Top 3 overall storylines (and a trade deadline item):

• Can the Dallas Flash build on their belt-winning performance in San Diego and take two straight events?

• What version of the Brooklyn Pickleball Team will we see? Three starters missed the Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids (Christian Alshon, Rachel Rohrabacher, and Riley Newman). 

• Can the hometown Slice make a playoff push? They currently sit one slot out of the playoffs based on points/event.

• TRADES! Federico Staksrud to the Fives, Connor Garnett to the Mad Drops - both will be in action for a playoff preview next week in Orlando. 

Storylines per team competing in Chicago:

Group A:

Brooklyn Pickleball Team: Health. The number one word associated with a very dangerous team. They currently sit just outside of the top 4 for a playoff bye, but they do play the final two events to make a run. If they are healthy (and find top form), they could push for the top 4 starting in Chicago. 

California Black Bears: So many trades and now they get their full squad on the court for their playoff push. Veterans Pablo Tellez and newly acquired Dylan Frazier will anchor men’s doubles. They secured their highest point total of the season in San Diego (eight) without Frazier. Can they equal or surpass that number in Illinois?

Miami Pickleball Club: Ch-ch-ch changes has been the theme for this team. Despite the roster rotation, they have been a tough team to beat. Can they play the spoiler role in Group A?

Phoenix Flames: They have been close to a breakthrough as a young team but came up short in 3 DreamBreakers in San Diego. Is there an ember (team mascot) still flickering for an underdog playoff run?

Texas Ranchers: They are locked into a playoff spot and math will not enable them to make the top 4, however…this is a big week for the Ranchers. They need to simply look at their rivals in Dallas to see what winning a weekend can do for confidence. If the Ranchers play well in Chicago, raising the belt is not out of the question. 

Group B:

Atlanta Bouncers: Notched their marquee win of the season with a win over the LA Mad Drops on their way to a 3rd place finish in San Diego. This performance vaulted them ABOVE the playoff cut line. In their final event of the season, can they earn enough points to hold that spot and book a ticket to the first round of the playoffs?

Chicago Slice: Will the home cooking be the difference for the Slice to finish in the top 3 spots in the group and put pressure on the other teams fighting to get into the playoffs? The youth movement (adding Elsie Hendershot and John Lucian Goins) is an eye to the future but a present of the playoffs this season would be a huge boost to their confidence. 

Dallas Flash: They’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaack. An undefeated weekend in San Diego capped with wins over both the LA Mad Drops and the Columbus Sliders have vaulted them onto the edge of contender discussion. The big trade of Tyra Black for Danni-Elle Townsend has injected the fire and passion they were lacking. They are the favorites in Group B thanks to captain JW Johnson being a man on a mission.  

Las Vegas Night Owls: Another team that has made several changes, especially on the men’s side (and the final home of Gabe Joseph who was traded multiple times on deadline day). They are in 12th place, holding the last playoff spot, so a good weekend is essential to maintain their spot on the right side of the cut line. 

SoCal Hard Eights: They took advantage of a couple of 4-0 sweeps to take the tiebreaker advantage to a 2nd place finish in their group in San Diego. Despite losing their last 3 matches last week, they added 12 big points to their total and sit in 9th place with 33 points - which should be enough to get them into the playoffs even if they falter in Chicago. A strong performance assures them of a spot. 

Utah Black Diamonds: A team that has had trouble finding its best will now proceed without Connor Garnett, who was traded to the LA Mad Drops. Tama Shimabukuro and Yuta Funemizu will anchor men’s doubles (with Tyler Loong re-acquired for what seems like the 59th time). With just one point earned in San Diego, they now sit out of the playoffs, 5 points behind Las Vegas and must have a big week in the Windy City or they will remain on the wrong side of the line.

Marquee Matchups:

Group A: Brooklyn Pickleball Team vs. Texas Ranchers (Saturday, July 23, 2:30pm Central): If Brooklyn is at full strength, this will likely be a battle to claim Group A and will be a good measuring stick for both teams, especially for Texas, which is playing in its final event (Brooklyn also plays in Orlando). 

Group B: Dallas Flash vs. Chicago Slice (Saturday, 7/25, 4:00 pm Central): Dallas flashed in a big way in San Diego and wear the favorite’s target in their group. As the last group match of the event, will Chicago flip the script and pull an upset, like Dallas did a week ago against the local favorites the Mad Drops?