the #3 seeds will play on Grandstand. A World Cup watch party is scheduled for noon on the Barnes Tennis Center premises.
