An Electrifying Weekend at MLP Dallas
All the Drama and Excitement from the Premier League Finals and More
Quarterfinals Deliver Shocking Upset in Premier League
The quarterfinals of the Premier League playoffs at MLP Dallas produced a major upset, as the Columbus Sliders took down the favored Brooklyn Aces in a dramatic 3 game sweep. Brooklyn entered the playoffs as the #3 seed after a strong showing in group play, while Columbus squeaked in as the #6 seed. But the Sliders came to play, shocking the Aces in a tight match that came down to the deciding mixed doubles match (2:15).
The hero of the match was Megan Fudge of the Sliders, who was called up from the Challenger League just before the start of the quarterfinals due to an illness to Maggie Brassa. Thrust into the fire, Fudge won a crucial women's doubles match with partner Kathryn Pento to put the Sliders up 1-0. Then in a tense mixed match, Fudge teamed with Colin Johns to pull off the unfathomable - a mixed doubles win for Johns (3:34). Johns was elated, having struggled mightily in mixed doubles all season. With the 2-1 lead, the Sliders survived a grueling dream breaker to advance.
"Fudge came up huge for us when we needed her most," said Sliders captain Ben Johns. "She stepped in and delivered like a true champion."
The win sends the Cinderella Sliders to the semifinals vying for their first ever Premier League finals appearance.
(10:28)
NSFW Language Earns Miami's Feder An Orange Card
In the other quarterfinal matchup, the Miami Pickleball Club cruised past the Chicago Slice 3-0 (10:28). But the real drama happened earlier in group play, when Miami's Feder Federer let some inappropriate language fly against 16-year old AJ Kerr of the Utah Black Diamonds (10:48).
Up big in the match, Feder got a little too exuberant after a point and appeared to direct profanity towards Kerr. He was immediately issued an orange card for unsportsmanlike conduct, which cost Miami a point. Federer apologized afterwards, claiming he was just caught up in the heat of competition.
"Yeah it was definitely inappropriate," said Miami captain Ben Johns. "I think he just got a little too fired up in the moment. But he owned up to it and apologized, so hopefully we can move past it."
While some felt the outburst crossed a line, ultimately no further discipline was handed down. We'll see if Federer can keep his emotions in check going forward, as Miami hopes to capture an elusive Premier League title.
(14:12)
DC Pickleball Overpowers Brooklyn Aces in Semis
DC Pickleball continued their dominant run through the Premier League playoffs with a sweep of the Brooklyn Aces in the semifinals (14:12). The twin towers of Jackie and Jade Paraiso controlled the net and cruised to a 21-16 win in women's doubles over Katherine Pento and Andrea Coop.
On the men's side, Riley Newman and Christian Alson kept up their incredible chemistry, blowing past Tyler Loomis and Hayden Patriana 21-13. After struggling on mixed day 1, DC locked it down when it mattered most. Riley Newman and Jade Paraiso, a new mixed pairing, closed it out with a commanding 21-17 victory.
"We're playing our best pickleball when it counts most," said DC coach Robert Sostre. "This team is laser focused and determined to finish the job this time."
For Brooklyn, the loss ends an impressive inaugural Premier League season. DC meanwhile keeps their championship hopes alive heading into a rematch with rivals Orlando in the finals.
(17:22)
Orlando Squeeze Rallies to Stun Chicago in Semis
In one of the most exciting matches of the playoffs, the #2 seed Orlando Squeeze mounted an incredible comeback to defeat the Chicago Slice 2-1 and advance to the Premier League finals (17:22). Chicago came out firing, with Ben Johns and Eric Lang steamrolling Orlando 21-19 in a hotly contested men's doubles match.
Down 0-1, Orlando battled back in women's doubles behind the stellar play of Anna Bright and Rachel Warcher. Their aggressive and energetic style allowed the Squeeze to even it up with a 21-18 victory.
That set up a must-win mixed match for both squads. And it lived up to the hype, as the two teams traded blows in a tiebreaker for the ages. After multiple match points going back and forth, Rachel Warcher's lob sealed the deal to send Orlando back to the finals.
"I'm so proud of how we fought today," said Squeeze captain Andre Deu. "This team never gives up, and we're excited for one more shot at the title."
The Squeeze and the DC Pickleball Team will face off in an enticing finals rematch Sunday afternoon with the Premier League championship on the line.
(21:54)
DC Pickleball Seeks Retribution in Rematch with Orlando Squeeze in Premier Finals
The Premier League finals delivered a title match for the ages, as rivals DC Pickleball Team and Orlando Squeeze squared off in a rematch of last event's finals (21:54). In that first meeting, Orlando rallied from an 0-2 hole to stun DC in a dream breaker. This time, DC sought retribution on their home turf in Dallas.
