The Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament presented by DoorDash was a huge success, capped by an epic final. All 16 Premier and six Challenger teams were in action. There were surprises, upsets, and some chalk, as Las Vegas won the Challenger bracket and Dallas won the Premier bracket.

1. Dallas defends its #1 ranking

 

The Dallas Flash has been dominant all season. Dallas won MLP 2024, and has carried that momentum into 2025, all the way to the Mid-Season Tournament. After a first round bye, Dallas comfortably defeated Orlando 3-1. In the semifinals, Dallas met Columbus, which was riding a long winning streak. Columbus won a squeaker 11-9 in women’s doubles, but Dallas rattled off the next three matches to win 3-1. That set up a final against #2 seed St. Louis. St. Louis had enjoyed a bye, and then a second round win over feisty SoCal 3-1. In their semifinal, St Louis beat Texas 3-0 to move on to the final.

 

Everyone was either expecting or hoping for a Dallas vs. St. Louis final. They have been the two best teams all year, and the head-to-head match was much anticipated. Dallas opened with a surprisingly easy 11-3 win in women’s doubles. Hayden Patriquin and Gabe Tardio evened things up with an equally surprising 11-4 score in men’s doubles. Dallas won the first mixed match, and the pressure was on St. Louis to win the second mixed match to send it to a DreamBreaker. But Tyra Black and Augie Ge for Dallas had other ideas. They marched their way to championship point, but Gabe Tardio and Kate Fahey fought back to get it to 10-10. Dallas kept their composure and a couple of Tyra Black putaways sealed it for Dallas 12-10, to give the match to Dallas 3-1.

 

 

 

In the Challenger bracket, Las Vegas was seeded first and Nashville second. Just as Dallas and St. Louis have been the two best Premier teams, Las Vegas and Nashville have dominated Challenger. So, it was no surprise when they played each other in the final. It all came down to a DreamBreaker, with Las Vegas pulling it out by the oh-so-close score of 22-20. Expect to see those two teams meet again for the Challenger championship.

 

 

 

In the Premier bracket, Miami Pickleball Club pulled off the first round upset of the LA Mad Drops. LA had at one time been the hottest team, but they have since cooled off. LA’s situation was worsened by the termination by UPA of Quang Duong’s contract. That left LA without a key player who fit their drive and crash startegy. Miami took advantage of Duong’s absence to defeat LA 3-2.

 

Miami would go on to put up a good fight against New Jersey and then notch a second win in the consolation bracket. Miami was missing Jay Devilliers, but Japanese soft tennis star Yuta Funemizu filled in and acquitted himself quite well. Funemizu and Noe Khlif beat Zane Navratil and Will Howells in the New Jersey match, no small feat. Since switching from soft tennis to pickleball, Funemizu has made great strides. He plays an unconventional style that can give experienced players some trouble. Funemizu is a player to watch, as his ceiling may be very, very high.

 

 

The Texas Ranchers had a good event, finishing fourth and almost upsetting New Jersey in the third place match. Texas had been on a downward trajectory, but recently traded for Kaitlyn Christian. The trade appeared to energize Texas in this event. They upset Columbus in the consolation bracket and against New Jersey, they put up a good fight, losing both gender doubles matches 12-10. Texas should feel pretty good about their performance and they showed they are a threat to defeat anyone in any one particular match.

 

 

The teams will next head to St. Louis for what may be the best regular season event. St. Louis, Columbus, Dallas, and Brooklyn will all be there, and every team plays every other team. So, we will be able to see a Dallas vs. St Louis rematch. Columbus and Brooklyn are fighting for playoff position, so MLP St. Louis is one event you will not want to miss.

 

 

Dallas and St. Louis are close to locking up the two playoff byes. That sets up well for a championship of Dallas vs. St. Louis. But Columbus, New Jersey, Brooklyn, and Texas all have other ideas. The top six teams are all close enough in talent that any one team can win or lose on any given day. It will make the rest of the MLP season something to see.

 

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