Top 3 overall storylines in Phoenix:

• Will the Dallas Flash remain unbeaten as they defend their 2024 crown (made even harder by the quick turnaround from Austin)?

• Is Team Showtime, aka the Phoenix Flames, all show, or can they earn some wins on their home court?

• Will triple digit temperatures and 8:30pm local start times impact individual players or teams and deliver unexpected match results?

Storylines per Premier team participating in Phoenix:

Atlanta Bouncers (3 wins, 6 losses, 8 standings points) – Can the Bouncers find a few wins to stay close to the playoff cut line (top 10 teams make the playoffs)? Will Victoria DiMuzio rally after a 3-15 start to the season?

Brooklyn Pickleball Team (2-3, 8 points) – Is their record misleading since their 3 losses are to teams at the top of the standings (Shock, Ranchers, 5s)? Can they win 5 times in Phoenix?

Dallas Flash (8-0-22): Can their female players (Jorja Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black) continue their blistering pace? Their combined record is 29-3. Also, can Dallas maintain their focus and intensity as the only team playing back-to-back (Austin and Phoenix)?

LA Mad Drops (1-2, 4 points): What’s the upside of this team when fully healthy as Hunter Johnson returns from injury?

Phoenix Flames (2-6, 7 points) – What will Jack Sock’s form be coming off injury (he was forced to skip the Carvana PPA Tour Slam in Atlanta in mid-May)?

SoCal Hard 8s (0-2, 1 point) and Utah Black Diamonds (0-3, 1 point) – Both teams are looking for their first win of the campaign. They square off on Sunday, June 1^st at 11:00am Eastern, so at least one team will hit the win column in Arizona. 

NOTE: All teams will play one match against each team at the event (6 matches per team).

Premier teams not playing in Phoenix:

Carolina Hogs, Chicago Slice, Columbus Sliders, Miami Pickleball Club, New Jersey 5s, New York Hustlers, Orlando Squeeze, St. Louis Shock, Texas Ranchers 

NOTE: No Challenger teams will play in Phoenix. 

Marquee matchups:

• Thursday, May 29^th at 6:00pm Eastern (LA Mad Drops vs. Brooklyn Pickleball Team): Two teams who figure to be jockeying for playoff positioning all season long battle in the first match of the event.  

• Friday, May 30^th at 8:00pm Eastern (Dallas Flash vs. Brooklyn Pickleball Team): The ultimate measuring stick for Brooklyn to see if they deserve consideration as a top team. 

• Saturday, May 31^st at 11:30pm Eastern (Dallas Flash vs. Phoenix Flames): Will Team Showtime (Flames) live up to their name and shine brightest under the lights?

Special Event: Celebrity Pro-Am (Saturday, May 31^st):

• Scheduled to appear: 

  • Jake Plummer (NFL QB and Arizona State Sun Devil All-American)

  • James Valentine (Lead guitarist for Maroon 5)

  • Eric Byrnes (Arizona Diamondbacks star)

• One hour event featuring matches with celebs and the top pickleball pros in the world.

Location/times:

• Arizona Athletic Grounds – 6321 S. Ellsworth Road, Mesa, AZ. 

• Play starts at 6pm Eastern on Thursday, May 29^th and Friday, May 30^th, 6:30pm Eastern on Saturday, May 31^st, and 11:00am Eastern on Sunday, June 1^st. 

• Catch all of the action on Pickleballtv.