The atmosphere was raucous and intense, with both team's fans rallying to support their side. In women's doubles, the steadiness and consistency of Jackie and Jade Paraiso proved too much for Orlando's Anna Bright and Rachel Warcher, as DC drew first blood with a 21-19 victory.
On the men's side, Christian Alson and Riley Newman continued their incredible roll, dominating Andre Deu and Zane Naveril 21-15. With a commanding 2-0 lead, DC had a chance to close it out in mixed.
But Orlando would not go quietly into the night. The Squeeze clawed back from deficits of 5 and 7 points behind the heroics of Andre Deu to force a tiebreaker. At 22-22, Jade Paraiso delivered the knockout punch to secure the finals for DC.
"Redemption never felt so sweet," shouted DC captain Robert Sostre during the trophy ceremony. "This resilient group of players earned this championship."
For Orlando, the loss was heartbreaking after their comeback in Atlanta. But both teams have proven to be the class of the Premier League with their two epic finals matchups.
(36:08)
Passion and Gamesmanship Abound in Challenger League Play
While the Premier League grabs most of the headlines, there was no shortage of drama and excitement in the Challenger League playoffs as well (36:08). In the quarterfinals, tensions flared between the New York Hustlers and LA Mad Drops in a contentious matchup (37:35). After a competitive start, emotions boiled over with the Hustlers holding a commanding 18-12 lead.
LA's Gabe Tardio amped up the energy after a clutch point, screaming enthusiastically to fire up his squad. Not to be outdone, New York's Jill Braverman responded with an impassioned shout of her own after the next point, much to LA's dismay. Yelling "Get out of here!" repeatedly while right in Tardio's face, Braverman's antics crossed the line for some. But after the initial heated exchange, both teams settled down to finish out the match respectfully.
"It was definitely emotional out there," said Mad Drops captain Andre Mick. "But Jill was just trying to hype up her team, and I don't think she meant any harm. We're all good now."
In the end, the passion and desire to win resulted in an entertaining match that exemplified the growing competitiveness of the Challenger League.
(42:02)
Controversy and Questionable Calls Impact Challenger League Finals
The upstart Frisco Pandas completed their Cinderella run to the Challenger League finals before ultimately falling to the powerhouse SoCal Hard Eights (42:02). But the path there was not without controversy.
In their semifinal matchup with St. Louis, the Pandas were the beneficiaries of a disputed hindrance call. Leading 23-22 in a tight men's doubles match, a stray ball mysteriously rolled onto the court during a point. Play continued and St. Louis called the ball out, but Frisco challenged hindrance and the call was shockingly overturned.
Despite the questionable ruling, Frisco held on to advance to their first ever finals appearance against heavily favored SoCal. The Hard Eights proved too much to handle, sweeping the Pandas 3-0 to claim their second straight Challenger League title.
"It's unfortunate that a controversial call played a role in deciding the outcome," said St. Louis captain Tyson McGuffin. "But that's sports sometimes. We wish Frisco the best as they continue building a great program."
While falling short of the title, the Pandas still made Challenger League history with their finals run as the ultimate underdogs.
(42:49)
Premier League Referees Under Scrutiny After Multiple Blown Calls
One developing storyline across the Premier League playoff weekend was the inconsistent and questionable officiating (42:49). Multiple blatant blown calls had players, coaches and fans up in arms.
In a dream breaker quarterfinal match between DC Pickleball and the Bay Area Breakers, DC's Leia Jansen hit a clear winner that caught the line. But the referee called it out, and with no line judges or challenges available on that court, Jansen had no recourse. On the very next point after a DC timeout, Jansen could be seen vehemently vocalizing her displeasure with the officiating.
Similar complaints arose elsewhere, including a missed out call on an obvious fault by the Frisco Pandas in their Challenger League semifinal match that also changed the outcome. The lack of competent referees has been an ongoing issue, and it again reared its ugly head at the worst possible time in Dallas.
"It's really frustrating when matches are influenced by bad calls," said Premier League commissioner David Marcus. "We will continue working to improve the quality and consistency of our officiating."
For the players who spend countless hours training their craft, losing on an unjust call is a tough pill to swallow. Hopefully the league can rectify these issues sooner than later.
In summary, MLP Dallas provided no shortage of edge-of-your-seat drama across all levels of competition (46:43). From surprise upsets to controversial finishes, the playoffs once again showcased the personalities, passion and talent that make pickleball such a rapidly growing phenomenon. DC Pickleball finally vanquished their rivals to claim the Premier League crown, while the SoCal Hard Eights staked their claim as the current alpha dogs of the Challenger League. And through it all, the spirit of fun and community shined through even in the heat of intense competition. MLP's next stop is Arizona in March, where the storylines and rivalries promise even more fireworks.
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