The Major League Pickleball (MLP) playoffs at The Tennis and Pickleball Club at Newport Beach delivered high-stakes drama, featuring four quarterfinal matchups that resulted in two expected victories and two significant upsets. As the league heads into a brief hiatus before the semifinals on August 28th, the field has narrowed to four teams vying for the championship.
Quarterfinal Results and Team Analysis
The quarterfinal round saw the top-seeded teams face off against the lower seeds, with the following outcomes defining the path to the semifinals:
- St. Louis Shock vs. Texas Ranchers: The Shock secured a dominant path to the semifinals by sweeping both matches 3-0. Their consistent performance throughout the weekend has established them as a formidable threat for the upcoming rounds.
- New Jersey 5s vs. Palm Beach Royals: New Jersey advanced after a hard-fought series. The first match was decided by a 21-17 Dreambreaker victory for Will Howells over Casey Diamond, while the second match saw the New Jersey men shift momentum with an 11-2 win. Despite the victory, the team faces internal questions regarding the mixed doubles pairing of Noe Khlif and Anna Leigh Waters, who struggled against the Royals.
- Dallas Flash vs. LA Mad Drops: In a major upset, the 6th-seeded Dallas Flash eliminated the 3rd-seeded Mad Drops. After a roster shakeup—trading for Danni-Elle Townsend and picking up Alix Truong—Dallas displayed newfound chemistry. The series went to a third match, where Dallas secured the win behind strong performances from JW Johnson, Augie Ge, and Danni Townsend, who held off a late comeback attempt by Catherine Parenteau and Connor Garnett.
- Brooklyn Pickleball Team vs. Columbus Sliders: Brooklyn overcame significant injury concerns, including a knee injury for Riley Newman and a foot injury for Rachel Rohrabacher, to eliminate the reigning champions. The series was defined by tactical shifts in the Dreambreakers; in the second match, the Sliders notably benched their singles specialists, Tyra and CJ, to secure a 21-18 win. Ultimately, Brooklyn clinched the series in the third match by winning both women’s and men’s doubles.
With the quarterfinals concluded, the league is set to announce the official semifinal pairings on Monday afternoon. Players will use the upcoming break to recover before the tournament resumes on Friday, August 28th.
