5 weeks after ending in final place in MLP Austin, the Dallas Flash claimed the MLP San Diego title this weekend, going undefeated towards the competitors.
35 days in the past, issues appeared in dire straights for the Flash. Tyra Black was on the crew, however didn’t play in MLP Austin, resulting from an sickness or harm. Dallas received only one match in Austin and earned zero standings factors from the occasion.
Shortly thereafter, they traded Tyra for Danni-Elle Townsend after which additionally obtained Alix Truong to reunite with Danni.
This week was a VERY totally different story. JW Johnson appears to be a person possessed. Augie Ge has raised his ground and is enjoying nice. The Flash went 4-0 in pool play towards the Bay Space Breakers, Utah Black Diamonds, Atlanta Bouncers, and the LA Mad Drops.
Within the finals, the Flash beat the Columbus Sliders, 3-1, to earn 25 standings factors. JW Johnson and Brooke Buckner sustained an early loss within the week to Kiora Kunimoto and James Delgado, of the Bay Space Breakers. They responded with an 11-1 victory over Jade Kawamoto and Ben Johns after which an 11-4 victory over Parris Todd and Andrei Daescu.
The Flash grow to be solely the fourth crew this 12 months to win an occasion (New Jersey 5s, LA Mad Drops, and St. Louis Shock are the opposite three). With solely two occasions left earlier than the playoffs, the Flash could also be peaking on the proper time.
Different Storylines
The Sliders dominated pool play
The Columbus Sliders didn’t lose a sport in pool play. They went 5-0 and received 20 straight video games. That’s proper, the Sliders didn’t lose a single sport from Thursday by means of Saturday. In reality, their level differential was additionally the very best of any crew in pool play, at +148. Whereas the Sliders misplaced to the Flash within the last, they’re additionally enjoying some actually good ball.
The Atlanta Bouncers transfer up three spots
The Bouncers beat the LA Mad Drops 3-1 in an enormous upset win and so they went on to earn second place within the pool. They dealt with the SoCal Arduous 8s fairly simply on Tremendous Sunday for the #3 end, profitable 3-0 and incomes 15 standings factors. The Bouncers have been in 14th place when it comes to factors per occasion at 4.33, however now moved as much as eleventh at 7 factors per occasion. They now have 28 factors, which doesn’t assure a playoff berth, however will get them a lot nearer to locking one down.
The Black Bears made a transfer towards playoff competition
The Black Bears made a flurry of strikes prior to now two weeks, bringing in Zoey Weil, Pablo Tellez, Dylan Frazier, and Jalina Ingram. They have been with out Frazier and Ingram all weekend. They began gradual, shedding to the Sliders and the Squeeze. Nevertheless, on Saturday is the place issues went effectively. They beat the SoCal Arduous 8s in a Dreambreaker within the morning and adopted it up with a Dreambreaker win over the Phoenix Flames within the afternoon, regardless of being down 0-2 after gender doubles. With two occasions left, the Black Bears are actually tied for 14th at 5 factors per occasion, hoping to make a playoff push.
As a reminder, I’m the Normal Supervisor of the Black Bears, so I do my finest to stay impartial in my journalism whereas overlaying MLP.
Two groups clinched playoff berths and two groups have been eradicated
The Florida Smash and Bay Space Breakers each completed their seasons on Saturday, with each incomes 15 factors on the 12 months. This formally eliminates them from the playoffs.
MLP Playoff Image Replace
The @lamaddrops and the @CbusSliders have clinched playoff berths. They be a part of the @the5spickleball and @stlshockmlp because the 4 groups which have clinched a berth.
The Florida Smash and the @Breakers_MLP are the primary two groups who’ve been eradicated from… pic.twitter.com/4zod0rBXBh
— Erik Tice (@azetice) July 20, 2026
On the flip facet, the Columbus Sliders and LA Mad Drops each clinched playoff berths. The Sliders are performed enjoying within the common season and have 83 factors. The Mad Drops have yet another occasion (MLP Orlando) on their schedule and so they have 71 factors.
The MLP Commerce Deadline is at the moment at midday
The LA Mad Drops made a 3 crew commerce with Miami and Utah, the place the largest piece of the puzzle, Connor Garnett, lands with the Mad Drops. It appears like he’ll play blended doubles with Catherine Parenteau and can lead the crew’s Dreambreaker lineup, whereas Max Freeman will nonetheless play males’s doubles with Ben Johns.
We are going to see if another large trades occur earlier than the deadline.
Subsequent up is MLP Chicago this week at a model new LifeTime facility within the northern suburbs. That is the second to final common season occasion earlier than the playoffs start.
